08-12-2011, 06:58 AM
The attached file shows 3 pictures I scanned in of an old Philco radio my parents got, thanks to a friend of theirs who said his neighbor was throwing out a bunch of stuff since she was moving.
The model says "Philco model 610" - that in itself puzzles me because I didn't see that model number listed; I suppose it could be a part number because there are some others below. There is no back, just exposed wires, so I didn't get a picture of that. (I was amazed when my mom said she remembers my grandpa taking wires from their first TV - also with no back - tot he drugstore and testing to see if they worked. I never knew TVs also didn't have backs at first.)
The front kind of looks like the 1935 one I've seen pictured, but since it picked up FM I've since learned it had to be 1942 or later. What puzzles me is the lack of markings on the right side picture, which shows no station numbers or anything I at first thought maybe the earliest radios didn't have call numbers listed, but I've since learned they did.
When moving the dial, my dad said he can't seem to get other stations; nor were my parents able to move from FM to AM. (They're pretty sure they clearly heard the station ID when they were listening as 88.?)
So, questions.
1. What year would this be - is the 610 a model number or a part number like the others below it appear to be?
2. My dad already replaced the plug that used to go into the wall with a new one, as the old one was really old and wouldn't work. What needs to be done to get the AM/FM switch working? My guess is what happened was some sort of stripping of the dial that changes stations, but I know almost nothing about electronics.
3. Is it logical to presume that the station markings were somehow rubbed off when it was restored before? Unfortunately, I don't think my parents are going to be able to learn what happened or how it was restored.
Any other advice would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks.
Note from site admin: Sorry, but the photo which was attached to this post is no longer available.
The model says "Philco model 610" - that in itself puzzles me because I didn't see that model number listed; I suppose it could be a part number because there are some others below. There is no back, just exposed wires, so I didn't get a picture of that. (I was amazed when my mom said she remembers my grandpa taking wires from their first TV - also with no back - tot he drugstore and testing to see if they worked. I never knew TVs also didn't have backs at first.)
The front kind of looks like the 1935 one I've seen pictured, but since it picked up FM I've since learned it had to be 1942 or later. What puzzles me is the lack of markings on the right side picture, which shows no station numbers or anything I at first thought maybe the earliest radios didn't have call numbers listed, but I've since learned they did.
When moving the dial, my dad said he can't seem to get other stations; nor were my parents able to move from FM to AM. (They're pretty sure they clearly heard the station ID when they were listening as 88.?)
So, questions.
1. What year would this be - is the 610 a model number or a part number like the others below it appear to be?
2. My dad already replaced the plug that used to go into the wall with a new one, as the old one was really old and wouldn't work. What needs to be done to get the AM/FM switch working? My guess is what happened was some sort of stripping of the dial that changes stations, but I know almost nothing about electronics.
3. Is it logical to presume that the station markings were somehow rubbed off when it was restored before? Unfortunately, I don't think my parents are going to be able to learn what happened or how it was restored.
Any other advice would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks.
Note from site admin: Sorry, but the photo which was attached to this post is no longer available.
