The PHILCO Phorum

Here's one of the first sets I plan to refinish next spring:



Of course that striped grille cloth has got to go.

The only other major problem is the split in the front panel veneer just above the hole for the tone control shaft, which you can sort of see in the photo above. (edit - OOPS - forgot the volume control is on the RIGHT on these models.)

It is missing its speaker, and the chassis is plenty dirty, but it has all of its tubes save one (the Type 80 rectifier), and all tube shields. Should be a good project.

It has all of its knobs (they aren't shown above, but I have them). It will also need a new dial scale.

Good luck with that "puppy" Ron. Hope you can "git 'er dun" the way you want. I've got a 640 that's really a nice set with great sound. This series of sets seem to be great performers, and maybe geared to those radio buyers who couldn't quite afford a 116, or other high-end set.
Ed Martin
Benwood, WV

Ed - thanks. In tombstones, Model 650B was the first step down from Model 116B in 1936; Model 640B, the next step down, used the same cabinet and had the same frequency coverage; just one less tube (7 in the 640 compared to 8 in the 650). All use the same dial drive mechanism as the 116, but the frequency coverage is different.

The 650B is sort of a junior version of the 116B.

Model 660 was only available in console cabinets, not as a tombstone, in 1936. It was built on the same chassis pan as the 116 and has ten tubes. Just a slight step down from the 116 in performance; in fact, the only real difference besides the frequency coverage is the 660 uses a Type 75 as second detector-AVC-1st audio, while the 116 uses two tubes for these jobs (37 for 2nd det.-AVC and 77 for 1st audio). Oh, and the 660 has a four-point tone control; the 116 has a five-point control.

Ron,
There's something curious about your picture. It looks like it still has what's left of it's original finish-and it's all one shade-not 2-tone. The reason I ask is because you mention the 650 was a step below a 116. I have a 116, bought from an e-Bay auction several years ago (and still waiting to be restored). Although it's very hard to tell, the cabinet on my 116 looks to have had been refinished-the top, sides and columns in front only. The front panel was left alone, and apparently never stripped. The giveaway to this is that it still has the original Philco decal at the top-not a repro. My 116 cabinet looks very much like your original finish 650. I wonder if some 650's like yours, and some 116's weren't 2-toned-unless your 650 has been stripped of it's toned finish.It doesn't look like it has been since I see the original decal in your picture. My 640, that I mentioned in my original reply was 2-toned, and I refinished it that way.
Ed

Oh, mine has been stripped, there is no doubt of that. If you could see this actual radio, you would agree. The original PHILCO decal remains, but overall it's pretty rough-looking.

All of these should have been two-toned (116B with shoulders, 650B, 640B, 630B, 620B). Van Dyke Brown on the top, sides, columns and top & bottom edges; Medium Walnut on the front panel.

Edit: I used to own a shouldered 116B that had its original finish, and it was definitely two-toned in the colors mentioned above.

I formerly owned a 650B with the correct two-tone color scheme. Ditto a 640B. And I've seen enough of them that I am convinced they should all be two-toned.

The columns and trim are "white wood" and just don't look good unless they are toned. As an example, I see so many 620B sets that have been stripped and refinished in a "monotone" look (in other words, they look like my 650B photo above) that it sickens me.

Ron,

WHAT!?! You don't care for the grill cloth?

This looks like a great project. Can't wait to see the results.

Bill

I'm afraid you'll have to wait until spring, Bill...temps here are staying in the 30s for highs, mid-teens for lows. Winter is definitely here, for sure. Way too cold for refinishing, and I don't think I want to spray lacquer in the house as I'm not too fond of explosions. (Lacquer fumes + nearby furnace = BOOM!)

Don't worry, I'll be patient. I'm in the same predicament here. The other night it got down to -7, which isn't all that unusual around here, but this early in the season it is.

That means it's time to work on the nagging chassis problems!

Bill

Ron,

You mentioned that the correct colors should be Van Dyke Brown and Medium Walnut. Do those color names pertain to an particular manufacturer?

I'm restoring a 620 and would like to get it right.

Derek

Hi Derek

Mohawk uses the names, and I think Master's Magic (Touchup Depot) uses the same names. If you are using Behlens toners, you're on your own as I am unfamiliar with them...

Having found some old, thin, worn Philco V cloth that came out of a console, I carefully starched and ironed it, cut it to fit and put it into my 650B. What a difference. The original-type cloth already made this tombstone look a LOT better.

It only took five and a half years, but my 650B is finally finished.



The cabinet was refinished in early 2008. See this thread for details:

http://www.philcoradio.com/phorum/showth...p?tid=1041

More details on the chassis work may be found here:

http://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=3292