I got the 50A on the bench and the weight is insane with that anchor for a transformer i currently got the bypass can gutted and the wiring tagged. I am waiting for parts to come in the mail i did jump in new electrolytics earlier and it played but weakly and distorted but it is a start. Notice how large the transformer is
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Yeah....them 50s with the xfmrs down under. One more reason to be happy about extra large xfmr: being under is an additional thermal stress.
Should run cool as ice when it is all repaired.
I rebuilt the bakelite blocks which was a breeze only needing a hair dryer and a stiff wire i didn't refill the blocks with anything though a few blocks had broken terminal lugs which is to be expected.
The bypass can or filter condenser can as Philco calls it i bundled the caps together with a zip tie twisted the grounded end to where it forms a solid mechanical connection and soldered it together. The zip tie acted like a spacer giving it a tight yet snug fit inside the can.
I reused the old leads since they where still good i stripped and formed a tight mechanical connection and soldered them to the new components and used heat shrink tubing to tidy them and to keep from developing any shorts.
I ordered a replacement grill cloth and some wire to replace the old speaker harness but for now it is done i plan to do a light clean up on the cabinet but no restoration on that since it is in really nice original condition. Here is a video of it back together and playing the local line up of stations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81DLlegyUM0
Philco did use large conservatively rated transformers. You don't often find a bad one.
Steve
