I am sorry if this is a long first post. Hang with me here, I have a lot to say 
First off, WOW! Great site and information - all well placed and laid out. From all the information I have found on this website, I believe I can conclude my Great Grandmother's radio is a Philco Model 18D. I know as many of you that are collectors of retro like I am, stories are always awesome to hear when accompanied with vintage pieces like this. So here it goes.
This radio has been in my family since purchased new (I think...or close to new, haha) . Growing up, my grandfather's family did not have a lot. He told me this was one of his favorite pieces in the house as a kid. He would sit in front of it listening to many stories, and conversations on this radio. Also, being from St Louis - an uncountable amount of baseball games were played including a few world series games! Sadly, as time went on and technology improved, this radio was not as cared for as it's prime-time of day. However, it always remained an integral furniture piece within my family, and is still standing to this day. Due to some neglect down the line, my great grandmother kept a plant on it warping the veneer and wood underlay on top. I suspect this caused humidity and internal rusting of the chassis module and components. It was always stored inside however, and besides the top the rest of the cabinet is complete and it great condition for its age.
My mother told me that from our lineage, it was passed from my Great Grandmother, to my Grandfather, to my Mother, and now to Me. When my mother received it from my Grandfather, she said she recalled it worked when she turned it on, and that was the last time she remembers it working. Granted, that was approximately 30 years ago, so it makes sense.
I have owned this radio for approximately 4 years now, and am finally having the time to research and give it the love it finally deserves. I realize old Philco's do not retain much value in this kind of shape. Although I am kind of excited it seems to be a rarer model (approx. 5,000 of this cabinet style was manufactured and only for a couple of months?), I am seeking to possibly have this restored.
My background: I have been in the vintage electronics hobby (mostly old video game systems) since I was a kid. I have zero experience in radio restoration. I am a mechanical engineer, and I service biomedical instrumentation for my profession. I have an oscilloscope and fluke voltmeter I use on a daily basis. Although I want to restore the cabinet, I almost feel like I have a mission to put in my own sweat and knowledge to appreciate the sound that will come out of this Radio. (I know....as a novice this will require a lot of help).
I'm not sure where to start. The schematic on the back left of the cabinet is 95% missing. The schematic database does not have a model 18 schematic from what I can see. The chassis needs naval jelly bad to see under the dirt and rust. When I recalled the last time my Mother turned the radio on, the components smelled bad (almost like something was burning) and we immediately turned it off. The dial to turn the numerical paper display does not turn the display, just spins. The furtherest right bottom knob also seems to spin without much resistance. The pictures speak the rest of the work it needs. But if you can look past all this, it is complete. Untouched (lol) for many years.
Below are the pics. I guess, first to start my journey, I need a schematic, and also (this sounds silly), but I need to figure out how to get the dial knobs off so i can remove the chassis. If there is a hobbyist here that will be of help to me, I would greatly appreciate it - this is strictly a project of love and heirloom. Many of these components I know need TLC. I truly just want to revive a piece of my grandfather's childhood once again. Again, great site, and I look forward to the help of the members here! /endlongestfirstpostever
[Image: http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af109...4A0A8C.jpg]
[Image: http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af109...A97020.jpg]
[Image: http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af109...2204FE.jpg]
[Image: http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af109...807420.jpg]
[Image: http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af109...FEE0C5.jpg]
[Image: http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af109...2D6EAF.jpg]
[Image: http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af109...935BD9.jpg]
[Image: http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af109...81A166.jpg]
First off, WOW! Great site and information - all well placed and laid out. From all the information I have found on this website, I believe I can conclude my Great Grandmother's radio is a Philco Model 18D. I know as many of you that are collectors of retro like I am, stories are always awesome to hear when accompanied with vintage pieces like this. So here it goes.
This radio has been in my family since purchased new (I think...or close to new, haha) . Growing up, my grandfather's family did not have a lot. He told me this was one of his favorite pieces in the house as a kid. He would sit in front of it listening to many stories, and conversations on this radio. Also, being from St Louis - an uncountable amount of baseball games were played including a few world series games! Sadly, as time went on and technology improved, this radio was not as cared for as it's prime-time of day. However, it always remained an integral furniture piece within my family, and is still standing to this day. Due to some neglect down the line, my great grandmother kept a plant on it warping the veneer and wood underlay on top. I suspect this caused humidity and internal rusting of the chassis module and components. It was always stored inside however, and besides the top the rest of the cabinet is complete and it great condition for its age.
My mother told me that from our lineage, it was passed from my Great Grandmother, to my Grandfather, to my Mother, and now to Me. When my mother received it from my Grandfather, she said she recalled it worked when she turned it on, and that was the last time she remembers it working. Granted, that was approximately 30 years ago, so it makes sense.
I have owned this radio for approximately 4 years now, and am finally having the time to research and give it the love it finally deserves. I realize old Philco's do not retain much value in this kind of shape. Although I am kind of excited it seems to be a rarer model (approx. 5,000 of this cabinet style was manufactured and only for a couple of months?), I am seeking to possibly have this restored.
My background: I have been in the vintage electronics hobby (mostly old video game systems) since I was a kid. I have zero experience in radio restoration. I am a mechanical engineer, and I service biomedical instrumentation for my profession. I have an oscilloscope and fluke voltmeter I use on a daily basis. Although I want to restore the cabinet, I almost feel like I have a mission to put in my own sweat and knowledge to appreciate the sound that will come out of this Radio. (I know....as a novice this will require a lot of help).
I'm not sure where to start. The schematic on the back left of the cabinet is 95% missing. The schematic database does not have a model 18 schematic from what I can see. The chassis needs naval jelly bad to see under the dirt and rust. When I recalled the last time my Mother turned the radio on, the components smelled bad (almost like something was burning) and we immediately turned it off. The dial to turn the numerical paper display does not turn the display, just spins. The furtherest right bottom knob also seems to spin without much resistance. The pictures speak the rest of the work it needs. But if you can look past all this, it is complete. Untouched (lol) for many years.
Below are the pics. I guess, first to start my journey, I need a schematic, and also (this sounds silly), but I need to figure out how to get the dial knobs off so i can remove the chassis. If there is a hobbyist here that will be of help to me, I would greatly appreciate it - this is strictly a project of love and heirloom. Many of these components I know need TLC. I truly just want to revive a piece of my grandfather's childhood once again. Again, great site, and I look forward to the help of the members here! /endlongestfirstpostever
[Image: http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af109...4A0A8C.jpg]
[Image: http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af109...A97020.jpg]
[Image: http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af109...2204FE.jpg]
[Image: http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af109...807420.jpg]
[Image: http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af109...FEE0C5.jpg]
[Image: http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af109...2D6EAF.jpg]
[Image: http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af109...935BD9.jpg]
[Image: http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af109...81A166.jpg]
