06-26-2026, 11:28 AM
Hi FancyPants, and welcome to the Philco Phorum. We hope to see much of you. Please "surf the Phorum, read the rules and regulations, and "What not to post". We are a family-friendly and supportive gang here.
Attached are the schematics for this set from RadioMuseum:
This is an interesting unit. While it states that it is "Stereo", another amplifier and speaker are necessary to hear a record in stereo. I assume that the phono cartridge is a stereo cartridge. In the early days of stereo, the amplifier and speaker for the right channel did not necessarily match the left channel on many sets. This is anathema to the modern audio enthusiast but this was common. True HiFi equipment like Fisher, McIntosh, Scott, etc. was out of the reach of the average person. The "main line" companies such as Philco, RCA, Magnavox, Motorola, etc. had several interesting attributes to make a nice sounding unit. In the case of Philco, the electrostatic speaker and their earlier "Beam of Light" Phono pickups were innovative designs.
Please note to NOT connect typical dynamic speakers to the electrostatic speaker terminals. The electrostatic speaker is charged by a negative 610V Power supply!!!!
For example, Motorola had a 3 channel amplifier; a high powered monaural "center" channel and smaller left and right amplifiers.
The amplifier for this set is interesting. This does have a relatively high output, somewhere between 5 and 10 watts based on the plate voltage, and an interesting "electrostatic" tweeter. The amp also featured negative feedback to reduce distortion and several stages of amplification. This was likely because the phono cartridge was ceramic, which had lower voltage but better fidelity than crystal cartridges.
If you have no experience repairing or restoring electronic equipment, especially vacuum tube equipment, fear not. Keep us posted and we are happy to help.
HOWEVER....
Do be careful when repairing this unit or other vacuum tube units, as these contain very high voltages that can injure or kill you.
You will need a good set of hand tools, including screwdrivers, a 1/4" socket wrench set, Digital Voltmeter (available for reasonable prices all over the internet as well as big box home improvement stores and Harbor Freight tools), needle nose pliers, diagonal wire cutters, a 40 Watt soldering iron and rosin core electronic solder.
The set may work upon powerup but almost all restorers strongly recommend replacing all caps (capacitors) especially the electrolytic filter caps and any "paper foil" caps.
At one time, Philco built their own turntables, but this one may be a "Voice of Music" (V-M) turntable. V-M was a majpr OEM suppier of turntables and record changers to US phonograph manufacturers. n the mid 50s to about 1970, at least 75 % of all phonographs or radio-phono combinations used a V-M turntable or changer. This was before the "British Invasion" of Garrard, BSR and Collaro.
Keep us posted! We are happy to help
Attached are the schematics for this set from RadioMuseum:
This is an interesting unit. While it states that it is "Stereo", another amplifier and speaker are necessary to hear a record in stereo. I assume that the phono cartridge is a stereo cartridge. In the early days of stereo, the amplifier and speaker for the right channel did not necessarily match the left channel on many sets. This is anathema to the modern audio enthusiast but this was common. True HiFi equipment like Fisher, McIntosh, Scott, etc. was out of the reach of the average person. The "main line" companies such as Philco, RCA, Magnavox, Motorola, etc. had several interesting attributes to make a nice sounding unit. In the case of Philco, the electrostatic speaker and their earlier "Beam of Light" Phono pickups were innovative designs.
Please note to NOT connect typical dynamic speakers to the electrostatic speaker terminals. The electrostatic speaker is charged by a negative 610V Power supply!!!!
For example, Motorola had a 3 channel amplifier; a high powered monaural "center" channel and smaller left and right amplifiers.
The amplifier for this set is interesting. This does have a relatively high output, somewhere between 5 and 10 watts based on the plate voltage, and an interesting "electrostatic" tweeter. The amp also featured negative feedback to reduce distortion and several stages of amplification. This was likely because the phono cartridge was ceramic, which had lower voltage but better fidelity than crystal cartridges.
If you have no experience repairing or restoring electronic equipment, especially vacuum tube equipment, fear not. Keep us posted and we are happy to help.
HOWEVER....
Do be careful when repairing this unit or other vacuum tube units, as these contain very high voltages that can injure or kill you.
You will need a good set of hand tools, including screwdrivers, a 1/4" socket wrench set, Digital Voltmeter (available for reasonable prices all over the internet as well as big box home improvement stores and Harbor Freight tools), needle nose pliers, diagonal wire cutters, a 40 Watt soldering iron and rosin core electronic solder.
The set may work upon powerup but almost all restorers strongly recommend replacing all caps (capacitors) especially the electrolytic filter caps and any "paper foil" caps.
At one time, Philco built their own turntables, but this one may be a "Voice of Music" (V-M) turntable. V-M was a majpr OEM suppier of turntables and record changers to US phonograph manufacturers. n the mid 50s to about 1970, at least 75 % of all phonographs or radio-phono combinations used a V-M turntable or changer. This was before the "British Invasion" of Garrard, BSR and Collaro.
Keep us posted! We are happy to help
"Do Justly, love Mercy and walk humbly with your God"- Micah 6:8
"Let us begin to do good"- St. Francis
Best Regards,
MrFixr55
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