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I have restored an A 361 but it requires a long wire antenna to receive stations. When I substitute a wire as long as an auto antenna no stations are received. Has been recapped. This is the model that was converted from car radio to AC radio at the start of WW II.
(This post was last modified: 10-22-2025, 09:09 PM by
radiodale.)
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Hi RadioDale,
I don't know what model car radio was converted into the A361. I researched it once and found it, but can't find it now. (of course, it's 4:30 AM and I am in a bout of insomnia that is ending. I don't know if the radio, as converted for home use was tuned or loaded so as to use a car radio antenna. The F-1840 (similar car radio) and the A361 have different P/Ns for the antenna choke.
Did you restore more than one of these? did the other work with a car radio antenna (or wire about 4 ft)?
"Do Justly, love Mercy and walk humbly with your God"- Micah 6:8
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Best Regards,
MrFixr55
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Sorry - off topic - I was viewing the forum on a tablet and a finger brushed the rating stars to give it a 1 star rating I then couldn’t undo or remove.
Will ask admin to just remove it. Really did not mean to give it a 1 star rating.
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The Philco A-361 used the F-1942 Ford and Mercury "Adjust-O-Matic" auto radio sets with changes i.e. transformer instead of battery operation, etc. (service info under the 1942 RMS yearbook as is the schematic for the A361).
Perhaps a longer wire (maybe 20') than the length of an auto antenna would work better.
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MZip, we're looking at whether the rating can be adjusted but in the mean time don't worry about it. You noted the mistake and your participation in the discussion is what's really important!
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As far as I know they basically removed the 6.3 volt vibrator power supply and added a 117 volt, AC mains transformer in it's place, electrically if not physically. It's possible that the antenna coil may have an open primary if reception is very weak, other then that I would check the tubes, resistors, and alignment. I would also go back through and see if maybe a wiring error was made, it's not uncommon with a bulk recapping for this to happen. I noticed that there is a .01 uf cap coupling the car antenna to the primary of the antenna coil as well.
https://philcoradio.com/library/download...20Book.pdf
Regards
Arran
(This post was last modified: 07-30-2026, 02:31 PM by
Arran.)