Alternative Radio Forum

[DeckApe]

Mikhail7 Wrote:I wish I were rich.

Yeah, yeah, line forms to the left. Wanna beer?

-DA

[Fred R]

I don't normally post to a topic like this but it hits a few points with me. Having grown up in Philly and having an uncle who worked at Philco in the '30s, I have a fondness for the brand. Two things are a thorn in my side over the other place. One is the wholesale worshipping of anything Zenith. Granted, I have two in my collection that I like the electronic design more than I care about the "pretty dial". I have had my 37 and 38-690s for many years now and have grown weary of "it's not a Zenith". My other gripe is the nonsense of "it's worthless if it has a phono". I can understand the sentiment towards post-war side by sides which were just OK sets but other than a Capehart 400P (with 2A3 outputs) or certain Scotts, most post-war sets were mediocre. Not much exciting in the engineering side or the styling side.

My main interests since a kid has been in phonos, especially anything electrically amplified from 1926 through about 1938. Anything with an odd changer, things that throw off, flip or do other interesting things really pique my interest. The drop changer of the late '30s is where I lose the interest. Radios are just one small aspect and fortunately, there is a whole sub-culture with similar interests to mine out there. I have made friends with people all over the US and Canada with similar interest although we are looked down upon on ARF and other radio places. I have actually only corresponded with one person on ARF with a similar interest.

There are people over there that are good and knowledgable and some I avoid. I tend to avoid the clubhouse now. And who cares if another Walton turns up on ebay.

As far as Philcos go, I have several favorites besides the 690s. One I have to get around to restoring but time and space right now is the biggest problem, is my 118 two piece chairside from 1935. My favorite has got to be my 37-650PX radio/phono, the one on Ron's site. He took photos of it right after I bought it and then I unloaded it from my van for the photos.


I am more than glad to see a place here where other brands can be discussed.

Fred R

[Michael Dennis]

There's another "Walton" on ebay bid up over $500 with 4 more days to go. I think it's insane. And I think some of the nicest sounding Philcos had phonos.

[etech]

I think the phrase 'different strokes for different folks' is the key. I have about the same number of Philcos as I do 'Z' sets. I also have a smattering of other brands including RCA, Westinghouse, GE, Apex, Wagner, AK, Majestic, GM, etc. After all, if we all collected the same thing, there would be a shortage of whatever that is.

Regards,

Ed

[Texasrocker]

This is a Great hobby! Restoring "vintage radio americana" is something passionate to me & my Wife from all mfgrs that produced early 1920s models thru about 1953 era, of the tube type radios. Since I cant afford any of the all orig A-K mod breadboards,Zenith Walton models, or any of the rare catalin sets, (unless I find em in a Barn or storage somewheres in the future?, not likely)!!
I have completely restored several-hundred different brand tube radios, amps, etc vintage electronics in the many past yrs for my personal collection, as well as many other collectors as well that didnt know how to service them.
This "hobby" really isnt about "who has this or that" in their collections anyways!! Many different "preferences" in selection of ALL us restorians, period!
What "IS" Important in this vintage radio hobby we all share, is the comraderie we can ALL share among each other on a basis such as this forum, that HELPS all us on restoring all the vintage tube-type radios/amps etc that would have simply been discarded otherwise in this modern "digital-age" we live in today.
The very best thing, is that we all learn something new here, and hard technical type questions (for any set), can be answered ( & info Shared), by the vast-knowledge of trial & error service tips offered here by some of the most knowledgable vintage tube techs around indeed!! I LOVE my many vintage Philcos also!! GREAT sounding sets that will rival any set produced indeed! It just comes down to "looks" in some cases, and the physical-size (space constraints) we all have room for restored vintage electronics in our homes!? Save em ALL!! Just my .02

[Michael Dennis]

Well said, Randall. And I like your term "restorian". Let's face it, to all of us this tube technology, it's care, repair, restoration, passion and reverence for is a driving interest that keeps us all young, excited and, hopefully, out of trouble.

Mike

[Doug Houston]

I used to do lots of posts on all of the ARF topics. I don't anymore, partiaally, because I'm jaded, and partially because there are some totally asinine questions posed.

One I avoided was: "What tubes glow the brightest?" Fer cryin' in the bucket, who in the blazes could ever care?

Another: "The best radio ever made?" Ten thousand replies; ten thousand different answers.

And, there are some posters who hate me passionately. I'm a rabid conservative, and there are some bright red communists there. I love ringing their chimes.

I just hope that dingaling topics don't overrun the site, that's all.

[BDM]

Doug Houston Wrote:One I avoided was: "What tubes glow the brightest?" Fer cryin' in the bucket, who in the blazes could ever care?

[Ron Ramirez]

Hi Doug

Great points. In regard to the sillier posts over there, I think someone has too much time on their hands.

Like you, Doug, I too am a conservative.

I made reference on Page 1 of this topic of having made a post over there; I did this, also, just to rattle their cages.

I now have a once-a-month opinion column in the local rag, the Currier & Depressed. In my latest one, I call for the abolishment of township government completely. (For those of you who are not Indiana residents, in this state our counties are divided up into smaller units called townships. They are yet another layer of government which is unneeded. Believe me, I have made quite a few enemies over this, and I find it all a bit humorous, the reaction I have received from idiots who want to keep drawing a salary from my tax dollars. I've been called everything from stupid to the devil incarnate. Yet, those of us who have to pay these people agree with me that this layer of government should be abolished.

In an incredible bit of great timing, an article came out in the local rag the day after my opinion piece was published, stating that one township assessor was refusing to work the rest of the year but was going to keep drawing a salary. Too long for me to repeat here, so here's a link:

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/au...-paycheck/ Township, county officials clash on job


My opinion column here:

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/au...assessors/ Township Assessors

And a rebuttal to my column:

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/au...d-to-poor/ Trustees are first link in aid to poor

[Fred R]

...

[BDM]

Oh boy, those articles have me going. Using the poor or "it's for the children" as leverage for their very existence. Then, when you DARE question where YOUR money is going, LOOKOUT YOU EVIL COLD HEARTED DEVIL!

We have 3 school districts in my city, all three are now school of choice since they can't fill the classes. Along with that they eliminated school bus service within the city. Cost was cited. Now, about 5 years ago the fact we have three school superintendents came up. Why are we paying 120K+ a year for three??? Why are we school of choice when we don't need it? Why did we eliminate school basing when we didn't have to?

Long story short, a vote came up on a Tuesday afternoon(of course), and the union was out in full support of keeping them. Of course it was mentioned that with out all three, the children will suffer! Suffer!?!? Suffer from what??? The lack of some government bureaucrat shinning a seat at city hall, collecting my(and everyones else's) hard earned money. No, they are part of the problem.

Instead we have no school bus service, we're school of choice, which has caused a crime issue. Oh yes, a crime issue. Imaging that. We have these punks coming from the inner city of Mt Clemens and other areas of notoriety. Drug problems have increased two fold. That has been brought out at the city meetings. Theft, both petty and home burglary have increased. Actual gang activity south of me. This city never knew what a gang was 10 years ago. Oh I could go on and on. I send my daughter to private school at a cost of 6K a year. I don't want her in these buildings they call school. Where's my tax break? Where's my understanding from the very reps who draw a paycheck out of my salary and every other working stiff who gets up every morning to work? Every other stiff that gets up every morning and takes care of their property? But, I hope I don't cause the first lock-down in Ron's phorum. Just how I feel. I obey the laws, I work, I take care of my family, I pay my taxes like a good "sucker". I fund my very own enemy. Good lord. Back to the radios.

[Ron Ramirez]

BDM Wrote:But, I hope I don't cause the first lock-down in Ron's phorum.

Don't worry, you won't. Someone already beat you to that distinction - a posting in the For Sale Or Trade section a few months back is the only thread I have ever locked down. Posts in the For Sale and Wanted forums are automatically purged after 30 days, so the thread is now gone.

And, besides, this is not the Alternative Radio Forum. I don't mind political posts, but draw the line at personal attacks.

[BDM]

Oh yeah, forgot about that person with her $1000 1939 501X

[Michael Dennis]

Count me as a conservative also.

Best Regards - Mike

"Did you say 'utes'?"

[Uffda]

I call myself center-right only to distinguish me from some of my relatives
who would outlaw naked ankles if they could. But I would still prefer
them to bring up my orphaned child over the moral relativists on the left.

My liberal ex-friends would testify to my rabidness. Too bad that they couldn't
tolerate our political differences. I enjoyed debating and never got angry, but
they seemed to only want to hear echoes of their own opinions. With a six to one
advantage you would think they could live with a little diversity of thought.
I miss them a lot.