The PHILCO Phorum

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So I picked up a 42-400 Code 121 today. It is in fairly good condition cabinet wise, and looks fairly complete with the exception that it is missing the speaker. This appears to be a “during war” vs. pre or post war radio. Does anyone have any idea if any other models might have a speaker that would be correct? I’ll post some photos later this evening. I plan to really spend some time on this one and do it right. This one is probably not very common.

And some photos:
[attachment=17318][attachment=17319][attachment=17320][attachment=17321][attachment=17322]
Not too common at all...

Great find.. Icon_smile

Icon_smile
> Does anyone have any idea if any other models might have a speaker that would be correct?
I would try one from a 41-295/41-300. Opt is mounted to the chassis so the field coil and voice coil are the only consideration. The fc resistance isn't particularly critical as it's not uses to develop bias voltage, but only filters the + hv.

> I’ll post some photos later this evening. I plan to really spend some time on this one and do it right.
You bet. Full of rubber wire and a somewhat tricky FM circuit to get working properly.

> This one is probably not very common.
Abt 5000 made. That not a lot but every once in a while I manage to find < 1000 produced set.

GL

Terry
There is no need to make FM circuit work at all. It is the obsolete one, 42-50 MHz, and you won't be able to use it, short of building a converter. Which is rarely done.
(09-26-2018, 02:31 PM)Greggshere Wrote: [ -> ]So I picked up a 42-400 Code 121 today. It is in fairly good condition cabinet wise, and looks fairly complete with the exception that it is missing the speaker. This appears to be a “during war” vs. pre or post war radio. Does anyone have any idea if any other models might have a speaker that would be correct? I’ll post some photos later this evening. I plan to really spend some time on this one and do it right. This one is probably not very common.

Radio production along with many other consumer items was suspended in mid April '42, no production from that point till after war ended. With the 42 prefix it is a 1942 model, production usually commenced around Aug/Sept of previous year.
Thanks for the responses and information guys! Here are a few additional photos.

[attachment=17323][attachment=17324][attachment=17325]
I believe that radio production was halted somewhat later then auto production, in the U.S and Canada, which was in February 1942 for autos. There were some exceptions, such as the two Philco models built with surplus Chrysler and Ford car radios, I think that those were produced in the spring of 1942. Is it a war time set? Well if it was produced after December, 7, 1941, and is a U.S model, then yes. If it was a Canadian model produced after September, 10, 1939, then it would also be a war time model. So late production 1942 models are War time sets in the U.S, and 1940, 1941, and 1942 models in Canada are all war time sets. As for the speaker, I think that you have many choices, I don't think that there was much variation among Philco speakers of a given size in their higher end models.
Regards
Arran
Thanks for that information Arran, great stuff!
There is a hole in the front middle in the veneer stripe, does anyone know what is supposed to be there? I see a switch it appears someone added in the rear by the label, and I'm wondering if it originally had some sort of switch in that hole? The one I found on radio museum site appears to have something in the hole, but I can't make it out. Anyone have a better photo? I joined radio museum two days ago, but I'm waiting for them to mail me my passcode. Until I get that and log in I can't get a bigger blow up on the photo. I saw another 42-400X on another site, but it did not have the hole. Any help would be appreciated.
The Phorum gallery photo shows something in that hole as well but does not look like a switch. I suspect, and Ron will know, that it was a tenite "jewel" similar to those found in the 40-201. The tenite shrinks and falls apart and is thus no longer there.
What Bob said. That hole is where a Tenite pilot lamp jewel was once attached to the cabinet.
There's a 42-400 on epay w/25d left.
Thanks guys, I believe I will find something where I can do something similar with a light from the backside and a lens of some sort to provide that same indication.
The light is there to let you know that the set was still turned on if the door over the dial and controls was closed, I had a Canadian G.E radio-phono unit that had something similar as it had a door over the dial as well. As for that bat switch, I think you are right, the power switch on many 1942 Philcos was included in the pushbutton bank and they sometimes break or become flaky, be thankful that they didn't drill an extra hole in the side or the front to install it. I think that Ron posted an article about how to repair those switches on a 1942 "sled" model he restored, he got a replacement switch from Lowes at the time (U.S Lowes of course the Canadian version probably doesn't have it).
Regards
Arran
Great information Arran, thank you!