The Predicta by Philco

[holmesuser01]

I'm not trying to be a big ole dark cloud on this subject, but I have never seen the appeal of the Predicta line from Philco, other than the swivel CRT.

They were built as cheap as possible, for the most part, though, I did rebuild a pair of sets that had a power transformer.

I got burned out on these sets in the 1970's when I would spend a ton of time finding the problem, fixing it, and replacing overheated parts, etc, buttoning it up, sending it home, only to have it come back a few weeks or months later with a dead CRT.

I always checked the CRTs on these sets before I did anything else to them, other than turn them on in the shop before the customer left, to be sure that what the customer said was wrong was actually what was wrong.

If the set wouldn't turn on, I'd write 'dead set' on the repair ticket and had the customer initial it.

Even then, it was trouble finding flybacks and yokes for these, not to mention the weird CRT with the oddball filament.

A major CRT rebuilder had a plant near Atlanta, and at the time, they were still able to rebuild these tubes, IF you brought them your dud first. I had the tubes rebuilt a few times, and, several times, got my same CRT back from them with a new gun. (I would mark the edge of the tube bell with my shop logo.)

Around 1982, they stopped rebuilding these Predicta tubes. They didn't have anymore guns for them.

I don't want to insult anybody that loves these sets. The ones I disliked the most were the series-string sets that basically cooked themselves to death in that awful little metal cabinet.

After several "burns" from these sets, (One guy tried to sue me when his set died 88 days into his 90 day warranty (on replaced parts) It was a real pain, but I won, as I could prove that the CRT was bad.)

I showed the judge that we could tap the gun with a pencil and make the picture flash on and off. I lost a days business from this, but did get damages, as the guy badmouthed my shop for awhile

I stopped working on them in 1982, when the rebuilder stopped taking the duds.

Just before I shut down my shop, I rebuilt a floor-model transformered power supply Predicta for a friend that had found a NOS CRT, and wanted it installed along with the repairs.

It's still running today.

Thanks for the vent. I needed it.

[old_coot88]

The one thing i could never 'get', in a nutshell, about Predictas was the rationale for 2V CRT heaters. It seemed to have something to do with ultra-short neck. But beyond that, explanations just trailed off into the weeds.

[DaveWM]

I assume the reason they are popular now (and perhaps then) has to be the styling. I have worked on a few, all the transformer chassis, and finally found out that you can pop the chassis off with out too much trouble. I think the electronic design was pretty good, as mine makes a fine pic, but the use of the output tubes mounted to the PCB was a bad idea. Ok if not used much but if used a lot just smoked the pcb from heat.

I got a couple of the last CRT's from VDC, the neck is a tad longer and uses a 6.3v heater. Considering how long I use my sets they should last a life time.

I kinda like working on them from the perspective of the modular design (again just talking the transformer based ones).

I can see how it would be a pain with customers, a set I worked on for a buddy started acting up (audios dropping out) not long after I fixed it. My guess is a bad tube socket that did not present to me at the time. My own sets I don't mind when new prob pop up, but that would not be the case doing this as a profession.

[holmesuser01]

Exactly, guys. Like I said, the transformer sets were better, but all but 2 that I worked on were series string models.

Bought the CRT's from VDC, DaveWM, in Atlanta. Kept an account with them for years.

[DaveWM]

when I was buying crt's from VDC I talked to an older guy think it was up north somewhere, where the Atlanta people would transfer me for color CRT's.

this guy was great, he had been there forever. can't recall name but my last contact with him was they were going to be closing down the warehouse and I thought he said taking the color CRTs to atlanta.

Recently I tried vdc again no joy I think she said they got rid of ALL the older color CRT (I was asking about a trinitron that showed in stock).

would be nice if they just listed what they really have (if anything commercial grade).

[DaveWM]

Ernie? I think that was the guy.

[bandersen]

I didn't think there were any series strung Predictas in a metal cabinet ? Aren't all the 17" metal cabinet (Princess, Siesta, Debutante) based on the 10L43 transformer chassis ?

As for the 21" series sets (9L37 chassis), they are really nothing more than the same chassis Predicta used in their console models (9L35) rearranged a bit. The only common issues I've encountered so far is the previously mentioned unreliable 21" CRT and bad power switches.

Ideally, you can get your hands on a 21FAP4, FDP4, EVP4 or similar reliable CRT that is the same size.

[Electronic M]

There are two reasons to hate the Predictas: 1) If modern look sets of that period are not your thing (I'm not one of those folks). 2) If you don't like designs that are not especially service friendly (There are many PCB sets that are comparably annoying to solder).

If they were not so darn expensive, and I was not trying to save the majority of the oodles of cash my summer internship is earning me for a car then I'd probably have already bought one...

[Eric H]

The Predicta really isn't any worse than a lot of other sets from the era, other than the well known CRT issues of course.

They are actually a little bit easier to work on than some of the RCA metal portables of the late fifties, talk about a PITA PC board!

[rca2000]

I had MUCH rather spend my money on a Roundie color set, Metal BW zenith, early SS set or Some rect. tube color sets. Or hi-fi stuff or old radios or such...

[playdrv4me]

I'm not into the older stuff, but I'd have a Predicta if I could find a nice one some day. They're something that's a CRT tube of a decent size, but still easy to move around and not back breakers which I like. But since joining this forum I discovered what "Roundies" are, and I admit if I ever delve into the non SS world, I'd maybe look for one of those first in color, too.