Philco 643 color scheme and modification
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Yes, I do plan on using an AC supply to create the necessary DC voltages.
The cabinet and escutcheon are in good shape other than a hole someone drilled in the side! I plan on refinishing it very soon. I have all the toner lacquer, grain filler, etc on hand.
I hope it turns out as well as Ron's 650B 
The one item I do need is a speaker. It uses an early style PM speaker I believe. I don't know what the impedance should be though.
[Image: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/3158...b7a2_z.jpg]
Philco 643B front and top by bandersen, on Flickr
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I took some time to strip the cabinet down this weekend. I have some minor repairs to make then I'll do a little grain filling.
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Philco 643: Cabinet stripped by bandersen, on Flickr
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Good luck...I am sure it will turn out as well as my 650B did...maybe even better.
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Ron Ramirez
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bandersen Wrote:Yes, I do plan on using an AC supply to create the necessary DC voltages.
The cabinet and escutcheon are in good shape other than a hole someone drilled in the side! I plan on refinishing it very soon. I have all the toner lacquer, grain filler, etc on hand.
I hope it turns out as well as Ron's 650B
The one item I do need is a speaker. It uses an early style PM speaker I believe. I don't know what the impedance should be though.
[Image: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/3158...b7a2_z.jpg]
Philco 643B front and top by bandersen, on Flickr
Bob;
Are you sure that someone added that hole in the side, some high end battery sets had a push button mounted through the side that was used to activate the dial light while pressed.
Regards
Arran
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If Bob's 643B cabinet has a hole in the side, it was added by someone after it left the factory - it did not come out with a hole originally.
I used to own a 643B, and it did not have any holes in its sides.
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Ron Ramirez
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Ron Ramirez Wrote:If Bob's 643B cabinet has a hole in the side, it was added by someone after it left the factory - it did not come out with a hole originally.
I used to own a 643B, and it did not have any holes in its sides.
So since it is not supposed to be there for a pushbutton how does the dial light operate on these sets? Is there some sort of spring loaded switch elsewhere to preserve battery life, it can't be on continously?
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Arran
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The pilot lamp is on continuously while the 643 is in operation.
It uses a 2 volt, 60 mA bulb which consumes far less current than bulbs used in AC radios. The typical bulb in an AC set with 6 volt tubes will draw 150 to 250 mA.
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Ron Ramirez
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Sears (Silvertone) did somthing interesting with respect to the pilot light on their model 1923 battery radio. Behind the chassis is a mount for 2 D cell batteries that are exclusively for the pilot light. The switch to turn it on is ganged with the on/volume control. You either pull or push the knob to turn the light on, if memory serves me rightly.
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I hadn't even thought about the pilot lamp until you guys mentioned it. Yes, it is on all the time. I just wish there was a mask that only illuminated the active band rather than the whole dial.
Ron Ramirez Wrote:Good luck...I am sure it will turn out as well as my 650B did...maybe even better.
We'll see 
The sides and top are pretty tight grained so I did a few rounds of shellac and sanding rather than use grain filler.
Then on to the front panel where I used Constantine's walnut paste filler. I diluted it about 50/50 with mineral spirits and worked it in well with a small brush.
Once it thickened up and got hazy, I wiped the excess off going across the grain with burlap.
So far so good
[Image: http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6133/5989...5210_z.jpg]
[Image: http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6132/5989...7206_z.jpg]
[Image: http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6141/5989...4359_z.jpg]
[Image: http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6132/5989...0793_z.jpg]
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Yup...that set's going to look nice when finished...
Bob, you had asked about the speaker. The original speaker was a KR-7 permanent magnet speaker (the type with the huge magnet in back with sort of a horseshoe shape), 1.25 ohm voice coil impedance.
The original output transformer (32-7472) has a 15,000 ohm primary impedance, push-pull; 1.11 ohm secondary impedance.
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Ron Ramirez
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Thanks for the info. I found one from a Philco 624 that I think will work
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The grain on the face of the 1936 cabinets can be a booger to get smooth, I feel your pain. The 630 that I have been working on since last winter is still not acceptable. I am almost to the point that I am considering just installing it in a 623 console cabinet. But that would involve orphaning a nice 623 chassis. Decisions, decisions........
BUT that is some nice grain patterns on your 643. Your hard work will pay off with an extra nice looking set.
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That face veneer certainly is wavy. After the grain filler dried for a couple days, I sanded it down with some 400 grit and it's smooth enough for me. Very tedious since it's recessed and the grain orientation changes.
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I sprayed on a couple light coats of Mohawk Medium brown Walnut and clear gloss. Once that cures, I'll mask it off and spray the rest with Mohawk Extra Dark Walnut.
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Looks good so far... 
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Ron Ramirez
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