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Philco (UK) Model 282 Empire Five - Printable Version

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Philco (UK) Model 282 Empire Five - Ron Ramirez - 11-02-2012

I've been wanting to acquire a Philco from "across the pond" for some time now.

Well, actually, I should clarify that. I've been wanting a 1930s UK Philco tombstone for quite some time now.

I actually used to own a 1280 Universal, and a 2620 that had a chassis made in Philadelphia and a cabinet apparently made in Perivale, Greenford, Middlesex - the home of Philco's UK subsidiary.

And I currently own two bakelite Philco Tropic sets that were made in the UK.

So, here is my newest arrival!

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum/282_empire_five/Image00001.jpg]

Called the "Empire Five" (five tubes or valves), this model 282 was made in Perivale.

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum/282_empire_five/Image00003.jpg]

It has a long wave band, medium wave (AM), and a short wave band.

It mostly survived shipment. Unfortunately, it had a non-original power transformer that was barely fastened in, and it came loose and bounced around between England and here. Fortunately, it only damaged the two electrolytic capacitors. It could have been a lot worse. The transformer was dangling by one wire when it arrived. I cut the remaining wire and removed the transformer.

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum/282_empire_five/Image00004.jpg]

The transformer could have struck the 80 rectifier, but amazingly, it apparently didn't. At any rate, the 80 isn't broken.

Here are a couple shots of the transformer:

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum/282_empire_five/Image00006.jpg]

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum/282_empire_five/Image00005.jpg]

And a closer look at the back of the set:

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum/282_empire_five/Image00007.jpg]

Now that it's here - and since the power transformer was not original anyway - I plan to convert it to 120 volt operation so it can be used here, by adding a new vertical mounting power transformer, which is the same as was used originally.

I should also mention that it was shipped via UPS, and it made it from England to here in only three days! (And that included a delay of nearly a day in UK Customs!) I have had packages take longer than that to arrive here via UPS from other parts of the US!

RE: Philco (UK) Model 282 Empire Five - Paul Philco322 - 11-02-2012

Nice valves guvnor!

Paul

RE: Philco (UK) Model 282 Empire Five - Arran - 11-02-2012

One good thing I have noticed about most British Philco sets is that they used American style tubes at least. One exception is the Philco People's set, that four tube model in a Bakelite cathedral style cabinet, they used a PenDD valve, it was a power output tube with two diodes in the same envelope. The good news, even with the People's sets, is that the tubes all used 6.3 volt filaments so there are a few ways I can think of to substitute that PenDD valve for something more normal and less expensive.
I like the front panel on that Empire Five, it looks like some work went into the marquetry, the center portion around the dial looks like some olive burl, the area around the knobs looks like stump or burl walnut. Is the molding on the front corners solid walnut?
Regards
Arran

RE: Philco (UK) Model 282 Empire Five - Michael Dennis - 11-02-2012

I say, quite, old chap!

Mike

RE: Philco (UK) Model 282 Empire Five - exray - 11-03-2012

Good looking set. I have to ask - is there any faux finish in that nice looking veneer work?

RE: Philco (UK) Model 282 Empire Five - Ron Ramirez - 11-03-2012

Arran, yes, the front corners do appear to be solid walnut. It looks better than the cheap "white wood" typically used by USA Philco in those areas of a cabinet.

Bill (exray) - I just finished examining the front panel closely, and no, it is not photofinish - it is the real deal, actual veneer work. I can't think of any USA Philco tombstone that has this much fancy veneer work on its front panel.

The top of the set has been refinished at some point; I found several runs in the finish at the upper left edge.

RE: Philco (UK) Model 282 Empire Five - Glenn Roberts - 11-03-2012

Great Score Ron!!

RE: Philco (UK) Model 282 Empire Five - Chuck Schwark - 11-05-2012

Cheers!Icon_clap

RE: Philco (UK) Model 282 Empire Five - chris25260880 - 11-05-2012

What a beauty! Have never seen one like it.

RE: Philco (UK) Model 282 Empire Five - Arran - 11-06-2012

One thing that I did notice about this cabinet is that it looks like they used some sort of softwood for the structural portions of the cabinet at the back, most of the Canadian and U.S sets used one of the cheaper hardwoods for things like that. That marquetry in the front panel reminds me of a Canadian set from that era, like my Rogers 10-60, a lot of the Canadian G.E and Marconi sets are of a similar line. With the U.S sets it seems less consistent, some makes liked using nice cabinetry, like brand Z, and others like Philco and Crosley used more production oriented designs, at least on the low to mid range models.
Regards
Arran

RE: Philco (UK) Model 282 Empire Five - TA Forbes - 11-06-2012

NEAT!! Icon_thumbupIcon_thumbup

RE: Philco (UK) Model 282 Empire Five - Arran - 11-07-2012

Ron;
I noticed that there is a terminal board with eight jacks in it just bellow the power transformer. I see that some are obviously for a phonograph input but was there a lot of other aftermarket accessories that Philco offered for this radio?
Regards
Arran

RE: Philco (UK) Model 282 Empire Five - Ron Ramirez - 11-09-2012

Arran

About the eight jack terminal board...one is for the antenna, one for ground or "Earth" as it's called over there...one "Red" and one "Black" for the Philco All-Wave Aerial...two are for an external speaker...and two for "gramophone" (phonograph) input.

By the way, I moved your other post into a new thread of its own:

http://www.philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=5444

RE: Philco (UK) Model 282 Empire Five - British Philcos - 08-08-2013

Nice set, gotta love that wood work. Ive brought back 5 or 6 British Philcos over the years. Still have one, and will pick up another in a week or so.

RE: Philco (UK) Model 282 Empire Five - Jamie - 08-08-2013

That's a beautiful radio. You really got lucky that the loose transformer didn't destroy anything more. Any updates on the radio??