Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Scored a 41-316RX !
#1

I stumbled across this set on craigslist a few days ago. The seller had just listed "Two Console Radios" with no brand or model #. He did include a photo of the front though and after a little detective work I determined it might be a Mystery Control set. He didn't have a remote and didn't remember his father (the original owner) ever using one with it. However, he described the chassis including the big metal box on the right and I figured it must be a 41-316.

I headed out to see it with a friend tonight and it sure was! After a little negotiation, I got it and a box of spare tubes.

Here it is on my back porch. The previous owner didn't have the remote, but I had picked one up years ago Icon_biggrin
[Image: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7063/69633...4d73_z.jpg]

[Image: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/69632...1464_z.jpg]

[Image: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7182/69632...2f55_z.jpg]

[Image: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7177/68171...24e8_z.jpg]

[Image: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7048/68171...8320_z.jpg]

[Image: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7062/68171...6d09_z.jpg]

#2

I have one of these consoles. Missing the remote and the dial scale glass is gone. Icon_sad

No matter where you go, there you are.
#3

I've also found a mystery control set although I'm not sure about the year, the owner claims it's a 39-116, I still need to go and look at it and arrange a price. I must say that I like the cabinet of the 1941 edition better, it seems to have more style to it. If I'm not mistaken I think that the radio receiver portion of the chassis was improved as well since it looks like it has more tubes then the 1939 set had.
Regards
Arran
#4

(03-07-2012, 11:13 PM)Jayce Wrote:  I have one of these consoles. Missing the remote and the dial scale glass is gone. Icon_sad

Need a 41-316 dial? Try here:
http://www.radiodaze.com/product/13792.aspx
Regards
Arran
#5

Nice! Fifteen tubes of radio fun for you!
#6

Thanks. It's my first early 40s Philco set. I've never encounter the XXL tubes before.

I started to clean it up this afternoon. The top is pretty rough, but the rest isn't so bad.

[Image: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7039/68190...fda2_z.jpg]

This is after a GoJo and mineral spirit rubdown. I haven't gotten to the right side yet.
Too bad some knucklehead drilled a hole into the top Icon_evil
[Image: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7201/69651...c596_z.jpg]
#7

Very neat, Bob! Icon_thumbup Good luck with that one...I have a 41-616, pretty much the same as yours but with the addition of a phonograph, and an even larger cabinet. I've ben trying to find the time - and the courage - to start going through its many miles of rubber-covered wiring...

--
Ron Ramirez
Ferdinand IN
#8

Uh-oh. I hadn't thought about rubber coated wiring Icon_eek I just went though replacing some in a 39-30.
#9

(03-08-2012, 08:25 PM)bandersen Wrote:  Uh-oh. I hadn't thought about rubber coated wiring Icon_eek I just went though replacing some in a 39-30.

Fortunately Philco decided to opt out of using the rubber covered crap on the power transformer leads after 1939, or so they told me after I asked about the 39-116. The XXL (7A4) tubes are sort of interesting, Philco had an affinity for using either a twin triode mixer oscillator like an XXD (14AF7) or a pair of seperate triodes like the XXL for the mixer and oscillator rather then a pentagrid convertor like a 6SA7 or a octode convertor like a 7A8 in many of their 1941-42 sets. The 1939 116 uses a 6A8 convertor but has a tuned RF stage, the 1941 316 version has those twin XXL tubes and an extra IF stage.
One thing I have been meaning to do is restore both of my "Hippo" sets to stage a performance shootout as to which system works better, one has a tuned RF stage and the 7A8 converter, the other has a XXD (14AF7) twin triode mixer-oscillator but an extra IF amplifier stage. I suspect that the one with the extra RF stage may have the edge but I don't know for sure.
Regards
Arran
#10

I decided to do a quick repair and refinish on the top before bringing it inside.
[Image: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7042/68217...e9f4_z.jpg]

The old finish scrapes off very easily. I discovered this area where the veneer had been sanded right through Icon_sad
I wonder could it have left the factory like this or is it from a poor refinishing done long ago ?
[Image: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7198/69678...7c32_z.jpg]
#11

(03-09-2012, 04:59 PM)bandersen Wrote:  I decided to do a quick repair and refinish on the top before bringing it inside.
[Image: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7042/68217...e9f4_z.jpg]

The old finish scrapes off very easily. I discovered this area where the veneer had been sanded right through Icon_sad
I wonder could it have left the factory like this or is it from a poor refinishing done long ago ?
[Image: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7198/69678...7c32_z.jpg]

It was probably sanded through at the factory, one or two of my sets have had flaws like that buried under the original finish. I guess they didn't worry about it since they knew that the whole finish was going to be tinted anyhow. Now would be a good time to fix the hole that someone drilled into the top, it looks like they punched in through near the lid at the front so that means that it's a small area to patch, you could do much the same thing that you did with the top of the Philco 15DX. I never understood why some former owner would drill a hole in the top, I can understand the side like if someone though they needed to add a switch or a phone jack but the ones people put in the top never seen to have anything installed.
Regards
Arran
Regards
Arran
#12

If I had the time, I would do a proper job, but I'm just going to do a quick stain and lacquer. I just want to stabilize and protect the cabinet plus make it look a little nicer. When I have more time, I'll refinish the whole cabinet. The aligatoring on the sides is pretty bad.

As for the hole, the owner said this radio was in an auto garage for much of it's life. Could be that someone used it as a workbench while they drilled a hole in something Icon_sad
#13

OK, the stain didn't look right - especially in the damaged area. So, I removed it and will go with toner lacquer. I should know better by now Icon_redface
#14

I finished giving the sides a Howard's RAF rubdown.
[Image: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7201/69717...d135_z.jpg]

I'll order up some reproduction pushbuttons.
[Image: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7202/69717...f824_z.jpg]
#15

Coincidentally, I just scored a second remote Icon_smile
[Image: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7206/68256...dd14_z.jpg]


I pulled the chassis tonight. What a beast! Looks to be in good condition. Some crumbling rubber wire, but a lot is cloth covered including the transformer.
[Image: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7062/69717...a8d9_z.jpg]

[Image: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7048/69717...08f3_z.jpg]

[Image: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7204/68256...22c4_z.jpg]

[Image: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7053/69717...3203_z.jpg]




Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)
[-]
Recent Posts
Jackson 715 not working
Now that you posted the schematic, I don't know why that Sprague electrolytic cap is across the meter, as it is not indi...MrFixr55 — 05:51 PM
HiFi (Chifi) tube amp build - but my own design.
What may be lacking in the PP Tube amps may be the 2nd harmonics, which some, especially RCA back in the day called &quo...MrFixr55 — 05:32 PM
Jackson 715 not working
Usually in an emission tester, the tube under test is measured as if it were a diode. So, some testers connect all the g...RodB — 04:17 PM
Restoring Philco 37-604C
Yep. F5 is green, D5 is Red. Red is Bad. Green is Clean.morzh — 01:30 PM
Jackson 715 not working
I did start to do that but I stalled out because I could not figure out how the grid and plate get voltage. In this diag...daveone23 — 11:52 AM
Restoring Philco 37-604C
(Insert Homer Simpson "DOPF" Here.) When all fails, look at the can. Took the Ron Ramirez advice, red Caig D...MrFixr55 — 09:23 AM
Philco 91 Speaker Replacement
From your text I am not sure if you intend to use the existing speaker with a resistor instead of the field coil. It wo...morzh — 08:44 AM
Philco 91 Speaker Replacement
My field coil is bad. I am still hoping to find an original, but if I can't I will go with a fitting Philco speaker, 125...dconant — 08:34 AM
Philco 91 Speaker Replacement
As Rod said, it is OK to use a fitting speaker, and then look for an original one. If you buy a Hammond 125 output tr...morzh — 08:15 AM
Philco 91 Speaker Replacement
Yes, I often have to substitute, then keep an eye out for an original. In the meantime, the radio is working and being e...RodB — 08:02 AM

[-]
Who's Online
There are currently 5103 online users. [Complete List]
» 2 Member(s) | 5101 Guest(s)
AvatarAvatar

>