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Proud new owner of a 37-690
05-16-2012, 09:14 PM
The mismatched knob looks like a Stromberg Carson knob from the 1940s to me, very similar to an RCA or G.E knob from the front but the ring is a different size. Unlike the RCA knobs they are not made out of Bakelite.
Regards Arran 
05-17-2012, 02:07 PM
Cossor 3468 GE 417A Philco 118H Radiola 17/100 Scott 800B6 Silvertone 6130 Stromberg 535M Truetone D1952
01-31-2013, 11:38 AM
I was flipping around the TV dial a few days ago and thought I spied a 37-690 on a PBS kids show. I left that show on for a while, it popped up again and I was able to snap a photo
 [Image: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8093/84322...3a41_z.jpg]
11-24-2014, 02:43 PM
I finally spent a little time over the weekend examining my 690 in more detail
The control shafts and tuning dial were slumped down and rubbing so I figure it needs new rubber mounts. Removing the upper chassis turned out to be quite easy. It appears that no work has been done to it other than replacing tubes. [Image: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7508/1523...6a75_c.jpg] Turned out there were no rubber mounts up front at all. No wonder it bottomed out! [Image: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7563/1585...61aa_c.jpg] The original rear mounts were in good condition so I left them in and dug up a couple reproductions for the front. [Image: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7490/1523...7ec2_c.jpg] Much better  [Image: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7556/1585...6b97_c.jpg] I also cleaned up the tubes a little and tested them. The 5X4 and 6B4s are all good. Several of the tubes on the upper chassis have been replaced with metal or GT types. I'll try to put together a full set of "G" tubes for it. Can't say for sure when I'll begin the full restoration but this is very encouraging. [Image: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7555/1583...9305_c.jpg] 
11-24-2014, 02:51 PM
Well, it is very similar to 37-116, meaning the upper chassis, so though not exactly a walk in the park, it is nothing really dreadful either. I'd rather deal with three of that than with one of AK808 I am dealing with right now.
Enjoy (paint me green).
11-24-2014, 03:22 PM
Good to hear it has not been messed with other than tubes. Looks like a great winter project. Hope you have time to post pics as you go through it.
11-25-2014, 04:48 AM
It has had at least some repairs, I see some Sprague electrolytic cans mounted in the lower chassis, with their trademark orange and blue labels, that could have happened back in the 1940s.
Regards Arran
11-25-2014, 11:26 AM
Definitely new Sprague caps on the lower chassis. I had meant that the upper chassis shows no evidence of repairs.
11-25-2014, 08:53 PM
(11-25-2014, 04:48 AM)Arran Wrote: It has had at least some repairs, I see some Sprague electrolytic cans mounted in the lower chassis, with their trademark orange and blue labels, that could have happened back in the 1940s. Both very nice chassis you have there Bob! Arran. Do you know what the original can caps looked like? I have one with mostly all black, plastic cans marked American Condenser Co. I've never seen those before. The 2 metal cans are clearly marked Philco. I'm guessing they were all metal like the 2 remaining ones? If replacements I'm wondering what time period the repairs could have been made? 
11-25-2014, 09:08 PM
All of the original electrolytics were aluminum cans.
I've only seen the black plastic electrolytics a few times in the nearly 41 years I've been messing around with antique radios. -- Ron Ramirez Ferdinand IN
11-25-2014, 10:31 PM
11-26-2014, 12:35 AM
Believe it or not those black plastic American Condenser Co. electrolytic cans go back further then you think, I think they may be molded out of black Bakelite actually. They are obviously not original to a model 37-690 or 680 Philco but they were the original type of capacitors used in some Addison models in the late 1940s, at least the ones that had a common positive, the filter choke was on the negative side like some early 30s radios. This does not make them worth anything more then any other dead electrolytic can, the Catalin collector types don't seem to care whether their sets actually play or are all authentic inside, but I'm not a Catalin collector I just like Addison because it was a smaller Canadian manufacturer. I found one that someone had stuffed into a disused hole and used as a replacement in my Telesonic Medco radio, which used to have a cardboard one under the chassis, it's going into a wooden Addison when I get around to it.
Regards Arran
11-26-2014, 12:54 AM
(11-26-2014, 12:35 AM)Arran Wrote: Believe it or not those black plastic American Condenser Co. electrolytic cans go back further then you think, I think they may be molded out of black Bakelite actually. They are obviously not original to a model 37-690 or 680 Philco but they were the original type of capacitors used in some Addison models in the late 1940s, at least the ones that had a common positive, the filter choke was on the negative side like some early 30s radios. This does not make them worth anything more then any other dead electrolytic can, the Catalin collector types don't seem to care whether their sets actually play or are all authentic inside, but I'm not a Catalin collector I just like Addison because it was a smaller Canadian manufacturer. I found one that someone had stuffed into a disused hole and used as a replacement in my Telesonic Medco radio, which used to have a cardboard one under the chassis, it's going into a wooden Addison when I get around to it. Thank you Arran! Great information.
11-26-2014, 01:01 AM
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I think I'll swap out the plastic caps with aluminum ones.