[Ron Ramirez]

By this afternoon, the chassis looked like this:

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...5T_021.jpg]

Most of the restuffed paper capacitors are now back in place. The two IF transformers now have new wires and have been reinstalled.

It really does look like that radio was a prototype or pre-production sample.

And now I am even more convinced of this.

Let's look at the audio output transformer.

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...5T_022.jpg]

It does not show well in this photo, but the top of the transformer is rubber stamped with the PHILCO name and the part number: 32-8018M. (I am assuming M = Merit Transformer Corp.)

32-8018 is the proper part number for the production 40-715 output transformer, according to the parts list.

But now take a look at what I revealed when I melted the wax from the sides of the transformer:

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...5T_023.jpg]

In case you cannot read it, the following was handwritten on the insulating paper on one side:

PHILCO
32M
9543
SAMPLE
8-17-38



8-17-38?!?!?

Well, my feeling is that this transformer may have been left over from the previous year and was then used in this set, which must surely be a prototype or pre-production sample. I'll have to see if I can find a 32-9543 listing in one of my Philco parts catalogs and see if its characteristics match the 32-8018.

Oh, I forgot to mention: This chassis has a four digit serial number stamped into the back, followed by a date of sometime in June, 1939 - which would have been the beginning of the 1940 selling season. As shown earlier, this radio has a conventional Philco Tropic metal model number tag on the back of the chassis. (I'll try to take a photo of that serial number and stamped date tomorrow.)

So maybe I should have left it alone. But this radio, like my 42-720EZ, was obviously used over the years. It's just a shame that the original electrolytics are now gone; I think if it had been completely untouched, I would have just left it as a shelf queen.

Well, in any event, here's how it looks now.

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...5T_024.jpg]

I removed the off-on-tone switch to make it easier to install the electrolytics (once I get two of those, that is).

Remaining work to do:

Attach a new power cord.
Replace the dry-rotted speaker cable.
Find and restuff two electrolytic cans, then install them into the radio.
Reinstall the off-on-tone switch.
Install one remaining restuffed paper capacitor.