11-19-2014, 09:17 PM
It's Alive...
[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...e00016.jpg]
So this evening while waiting for 18,427 updates to install on what is now a new, clean Windows 8 system, I decided it was time to give the 53-960 a try - and it came to life with no issues at all.
I tried it out on AM, both SW bands, and on the 49/41 and 31 meter spread bands, and heard stations on all of those bands. It really sounds good with its 10 inch PM speaker, too.
Notice that the dial lamp is nice and bright? That is no ordinary #44 lamp...
[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...e00017.jpg]
This is a special 6 volt AC/DC LED lamp with flexible leads. Just the trick for this radio's dial, and the illumination is excellent. It's an Ablaze Premium Ghost Buster 1-SMD LED lamp in Warm White, from Pinball Life.
http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=3108
At 89 cents in quantities of 10 or more, they are priced low enough that they are well worth considering for our vintage radios...and they should last much longer than a typical 44 lamp while using less current. I had bought a few of these several months ago, and I felt one would work perfectly in this radio. I think I was right
WARNING
Pinball Life also sells other LED lamps with miniature bayonet bases, some of which are as low as 39 cents each. Do not order the 39 cent bulbs - they operate on DC only! Be sure the bulbs you order specify AC/DC!
I do not know whether or not these bulbs will work in AC/DC radios with the bulb wired in parallel with a rectifier heater tap or a dropping resistor, but the "AC/DC" bulbs will work fine in a transformer-operated receiver using 6 volt pilot lamps with miniature bayonet bases.
So, anyway...once this set receives a full alignment, it will be all ready to go. Another one finished!
[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...e00016.jpg]
So this evening while waiting for 18,427 updates to install on what is now a new, clean Windows 8 system, I decided it was time to give the 53-960 a try - and it came to life with no issues at all.
I tried it out on AM, both SW bands, and on the 49/41 and 31 meter spread bands, and heard stations on all of those bands. It really sounds good with its 10 inch PM speaker, too.
Notice that the dial lamp is nice and bright? That is no ordinary #44 lamp...
[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...e00017.jpg]
This is a special 6 volt AC/DC LED lamp with flexible leads. Just the trick for this radio's dial, and the illumination is excellent. It's an Ablaze Premium Ghost Buster 1-SMD LED lamp in Warm White, from Pinball Life.
http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=3108
At 89 cents in quantities of 10 or more, they are priced low enough that they are well worth considering for our vintage radios...and they should last much longer than a typical 44 lamp while using less current. I had bought a few of these several months ago, and I felt one would work perfectly in this radio. I think I was right
WARNING
Pinball Life also sells other LED lamps with miniature bayonet bases, some of which are as low as 39 cents each. Do not order the 39 cent bulbs - they operate on DC only! Be sure the bulbs you order specify AC/DC!
I do not know whether or not these bulbs will work in AC/DC radios with the bulb wired in parallel with a rectifier heater tap or a dropping resistor, but the "AC/DC" bulbs will work fine in a transformer-operated receiver using 6 volt pilot lamps with miniature bayonet bases.
So, anyway...once this set receives a full alignment, it will be all ready to go. Another one finished!
--
Ron Ramirez
Ferdinand IN
