'59 Predicta "Debutante" newly aquired

[decojoe67]

This 1959 17" Philco Predicta "Debutante" and matching stand was recently unearthed from years of storage. It needed lots of cleaning, polishing, and detailing to get it to where it is now. It also needed and antenna and replacement back panel. Upon it's chassis restoration it was discovered that it needed a new CRT. I was almost going to pass on it, but now I'm glad I didn't. It works great and who doesn't love the modern "space-age" look of these classics?!
I particular like the "Debutante" with it's simplicity and the gold sparkle grill cloth. It was the cheapest of all the Predicta's (around $200) and was often sold as fleet sets for motel chains. You can tell if you have one by the instruction sheet applied to the top of the cabinet. These 17 inchers (Siesta, Princess, and Debutante) were superior to the 21 inchers, but the word was out by then that they were sets to be avoided.

[Don Lindsly]

Nice TV.

Historical correction: Philco never went bankrupt. It was absorbed by Ford in Dec 1961. Fords primary interest was the space and military sector to combine with Ford's Aeronutronic business which it did. Philco's Philadelphia TV plant continued in operation through 1975. It also expanded car radio production in Lansdale and Sandusky.

The bubble top TVs were only one product in a full line of TVs and appliances. All consumer goods accounted for 66% of Philco's total volume in 1959. That included Kitchen, Home Laundry, room air conditioners and Brown Goods (all TV, stereo and radio) Portable TVs did very well, high volume and profits.

[wa2ise]

Originally Posted by Don Lindsly

All consumer goods accounted for 66% of Philco's total volume in 1959. That included Kitchen, Home Laundry, room air conditioners and Brown Goods

We had a Ford Philco fridge back in the 70's. Saved the badge off it:

[holmesuser01]

We had a couple of Philco-Bendix combination washer-dryers in around 1960-61.

Our machines ate spin solenoids for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

We had more trouble with the washers than we ever did with a tube TV set.

[Eric H]

Nice set! I have a Debutante waiting on a restoration, it has a great CRT but needs a paint job.

Pretty sure it was a Motel set though there are no instructions pasted on it.
It's as plain as plain gets, not even a hole for the antenna but there is a knockout or a plug where it goes.

Since it needs painted anyway (rust) I was thinking of doing it in "Vermillion" or maybe black since that's easy to find, it's the standard tan now.

I like the screen covers on the 17" sets, they are nice and clear compared to the Holiday which is a dark greenish color, that really kills the picture quality, probably helped kill the CRT's too having to crank up the brightness to compensate.

[bandersen]

Congratulations! That sure is a pretty Debutante.

Another bit of Philco history is that they were involved in computers and aerospace in the 50s and 60s. Like Don stated above, Predictas were only a small part of the company and did not lead to it's demise.

The Philco Transac models S-1000 scientific computer and S-2000 electronic data processing computer, were the first commercially produced large-scale all transistor computers, which were introduced in 1957.

In 1960, NASA contracted with Philco to build the world-wide tracking station network for Project Mercury, and all subsequent Man-In-Space projects until the ground station network was replaced by the TDRS communication satellites in the 1990s. Philco's Western Development Labs ultimately became Space Systems/Loral, which continues to manufacture spacecraft. In later years, the company produced automotive electronic controls, aerospace tracking systems, and artificial satellites.

[decojoe67]

Thanks Bob! I did my best to make the cabinet look presentable. I try to keep the sets original. What's interesting is these dark cabinets are not black, they are a very dark brown under bright lighting. Also the stand is surprisingly small and low! The set sits only about 15" off the ground. I love the modern classic "mid-century" look.
Eric - good luck with your set! With that block-out plate it is possible that it's a motel set. I personally like minimalistic look of the "Debutante". It's been my favorite model Predicta for years. My set actually could use a repaint, but I don't mind a little "patina".
My apologies for the misinformation about Philco's fate. I am going to delete that from my original post.

[truetone36]

Did you have any problems with the PC boards on the chassis? I've heard they are a PITA to work on.

[decojoe67]

Originally Posted by truetone36

Did you have any problems with the PC boards on the chassis? I've heard they are a PITA to work on.

My friend did the chassis restoration. He has worked on these for many years and has his own tricks which eliminates removing the board - which in turn eliminates much unnecessary hassles!
The final results are a set that plays beautifully.

[spudz64]

Originally Posted by decojoe67

This 1959 17" Philco Predicta "Debutante" and matching stand was recently unearthed from years of storage. It needed lots of cleaning, polishing, and detailing to get it to where it is now. It also needed and antenna and replacement back panel. Upon it's chassis restoration it was discovered that it needed a new CRT. I was almost going to pass on it, but now I'm glad I didn't. It works great and who doesn't love the modern "space-age" look of these classics?!
I particular like the "Debutante" with it's simplicity and the gold sparkle grill cloth. It was the cheapest of all the Predicta's (around $200) and was often sold as fleet sets for motel chains. You can tell if you have one by the instruction sheet applied to the top of the cabinet. These 17 inchers (Siesta, Princess, and Debutante) were superior to the 21 inchers, but the word was out by then that they were sets to be avoided.

Nice find! I have to agree, the Debutantes in Charcoal like yours is my favorite of the 3 types of 17" sets, although a Mahogany Princess comes very close too!

The true motel sets are easily distinguished by being Debutantes in biege (which wasn't sold to the public, as the consumer Debutantes came in only Charcoal like yours) and have the antenna and hole missing. They also had unique model and chassis numbers (model # 3406, chassis 11L43) and the chassis lacked a local-distance AGC switch like the other 17" Predictas. I beleive they were made in 1961 and possibly longer....maybe Don can fill in more here!

[decojoe67]

Originally Posted by spudz64

Nice find! I have to agree, the Debutantes in Charcoal like yours is my favorite of the 3 types of 17" sets, although a Mahogany Princess comes very close too!

The true motel sets are easily distinguished by being Debutantes in biege (which wasn't sold to the public, as the consumer Debutantes came in only Charcoal like yours) and have the antenna and hole missing. They also had unique model and chassis numbers (model # 3406, chassis 11L43) and the chassis lacked a local-distance AGC switch like the other 17" Predictas. I beleive they were made in 1961 and possibly longer....maybe Don can fill in more here!

Very good information. Thank you. It's more than I could find on a Google search! So interesting that it came in "charcoal" only. You see them re-painted in white and red very often. It's such a difficult color to touch-up! In some light it looks a very dark brown.
My favorite Predicta was always the 17 incher's. I like the proportions and the small off-set tube. Compared to the Princess and Siesta models it looks rather stripped-down, but that it exactly why I like it best! It just makes the overall design the stand-out feature without distraction. I also really like that pure '50's looking glitter grille cloth across the front.

[spudz64]

Originally Posted by decojoe67

I also really like that pure '50's looking glitter grille cloth across the front.

Maybe thats why this was the "entry" model....the more $$$ Princess and Siesta models had all metal fronts with more trim might which might have been viewed new as less '50's and more '60's modern. But I agree, the cloth front and charcoal cabinet is very sharp and I like the cleaner details on it too!

[decojoe67]

I thought it was interesting that this "Debutante" has a "High Fidelity" inscription on the brass channel escutcheon.
(Scroll down on the page)
http://www.etsy.com/au/listing/15588...a-1950s-swivel
This might have been just a short early run and then the inscription was dropped as all these 17" Predicta's are Hi-Fi! (?)

[spudz64]

Originally Posted by decojoe67

I thought it was interesting that this "Debutante" has a "High Fidelity" inscription on the brass channel escutcheon.
(Scroll down on the page)
http://www.etsy.com/au/listing/15588...a-1950s-swivel
This might have been just a short early run and then the inscription was dropped as all these 17" Predicta's are Hi-Fi! (?)

Wow great find! I've never seen that inscription before and I haven't seen any mention either of any audio options on them....esp this, the entry Predicta! So I agree, must be an early model or something....it does look nice though!

[decojoe67]

Originally Posted by spudz64

Wow great find! I've never seen that inscription before and I haven't seen any mention either of any audio options on them....esp this, the entry Predicta! So I agree, must be an early model or something....it does look nice though!

Those bezels are easily swapped so it would be cool to find a junker that had that printed one!
I communicated with other collectors who believe might have been an idea that was cut from production early on. The 17" Predicta's had a better audio section than the earlier 21" models, so Philco likely wanted to make it a featured selling point.