12-22-2016, 10:17 AM
The vast majority of bakelite blocks are from the 1930s, yes. (To be more accurate: 1930 to 1938.)
Philco continued to use bakelite blocks as the AC line bypass or "death caps" from 1939 to 1946 or 47; possibly some 1948 models may, or may not, have one of these also. The later blocks have the very hard pitch, tar, or whatever it is...it looks and feels like a lump of coal was super glued inside the block. These too can be rebuilt by using heat to help remove the insides; it's just a bit tougher to get the old stuff out of these.
If Philco made replacement blocks for the older radios between 1939 and 1948, these would also likely have the harder material inside.
Philco continued to use bakelite blocks as the AC line bypass or "death caps" from 1939 to 1946 or 47; possibly some 1948 models may, or may not, have one of these also. The later blocks have the very hard pitch, tar, or whatever it is...it looks and feels like a lump of coal was super glued inside the block. These too can be rebuilt by using heat to help remove the insides; it's just a bit tougher to get the old stuff out of these.
If Philco made replacement blocks for the older radios between 1939 and 1948, these would also likely have the harder material inside.
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Ron Ramirez
Ferdinand IN
