The PHILCO Phorum
Atwater Kent 84 - Printable Version

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Atwater Kent 84 - fields 100 - 05-22-2014

There is a set available, regular thing, hum, etc,etc. Cabinet appears to be easily restored. I think I can get it for less than $200.00.Do not know much about those sets. Opinions?
Thanks in advance.

RE: Atwater Kent 84 - Eliot Ness - 05-23-2014

The AK 84 was their first cathedral style radio, and while not as ornate as later offerings such as the model 82, it is still considered a beautiful cabinet.

Price is dependent on condition of chassis and cabinet, and I'm not sure what you consider "easily restored", but in decent shape under $200 sounds like a very good price.

I would not plug it in again until, at the least, the filter capacitors are replaced, or that hum may turn into a transformer smoking. Good luck, the AK 84 is a very nice radio and one of my favorites.

RE: Atwater Kent 84 - TA Forbes - 05-23-2014

Agree, a model 84 in decent shape is worth 200.00

RE: Atwater Kent 84 - morzh - 05-23-2014

If it is in decent shape.....I have not seen any below 300 on eBay and in Kutztown they were $350 the lowest; none sold though but the owners do stick by the price and won't budge.

So....yes, below $200 seems like a good deal.

RE: Atwater Kent 84 - fields 100 - 05-26-2014

Which manufacturer supplied tubes for AK 84? I have some 24 and 27 but they are Philco.

RE: Atwater Kent 84 - Eliot Ness - 05-26-2014

I think they usually used Cunningham tubes, but that probably would not have been an absolute rule.

RE: Atwater Kent 84 - Phlogiston - 05-26-2014

I had heard that AK used both RCA and Cunningham. Same tubes.

RE: Atwater Kent 84 - Arran - 05-26-2014

One thing to watch for on some of the A.K cathedrals are bad power transformers, I can't remember whether a model 84 is one of them or not. With luck the one in this set may have been replaced, rewound, or may be a 25 cycle one.
Regards
Arran

RE: Atwater Kent 84 - fields 100 - 05-27-2014

If I have an original weak globe RCA 80 and instead of paying for the single tube almost 1/3 of the radio price went with a full wave diode rectifier under the chassis (keeping the tube as a decorative, lit filament piece, of course), which diodes(##) are most suitable for an application?
That is if someone have already done so. Thanks.

RE: Atwater Kent 84 - Mondial - 05-27-2014

I would not recommend it. First, the diodes have a very low forward drop, so unless you add series resistors you will end up with high B+ voltage. The tube 80 also acts as sort of a fuse, in that under momentary overload it will limit the transformer current to a safer value than a silicon diode. With a short on the B+ line the plates of the 80 may glow red, but if shut off quickly, likely no damage will result.

How bad is your 80? Sometimes a weak 80 still has enough emission to provide rated B+ voltage to the radio, especially with today's higher line voltage

RE: Atwater Kent 84 - Eliot Ness - 05-27-2014

Personally I wouldn't bother doing that with a tube as readily available as an 80. You can get a new 80 for $12 or good used for $6:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArHdMXx9CGLRdGdpQzRXZ3VFVkpqOU9oLVFCdUlndkE&usp=sharing&authkey=CN7S0foD#gid=4

It won't be a globe but it won't require kludging in diodes and resistors under the chassis either. Keep your eyes open and you'll eventually find a good globe 80 on eBay, a radio meet, an old parts set, or a wanted ad. There is no shortage of globe 80's out there if you're patient.

I'd also measure B+ with a good 80 and then your weak one; often a weak 80 isn't that far off, depending on the parameters of the tube tester used.

If you're still determined you can use two 1N4007's and a wire wound resistor to drop the B+ down to what it measures with a known good 80 in the circuit.

RE: Atwater Kent 84 - fields 100 - 05-27-2014

It is in the yellow field, about 55-56.I have not tried it yet on this radio. So, if the B+ within a spec.,I can use it, right?
But the diodes are definitely out. Hiding tiny diodes is one thing, but the wire resistor...
Thanks, guys.

RE: Atwater Kent 84 - Eliot Ness - 05-27-2014

Yes, it should be fine if the B+ is OK. Just make sure you change out the filter and paper capacitors before firing it up.