<![CDATA[The PHILCO Phorum - Philco Home Radios]]>

<![CDATA[The PHILCO Phorum - Philco Home Radios]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/ Sat, 24 Oct 2026 06:56:25 +0000 MyBB <![CDATA[Chassis 91 Code 123]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26752 Fri, 09 Oct 2026 15:15:04 -0500 jlwiley123]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26752
Regarding my background - I restored/repaired a number of old radios in the late 1970's and early 80's, but have been away from the hobby for most of the last 40 years.

I recently picked up a Philco Chassis 91 code 123 radio. The radio is pretty complete, although I think it is missing one of the shields. The tubes are not all original philco branded tubes, so it has had some tube replacements in it's past. From looking under the chassis, I am pretty sure that there has never been any work done under there. All the bakelite blocks look original and the dogbone type resisters are still there.

I am pretty comfortable doing the restoration work to get the radio working again, and frankly that would be my primary interest - I don't really like display only radios - I want them to be functional.

All that being said - here is my real question: Would I be committing some kind of cardinal sin by digging into this radio - replacing all the paper capacitors in the bakelite blocks, electorlytics and any resistors that are drastically out of tolerance? Please let me know as I will probably dig into the thing in the next 2 or 3 days.

Thanks

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Regarding my background - I restored/repaired a number of old radios in the late 1970's and early 80's, but have been away from the hobby for most of the last 40 years.

I recently picked up a Philco Chassis 91 code 123 radio. The radio is pretty complete, although I think it is missing one of the shields. The tubes are not all original philco branded tubes, so it has had some tube replacements in it's past. From looking under the chassis, I am pretty sure that there has never been any work done under there. All the bakelite blocks look original and the dogbone type resisters are still there.

I am pretty comfortable doing the restoration work to get the radio working again, and frankly that would be my primary interest - I don't really like display only radios - I want them to be functional.

All that being said - here is my real question: Would I be committing some kind of cardinal sin by digging into this radio - replacing all the paper capacitors in the bakelite blocks, electorlytics and any resistors that are drastically out of tolerance? Please let me know as I will probably dig into the thing in the next 2 or 3 days.

Thanks

IMG_2189.JPEG Size: 1.18 MB Downloads: 87

]]> <![CDATA[Philco 89 Bluetooth]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26742 Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:05:36 -0500 dconant]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26742
Thank you,
Dan

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Thank you,
Dan

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]]> <![CDATA[Philco 89 2nd IF]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26740 Mon, 05 Oct 2026 09:59:13 -0500 dconant]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26740
Dan]]>
Dan]]> <![CDATA[Philco 620 and 47-204]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26734 Sat, 03 Oct 2026 18:56:51 -0500 slford310]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26734

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]]> <![CDATA[Transformer Set Shock]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26709 Sun, 13 Sep 2026 09:29:55 -0500 dconant]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26709
Thank you, Dan]]>
Thank you, Dan]]> <![CDATA[40-190 Shortwave reception; button labels]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26671 Sat, 22 Aug 2026 12:46:13 -0500 FossilGuy]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26671 1) Shortwave reception is spotty at best. Any way to improve without an external antenna. I have a Radio Shack "Amplified Shortwave Antenna", model 20-280 that I tried to attach (not sure I am doing it correctly; cut the jack; one silver, one copper wire), but no real improvement. I have a tube tester and a multimeter; no other test equipment.
2) My local AM stations have changed their call signs. Any place make labels for the bush buttons? Or some way of making my own?
Thanks! -]]> 1) Shortwave reception is spotty at best. Any way to improve without an external antenna. I have a Radio Shack "Amplified Shortwave Antenna", model 20-280 that I tried to attach (not sure I am doing it correctly; cut the jack; one silver, one copper wire), but no real improvement. I have a tube tester and a multimeter; no other test equipment.
2) My local AM stations have changed their call signs. Any place make labels for the bush buttons? Or some way of making my own?
Thanks! -]]> <![CDATA[Battery Box Project for 40-81]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26637 Sun, 26 Jul 2026 12:46:16 -0500 MZip]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26637
A friend’s grandfather had a 40-81 portable radio he asked me to get running. Did the typical replace caps and brittle wires and got it working. Sounds amazingly good, really. Part of that was building a battery box to hold the A and B supplies.

Anyway, the battery box needed a cover so decided to make some in the style of the old batteries. A little massaging of the designs was involved (not 100% accurate but fairly close). These are 3D printed to fit the compartmented box I also printed that holds the batteries. For those that care, I used PETG for the box and its bits for heat tolerance near the tubes (which don’t seem to get too hot at all) but PLA for the cover plates for easy printing of the designs.

I knew nothing about tubes when I started and had some missteps. I get the radio back this week to mod the filament supply a little. Will post more about what worked and didn’t, etc.

Anyway, for whatever it’s worth. They snazz up a battery project. My friend only wanted a personalized cover plate. These were extra for fun. The high voltage Philco isn’t historical. It was just in the style my friend wanted but personalized and looked ok.

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A friend’s grandfather had a 40-81 portable radio he asked me to get running. Did the typical replace caps and brittle wires and got it working. Sounds amazingly good, really. Part of that was building a battery box to hold the A and B supplies.

Anyway, the battery box needed a cover so decided to make some in the style of the old batteries. A little massaging of the designs was involved (not 100% accurate but fairly close). These are 3D printed to fit the compartmented box I also printed that holds the batteries. For those that care, I used PETG for the box and its bits for heat tolerance near the tubes (which don’t seem to get too hot at all) but PLA for the cover plates for easy printing of the designs.

I knew nothing about tubes when I started and had some missteps. I get the radio back this week to mod the filament supply a little. Will post more about what worked and didn’t, etc.

Anyway, for whatever it’s worth. They snazz up a battery project. My friend only wanted a personalized cover plate. These were extra for fun. The high voltage Philco isn’t historical. It was just in the style my friend wanted but personalized and looked ok.

IMG_4652.jpeg Size: 3.25 MB Downloads: 173

]]> <![CDATA[recent purchase of 42-380]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26628 Mon, 20 Jul 2026 15:59:17 -0500 doctormap]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26628 1. The knobs seem to be correct but they fit very loosely. Is something missing?
2. When I try to use the AM tuner the cord slips on the spindle in some positions and then sometimes it slips off the tuner.
3. Is there a good electronics cleaner to use on the tuning capacitor?]]> 1. The knobs seem to be correct but they fit very loosely. Is something missing?
2. When I try to use the AM tuner the cord slips on the spindle in some positions and then sometimes it slips off the tuner.
3. Is there a good electronics cleaner to use on the tuning capacitor?]]> <![CDATA[My Humming squeeling motorboating Hippo 46-420 code 121]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26613 Fri, 10 Jul 2026 20:48:46 -0500 apERNA1985]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26613
Here is a clip on youtube you can hear the squeeling and motor boating along with the hum between stations.

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Here is a clip on youtube you can hear the squeeling and motor boating along with the hum between stations.

20260709_193859.jpg Size: 2.66 MB Downloads: 157

20260709_193906.jpg Size: 2.98 MB Downloads: 151

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]]> <![CDATA[Decorative foil in some cabinets. Pt.2]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26605 Tue, 07 Jul 2026 17:20:13 -0500 gary rabbitt]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26605 Back in 1-2011 I posted a question on the Phorum regarding the decorative foil used on some cabinet inside bottoms. The original thread's images I uploaded are now not visible.
I cannot edit that post as it is closed to update the images, so I am posting again with the photos in case someone is interested or has an explanation.

(Original thread here on the Forum, attachments no longer visible):
https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthrea...light=foil

Ron Ramirez originally had no idea. The actual purpose of the foil I presume was to make a cheap shield to keep out stray RF.
But the question was why the ornate designs? Some are pretty ornate. Myself and Ron was thinking the foil was bought by Philco from a source that originally used it as a wrapping possibly. It would seem plausible as Philco would have no reason to emboss foil that would never be seen by the consumers.
On the ARF an member just posted about this foil, and other than his post, I have never seen any others comment on the foil.
There is no asbe*tos under this.

So here are the original pics I posted in 2011
Any definitive reasons for the patterns is welcome. My opinion is the decorative foil was leftovers from another company or source, Philco made good use of it for their under chassis shielding. I believe I have other patterns on disc, but cannot access them at the moment.
Thanks guys!

37-84

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37-84

3784foil b.JPG Size: 786 KB Downloads: 140

84B

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]]> Back in 1-2011 I posted a question on the Phorum regarding the decorative foil used on some cabinet inside bottoms. The original thread's images I uploaded are now not visible.
I cannot edit that post as it is closed to update the images, so I am posting again with the photos in case someone is interested or has an explanation.

(Original thread here on the Forum, attachments no longer visible):
https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthrea...light=foil

Ron Ramirez originally had no idea. The actual purpose of the foil I presume was to make a cheap shield to keep out stray RF.
But the question was why the ornate designs? Some are pretty ornate. Myself and Ron was thinking the foil was bought by Philco from a source that originally used it as a wrapping possibly. It would seem plausible as Philco would have no reason to emboss foil that would never be seen by the consumers.
On the ARF an member just posted about this foil, and other than his post, I have never seen any others comment on the foil.
There is no asbe*tos under this.

So here are the original pics I posted in 2011
Any definitive reasons for the patterns is welcome. My opinion is the decorative foil was leftovers from another company or source, Philco made good use of it for their under chassis shielding. I believe I have other patterns on disc, but cannot access them at the moment.
Thanks guys!

37-84

3784foil a.JPG Size: 1.24 MB Downloads: 146

37-84

3784foil b.JPG Size: 786 KB Downloads: 140

84B

Philco 84 B Foil.JPG Size: 151.45 KB Downloads: 144

]]> <![CDATA[Philco 91 ambiguities]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26588 Thu, 25 Jun 2026 21:35:35 -0500 Lead Fingers]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26588
This is my first post having just joined. I'm presently restoring two model 91's. One is a Code 121 and the other is a dual speaker Code 221. The 221 is the problem child. The schematic is beyond understanding. There is a 136 ohm segment on the BC resistor rod but it shows nowhere in the schematic. Where does it go in the circuitry? Icon_wtf

Lead Fingers]]>
This is my first post having just joined. I'm presently restoring two model 91's. One is a Code 121 and the other is a dual speaker Code 221. The 221 is the problem child. The schematic is beyond understanding. There is a 136 ohm segment on the BC resistor rod but it shows nowhere in the schematic. Where does it go in the circuitry? Icon_wtf

Lead Fingers]]> <![CDATA[1936 Philco 60 back to life.]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26587 Thu, 25 Jun 2026 17:42:15 -0500 Lawrence Austin]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26587 1936 Philco]]> 1936 Philco]]> <![CDATA[Greetings and looking for assistance]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26586 Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:32:30 -0500 FancyPantsStereo]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26586
I have an Philco Radio/Phonograph from either the 50's or 60's I am trying to identify. The label on the back with the make and model is torn and the information is missing. So looking for some help in identifying what I have.

Here are a couple of pictures.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

And, if this is the incorrect Phorum, please let me know where I should post this.

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I have an Philco Radio/Phonograph from either the 50's or 60's I am trying to identify. The label on the back with the make and model is torn and the information is missing. So looking for some help in identifying what I have.

Here are a couple of pictures.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

And, if this is the incorrect Phorum, please let me know where I should post this.

image 15.jpeg Size: 3.26 MB Downloads: 106

Image 9.jpeg Size: 4.49 MB Downloads: 95

IMage 5.jpeg Size: 4.06 MB Downloads: 100

Image 7.jpeg Size: 3.93 MB Downloads: 96

]]> <![CDATA[Philco 37-630 completed. Wonky 6Q7?]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26563 Sun, 14 Jun 2026 18:31:30 -0500 Lawrence Austin]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26563
Had this for a few decades but never looked into it because it played fine. Never knew there was the shadow meter due to the dead bulb. Re-capped, some resistors changed, new tuner bank rubber mounts. Thanks to Tom Oppat a new volume control. Never played like this before!

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_KgJQChPr...ture=share]]>
Had this for a few decades but never looked into it because it played fine. Never knew there was the shadow meter due to the dead bulb. Re-capped, some resistors changed, new tuner bank rubber mounts. Thanks to Tom Oppat a new volume control. Never played like this before!

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_KgJQChPr...ture=share]]> <![CDATA[39-40 -maybe???]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26561 Sat, 13 Jun 2026 18:30:55 -0500 bridkarl]]> https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=26561

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