Weight of Predicta Tandem--Thinking of selling on Ebay

[berta12]

Anyone know even a ballpark weight for the console and the CRT of a Predicta Tandem? I'm looking for one weight for the console and one weight for the CRT with the attached 25 foot cord.

I know the consensus here is that I'd be crazy--especially after spending $$ to get my TV in great working order--to ship it, but my local UPS guy said if I brought it down to him and showed him it was working, and paid him to pack it, he would insure it not only for any physical damage, but for making sure it arrived in working order--just the way it left his store.

Local pickup limits me. I've put the word out in my area (Southern Arizona) and even if I listed it for local pickup on Ebay, I'd have to deal with cash on the spot, which I'm nervous about doing with someone I don't know since they'd have to come into my house to see the TV attached to the converter/antenna to see if it works. PayPal is not an option because they do not protect sellers unless the item has shipping confirmation. (I spent hours looking into this.)

And I figured that anyone who works on their own TV's wouldn't want to pay what I'm asking ($1,200.00) for a set that is already working. Or maybe I'm wrong.

Any advice/comments appreciated. Thanks.

[maxhifi]

bathroom scale? CRT by itself, then you holding the console... subtract your own weight from total and there's your ballpark weight

[berta12]

Hmm..should have thought of that. I need to borrow or buy a bathroom scale!

[maxhifi]

Just ask a woman friend, I've never met a woman who doesn't own a bathroom scale, and you'd probably be doing her a favor to get it out of her house anyway

[azbigsam]

Originally Posted by berta12

Anyone know even a ballpark weight for the console and the CRT of a Predicta Tandem? I'm looking for one weight for the console and one weight for the CRT with the attached 25 foot cord.

I know the consensus here is that I'd be crazy--especially after spending $$ to get my TV in great working order--to ship it, but my local UPS guy said if I brought it down to him and showed him it was working, and paid him to pack it, he would insure it not only for any physical damage, but for making sure it arrived in working order--just the way it left his store.

Local pickup limits me. I've put the word out in my area (Southern Arizona) and even if I listed it for local pickup on Ebay, I'd have to deal with cash on the spot, which I'm nervous about doing with someone I don't know since they'd have to come into my house to see the TV attached to the converter/antenna to see if it works. PayPal is not an option because they do not protect sellers unless the item has shipping confirmation. (I spent hours looking into this.)

And I figured that anyone who works on their own TV's wouldn't want to pay what I'm asking ($1,200.00) for a set that is already working. Or maybe I'm wrong.

Any advice/comments appreciated. Thanks.

Just curious, where in Southern Arizona do you live?

[berta12]

Tucson. Know anyone in the Valley of the Sun who might want it?

[stromberg6]

Good luck with your sale. Hope those wax and bumblebee caps have been replaced since that pic was taken.

[bandersen]

I'll guestimate the CRT + cable at around 45 lbs. Around 20lbs for the base. Yes, the "portable" portion of the set weighs about twice the stationary part

Was that photo taken after the chassis was repaired ? Also, it looks like you're missing the carrying handle ?

[berta12]

bandersen-Thanks for the info. Yeah, the "portable" part is pretty heavy!

strongberg6- The pic of the inside of the chassis was taken pre-repair. Stupidly, I didn't take one post-repair, but I have the receipt for the repair--among the replacements were 11 capacitors, three tubes and two resistors.

Carry handle is intact. I have lots of pictures if anyone interested. If not--no loss. It''s always fun to talk with other vintage TV enthusiasts and I do appreciate the help and support.

[andy]

...

[Phil Nelson]

I'm with Andy. No way would I let UPS pack it, regardless what the local guy says. They simply don't have the right boxes and materials to guarantee safe delivery. If this vintage TV is destroyed, you and the buyer will both be unhappy, even if there's an insurance payoff.

I would list it on eBay as local pickup, adding that you will cooperate with a seller who wants to arrange for a third party to pick it up, crate it, and ship it. I can recommend Craters & Freighters, who have shipped several valuable items for me across the USA without a scratch. That kind of service ain't cheap, but if the buyer pays, that's not your problem.

Just my $0.02.

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

[berta12]

Thanks so much for the advice, guys. I had a gut feeling that shipping it UPS might not end up well and it's been confirmed by those of you with more experience than I have.

I'm going to check out the Craters and Frieghters site and it might be a great option to consider.

I do love my TV, though and it really gives me a thrill ever time it powers on and I see that round-ish black and white picture. I just have amassed so much stuff over the decades, and some of it has to go.

My antique radios are small so those are keepers, but the Tandem takes up a whole corner of my living room.

Thanks to all and here's to vintage electronics!

[berta12]

I took your wise advice and will NOT ship my TV. I checked out Craters and Freighters and they seem perfect to suggest to buyers for shipping vintage and otherwise fragile electronics.
Here's my ebay ad --if I don't sell my Tandem, then it was not meant to leave my side--or that corner of my house it's taking up!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=251439910837

[bandersen]

Good luck! That is just about the cleanest Tandem I've seen and the picture is bright and sharp

[berta12]

banderson Wow! Thanks for the huge compliment coming from someone I consider a Tandem expert! I expect a lot of watchers and lookers but who knows what will happen.

I do know I have to stop going back and looking at my Ebay listing ad or I may end up buying my own TV!