[Bob Andersen]

The Philco Safari was introduction in 1960 as the world's first transistorized battery power portable TV.

I'd seen a few of these over the years but always too expensive or in poor condition. Finally, I got an ebay email alert about this one with a BIN of only $80 and I pounced on it.

[Image: https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2935/1421...19ff_z.jpg]

The only minor issue was a detached handle that just needed to be screwed back on.

[Image: https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5193/1423...22ea_z.jpg]

The battery is long gone, but you can also run these directly off AC. The seller claimed it worked so after an inspection inside, I went for it.
[Image: https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5319/1421...e543_z.jpg] [Image: https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2927/1423...95bc_z.jpg]

Bingo! It really does work The image is quite bright and difficult to photograph.
[Image: https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2921/1421...6582_z.jpg] [Image: https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5079/1402...2e89_z.jpg]

It's strange how the image appears larger the further away you are.
[Image: https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5320/1418...2984_z.jpg] [Image: https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5510/1423...f057_z.jpg]

Here it is after a bit of cleaning.
[Image: https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5076/1402...ee3f_z.jpg]

I don't think it will be my new 'daily driver', but it's a neat piece of history to own.
[Image: https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5581/1419...2d6d_z.jpg]

[sam]

way cool congrats

[BrendaAnnD]

Watching from four feet away, the picture is supposed to pretty much cover the entire surface area of the front screen. It almost looks like yours is missing that front glass.

[ScottTV1962]

Nice find and price Bob. That one's on my list, as well. Looks like it produces a nice pic. Like most vintage sets, that cleaned up real nice!

[Bob Andersen]

Nope, the glass is there. The screen is wider than 4:3 format, so I don't really see how the image could cover it all unless the top and bottom get cut off ?

[Image: https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2931/1402...c66c_z.jpg]

[ScottTV1962]

Yes, that is right. I have a buddy, fellow TV collector who has one mint- bought new by a family member. It looks like your pix. I don't think you should expect a 16x9 flat screen look, mirror or not. Pretty sure that wasn't even a consumer product concept in the late 50's. Only in the movie theater back then.

[andrewbest]

amazing and cute little set!

[PhilcoJohn]

No I have seen everything! Never saw that portable before. Really cool!

[Geoff]

I saw your YouTube video on this, great find Bob. And for $80- you can't go wrong.

[codefox1]

WoW! I'd be looking to do a Recap job at least for long term reliability. Too bad there is little current progam material worth watching.

[WyTex]

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/atq/4667783838.html

[Bob Andersen]

Sure, I'll do a full recap someday. As for current programming, there aren't any more NTSC broadcasts so many vintage TV collectors setup their own low power transmitters. I hook mine up to a DVD player or YouTube and play whatever I like

[Mondial]

It is quite remarkable that most of these Safari's are still operating on all their original parts 55 years later.

I have one I bought a few years ago, and it still works fine, never having been repaired or restored. Even all the electrolytics are original. Perhaps because most of the circuitry runs on on low voltages, the condition of these caps is less critical. Other than the electrolytics, most of the other caps are disc ceramics not subject to deterioration. I plan on leaving mine as is until I see any degradation in performance.

[BrendaAnnD]

One primary thing would be that back when these sets were still in general use, there wasn't as much TV to watch and/or people didn't watch as much as they do now. Especially when they were out and about. People used to go camping and to the beach to do other things besides watch television, so these didn't get a lot of use back when they were still new-ish. Ergo, things like the CRT didn't get worn out before they got put into storage in the back of someone's closet or where ever. Worst thing was that folks didn't remove the batteries first.

[Arran]

 The main issue with early solid state devices is the small electrolytic caps drying out with age more so then leakage, this is something that is more dependent on how the device is stored then how much it is used. On occasion, especially with 1960s era solid state devices, you can end up with leakage between the elements, instability, and even tin whiskers causing shorts, though I haven't heard of that being a problem with these TVs as yet. The other killer, as Brenda mentioned, is battery leakage, but that goes for battery powered tube stuff as well.
Regards
Arran