[AC0GR]

Not my first glowing radio, but my first Philco, and the first that I will be doing the cleanup on.  Acquired it on a recent trip to my in-laws.

[Image: http://i.imgur.com/v5ZlbFX.jpg?1]

From the research I have done on this model, my escutcheon appears to be remarkably well preserved.  Only some minor cracks around some screws, small missing piece below center bottom screw.  One call sign label is missing, and a couple others are a bit wrinkly.  Will be printing replacements as seen on the Phorum.

[Image: http://i.imgur.com/iSSH2fn.jpg?1]

The chassis has no rust, but lots of accumulated greasy dust.  The wiring looks in good condition, apart from the missing power cord, which was torn off the back a decade ago.  Was supposedly a working radio before that unfortunate accident.

Glass and diffuser are in excellent condition.  Tuning cord and spring is missing, but bandswitch is intact.  Will probably restring both.

Going to start the Gojo cleaning on the cabinet soon.

Newbie questions::
Is there a recommended cleaner to use on a wired chassis?

Did the 41-290 originally have a vented back panel?

Was the tuner needle originally red?  Mine is mostly black, but there are hints that there may have been some red on it at one time.

Do replacement rubber chassis corners exist?  I have all the old pieces, and might be able to rubber cement them back together, but they are a bit crumbly.

[klondike98]

Welcome to the Phorum!


Look here for the rubber chassis corner feet:  http://www.renovatedradios.com/parts.html

I use rubbing alcohol on Q tips and paper towels to get the dirt off the chassis.  A few chassis have gotten a Gojo treatment for gummy crud.

Don't have a 41-290 so don't know about pointer color or back.

[morzh]

Welcome!

Even though the wiring according to you looks to be in good shape, these Philcos have rubber insulation that becomes brittle over the years, especially depending on its color.
Even if it does not look crumbled I would check upon it and if it starts cracking upon touching it, you need to replace it, or some of it. My observation, white/yellowish rubber stays pliable, black, green, red crumbles.

[klondike98]

Here's some info on the wire issue Mike is tsling about: http://www.philcoradio.com/phorum/showth...?tid=14959

[OldRestorer]

Welcome!

To the madness!

[Radioroslyn]

Hi Paul and welcome.
Here's a link to the service info for your set.
http://www.nostalgiaair.org/pagesbymodel...013421.pdf
I'm going to be starting on a 41-300 soon which is pretty much the same set in a bigger rounder cabinet and more robust audio stages. You may find the service info for it worth a look as in goes into a bit more detail.
http://www.nostalgiaair.org/pagesbymodel...013423.pdf
If you would like better copies of the service info Chuck can help you out.
Haven't looked at the chassis on the '300 yet was told it was working so it my not need much.
GLOM
Terry N3GTE

[AC0GR]

Something I have come across while researching my radio in preparation for restoration..

I have found 41-290 chassis with different band-indicator mechanisms.
Some have individual bulbs to indicate band selection, and others have only one bulb with a rotating shroud to direct the light to the proper band indication.

I imagine at some point, they decided that the simplicity of multiple bulbs wired to a band-switch wafer, was cheaper and less likely to fail than the mechanical complexity of a rotating shroud.

[Radioroslyn]

It wouldn't be uncommon the find that there are different run numbers with slight modification, mechanical and electrical. Sometime noted in the Rider's manual but the best is to get the Philco service info from Chuck at The Philco Repair Bench. Philco was pretty good about keeping their service techs informed on the changes.
>
Did the 41-290 originally have a vented back panel?
I'm pretty sure it didn't. Philco didn't use back panels over the receiver part of the console cabinet. Some of the higher end sets had a cover over the spkr area like the inclined spkr board sets and '690 sets as a baffle. Both of these are older sets from the 30's.

[GarySP]

Welcome to the forum!  I'm getting ready to work on a 41-280 I picked up at an estate sale awhile back.  Same chassis as yours, but in a different console cabinet.  RadioDaze sells the chassis rubber corners You're looking for.  Don't waste time trying to repair the old ones,  They'll just start breaking somewhere else.  Under ten bucks for a set of four as I recall.  Take care, Gary

[Arran]

 The chassis for the 41-290X and the 41-280X are almost identical, in fact in my Philco service manual for the 1941 model year the only difference was the addition of a separate detector/avc tube, the 41-280s used a 7C6 but the 41-290 added a 7A6 in addition to the 7C6. The only purpose that I can think of for this was to boast that the 41-290 was a nine tube set and therefore a better radio, but in reality it was basically an act of tube stuffing rather like what RCA used to do by adding a 6H6 to a radio rather then using the diodes inside a 6Q7 for the job.
Regards
Arran

[radio dog]

To answer you question about the 41-290 dial pointer-it is red on mine-also no signs my radio ever had a back.these are 10 tube radios and mine sounds very good.