[Ron Ramirez]

I recently bought this just to get the chassis (which is the "early" type with two Type 45 output tubes).
http://cgi.ebay.com/170185572972

I initially did not intend to keep the cabinet, but I may try to restore it. Believe it or not, it could be salvaged with a LOT of reveneering.

After getting it home, I decided to pull the chassis to make it easier to get both down into the basement.

The entire underneath of the chassis was literally JAM-PACKED with an old mouse nest!

UGH.

And to top it all off...I did not notice until after I pulled the chassis, that the power transformer was gone! (Had I paid closer attention, I would have noticed this in the auction photos, and I might not have bid as a result. Oh well...it IS replaceable.)

At least one of the two 45 tubes was good. ST type though...only one globe tube in the entire set, a Type 27.

Photos to follow later.

I still would prefer to put this chassis, once restored, into a cathedral cabinet. I don't know what I will do with the console cabinet if I decide to try and fix it, though.

I did not pick up the Silvertone cabinet, btw. I suggested to the sellers that they use it for firewood.

[Ron Ramirez]

-- WARNING: LONG POST --

As promised, here are photos of my Barn Fresh 90 Highboy.

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...90_001.jpg]
Beautiful, isn't it? NOT. The veneer on the doors and the panels to the left and right of the doors is gone. Yet the cabinet is still structurally sound, and could be restored with a lot of reveneering.



[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...90_002.jpg]
A view of the cabinet with the doors open. This way, the set does not look so bad.



[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...90_003.jpg]
A close-up of the front panel. This set has all of its original knobs - including the Model 20-type off-on knob (Part No. 4290-A), used only on early production 90 sets. Explanation here:
http://tinyurl.com/2dzoku



[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...90_004.jpg]
Rear view of the set. One tube is now missing; the Type 45 that was shorted.



[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...90_005.jpg]
Look at the chassis. Look at the gaping hole at bottom left! No power transformer! Hello, spare transformer from one of my 96 or 112 junker chassis...

Nothing like using your clothes dryer as a table for taking pictures, eh? But it served the purpose for some quick photos.



[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...90_006.jpg]
Back view of the chassis. Dirty, with rust here and there.



[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...90_007.jpg]
Upper view of the chassis, showing more of the rust and dirt.



[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...90_008.jpg]
Underside view of the chassis. I should have taken a photo of this before I dumped out most of the old mouse nest that was under here; it COMPLETELY filled the underside! Remnants of it can be seen here and there, especially surrounding the RF coil (upper right). More rust can also be seen under here. Some of the trimmer condensers will have to be replaced as they have been ruined by mouse urine. The entire set will have to be disassembled, cleaned, painted, rewired and rebuilt. What a challenge. But it can be done with time and patience (both of which, by my own admission, I have very little of.)

[Guest]

It looks like a big job but will look nice when completed. I have a Model 70 chassis that was filled up with mouse nests and the wooden cabinet bottom was filled with mouse urine. I have redone the cabinet but not the chassis yet. My chassis wasn't rusted up, just smelled terrible. I soaked the chassis and the bottom of the cabinet in a product called Urine Erase I got from the local vet and then spayed it with hilex. That took care of the smell. Now if I can get some ambition and work on the chassis. It'll have to wait awhile. I have a 37-116 to go through among others.

Don

[Ron Ramirez]

The mouse nest in my 90 must have been there a long time, because there are no lingering odors. Only the mess they left behind remained until I cleaned it out somewhat.

Your 70 must have truly been "Barn Fresh!"

Recently, I completely overhauled a 71 chassis that was a rust bucket. Now it looks almost like new, and is a superb performer. At the same time I cleaned out and painted the 71, I also cleaned out and painted a rust bucket 89 chassis. I have not yet rebuilt the 89, however.

[Guest]

You are right about the 71 being a superb performer. I have a 71X that has a slanted sound board and looks like the 91X cabinet. I redid that one and it is also a great performer. I listen to it almost every day.

I have an 18H that I have to redo one of these days also. I looks kind of like your 90.

Don

[PhilcoPhil]

Hey Ron,
Y'know, it's funny to me that even though sometimes these old radios look terrible when first re-discovered they really are still magical to me. I am sure everyone knows what I am saying. When my eyes find an old radio like this one my heart leaps and the beauty and history shine through.
This radio will be excellent when it is up and running again. It's kind of like finding an old friend. Good Luck and keep us posted.

[Ron Ramirez]

PhilcoPhil

Funny you should make that remark about an old radio being an "old friend"...I sometimes catch myself referring to my collection as "my friends."

Reminds me of a comment Edward G. Robinson once made about his art collection:

"Late at night, ...I go into my living room and sit down among these quiet friends, and we study each other very gravely, and I hope with mutual pleasure."

(as quoted in Newsweek, April 16, 1973 - from the book Edward G. Robinson by Foster Hirsch, ©1975 Pyramid Communications, Inc.)

[Texasrocker]

I also enjoy restoring those large-size chassis!! Plenty of room to work on everything, and once they are restored, slowly powering them back to life via a variac is most rewarding!! Their audio quality is amazing!! Enjoy your (old friends)!! Is this a great hobby or what!??

[n9vu]

Ron,

Are you in need of a model 70 or 90 chassis for this project or are the two compatible?

I may (big maybe) have a spare on hand. Feel free to EMAIL me

n9vu at hotmail dot com

[Ron Ramirez]

Gary

E-mail forthcoming. THANKS!

[etech]

Hi all,

I spent some time today checking components and cleaning my 90 chassis. I am preparing to begin the restoration of this chassis. Here are some pics.

[Image: http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q136/...0Front.jpg]

You always have to light the tubes once before resto, lol!

[Image: http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q136/...o90Top.jpg]

And finally, the best part. Notice the added paper condenser block on chassis right side. The date on the top of it says 10-10-36! It looks like that was the last time this chassis was serviced.

[Image: http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q136/...0Under.jpg][url]

Other than the one added filter condenser, the chassis looks to be original and all there. Well the good news is that the transformer checks OK and powers up fine. All the resistors are within 20%, except for the two 490k's, which will need to be replaced. All the coils, RF, Detector, Oscillator and IF's at least have continuity. So I think a recap may be enough to get this radio to play. We shall see.

Now if I can just find a speaker, cabinet, escutcheon, and a few sundry items, lol!

By the way, no comments are necessary on the death cord used to power up the chassis for these pics, lol! At least it was fused at 1 amp and connected to my Sencore PR 57 isolated variac.

Regards,

Ed[/url]

[BDM]

WOW, very clean job

[Ron Ramirez]

Indeed! Please share, Ed...how did you get your chassis so clean?

[etech]

Hi Guys,

This chassis was in pretty good shape when I received it, aside from the normal dust, dirt and general grime. I use the same techniques on all my restoration projects. I cleaned the chassis with mineral spirits. The RF, IF, and oscillator cans are always cleaned with Mothers Mag and Aluminum Polish available in auto stores. It does a nice job on aluminum cans. I had never cleaned any copper Mershon caps before and I was surprised at what a nice job the Mothers Polish does on them too. I have to admit that this chassis cleaned up about as well as any I have done before, and better than most. The only reasonable way I know to make it more presentable would be to paint it, but I reserve that for the really bad rust bucket chassis' for which there is no other recourse.

Regards,

Ed