[ccomer1955]

This radio is on display at the Witte museum in San Antonio. They had no idea what it was (it is in a folk life section). It's a 41-285X? Do I have it identified correctly? Someone tacked a plexiglass sheet on it, it looks like. The radio works (an old student of mine works there), but has an antenna issue because it only gets a station down the street. What sort of antenna system did the 41-285X have?
   

[klondike98]

Yes I think you have it identified correctly...see the info in the Philco Photo Gallery . The poor reception is likely due to the electronics not being restored (capacitors replaced, resistors and tubes checked, bad wiring replaced, alignment performed). The antenna system is built into the radio as a rectangular wire as seen in the photos in a thread on the 41-285x.

[ccomer1955]

Thanks, klondike98. I've already cautioned them against playing it until they know the status of the capacitors. Do you know if this set has a tendency toward crumbling insulation?

[tab10672]

Yes any philco 1939-42 had rubber wire which dries and crumbles away.