CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 6:46 am Post subject: Cool old TV restoration

http://www.nappepin.com/predicta/predicta.htm

I was looking for an old Sony but stumbled upon this Philco instead. I want one Wink

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10273

I was thinking of locating an old early 1970's Curtis Mathis (sP0 console TV to yank the tube and put a LCD or plasma flat panel in it. There would be enough room inside the cabinet for all of the components as well.

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 4:24 pm Post subject:

Why?

Tinman · Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 1:39 am Post subject:

For those that would like a modern set, I invite you to look here:

http://www.cbelec.com/

Steep, though. But cool.

Marc

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 6:43 am Post subject:

The link is not working. Is that the right address?

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10273

Tinman · Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:47 pm Post subject:

Tinman · Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:51 pm Post subject:

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 4:41 pm Post subject:

There is/was a guy that sells original rebuilt Predictas on eBay. Haven't looked for him for a while, he might even be the guy in the top link given here. BUt he knew his stuff. Average price was about $750 USD and worth every penny.

I actualy had one that I worked on when I saw in elementary school. I threw it out or sold it cheaply just like the Leak monoblock tube pre/power amp that someone GAVE me way back when.

If I had kept everything I sold at a flea market for cheap in the 70s that's worth a small fortune now, I'd be rich.

I'd also need a 100,000 square foot warehouse....

Tinman · Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 5:30 pm Post subject:

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 7:26 am Post subject:

Hey the links working. Some very nice TV's there.

Sorry to hear about your comic collection. Mines lost too. I had some great ones.

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 7:31 am Post subject:

Ahh too bad they are sourcing RCA parts. I'd love to have somehting like that with some of the 1999-2003 CRT tubed sets with the built in line doublers.

Then again a flat tube on that base wouldn't look quite right would it?

Tinman · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 11:24 pm Post subject:

The RCA/Proscan sets had line doublers. So it could have.

Marc

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 11:50 pm Post subject:

Oh yeah I forgot about those. Actually I remember the Proscan 38" CRT a local store had one. I hated the curved tube but the picture was awesum.

Glenn Waters · Joined: 18 Jan 2013 Posts: 12 Location: Bon Aqua, Tennessee

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Very Cool Glenn!!!

Athanasios

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 1:45 am Post subject:

Nice Glenn! We're about the same age, and followed a bit of the same path. I worked for a mom and pop TV store from 1981 to 1987, then part time until 1989, and I repaired an estimated 10,000 sets in that time, that's all I did, 7 days a week, about 12 hours a day. (and you wonder why I've got THIS website going. Razz

)

We were Zenith dealers, then Hitachi, and as you did, we saw the quality of sets go from tanks as you picture above, to complete garbage in the course of 10-15 years.

My understanding is that Curtis Mathes shut down simply because the woodwork was too well done, but that was the urban legend we got up here...

MikeEby · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 5238 Location: Osceola, Indiana

Glenn Waters · Joined: 18 Jan 2013 Posts: 12 Location: Bon Aqua, Tennessee

It was in 1972 that Curtis Mathes was the first manufacturer to offer a completely solid-state product line, with an unprecedented four-year warranty. In 1975 Curtis Mathes, Jr. purchased the company from the shareholders. In 1978 Curtis Jr. began demonstrating what would become another hallmark of the Company: heavy use of advertising to position and promote products. That year, an $18 million advertising investment yielded sales of more than $152 million. Millions of Americans came to know that Curtis Mathes was..."The most expensive television in America, and darn well worth it!" Below is a photograph of the Curtis Mathes plant in Athens Texas.
In the year 1979 Curtis Mathes established ColorTyme, a home entertainment rental company, to meet the increasing demands for quality home entertainment equipment. In the years 1982 the Company began franchising its name across the country, the corporate headquarters were moved from Athens to Dallas and the Company’s manufacturing plant in Athens, Texas was sold. Then in 1988 the entire Company was sold and relocated back in Athens. During the period I worked for the company the Athens plant became the center of television and stereo production for the entire company. This was a awesome time in the history of our nation, back before our once proud and powerful electronics industries were outsourced to the markets of Asia. Now because of the greed and stupidity of a few men not one television or stereo is made in North America. Below is a photograph of the Curtis Mathes plant in Athens Texas. The huge plant is now empty and has not been used in years, very tragic. Also in the two photos below are the beautiful Color console from Charlie Trahan, he has a awesome collection she is a 1966 Curtis Mathes TV/Stereo.

MikeEby · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 5238 Location: Osceola, Indiana

I considered Packard Bell...(Not the computer company in the early 90's) to be a competitor for CM, their woodwork was along the same side as Curtis Mathias. PB was bigger on the west coast I think, where CM was more midwestern.

Mike