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I just picked up a Philco model 90, and have not had a chance to get into the chassis yet.
Does this model have the dreaded capacitor blocks?
Dan in Calgary.
Pretty sure it does unless they make them different in CA than in the US. Whats to dread? It's no big deal.
...and you have the original looking electrolytics in the back! And the tube shields, that's a plus. Also the power cord and plug. Stuff that often goes missing...the bakelite condensers are half the fun! no problem. Just heat them up a little, push the contents down with a stiff wire, then take out the screw and finish the job. You may have to unsolder a wire or two, but not always.
-Simon
Actually, I really like the capacitor blocks! Only slightly messy but makes for a convenient way to connect resistors and wires.
Nice unit, like the way the Canadians put the metal plate label instead of paper, and the aged gold tone on coil shields. Identify all the cap blocks and if any have a resistor like the 70, try to preserve it as it is probably a hand wire wrap resistor - keeps it a bit more original.
> and the aged gold tone on coil shields
That looks to me like the long term effects of nicotine. The original owner may have been a heavy smoker.
Thanks for the positive comments. This one will be a winter project. i probably will have to replace the cord as it is sort of brittle.
Dan in Calgary
Dan, in your hands you will no doubt have that 90 looking like a jewel with the great work you do.
Thanks RON. The big problem i have is with those blocks.
Maybe it is just a mental thing with me , but I have always had a problem finding what caps go where.
I do have the diagrams telling me what caps are in the various blocks by the numbers.
The cabinet will be easy.
Thank you
Dan
There is good info on Phorum about Blocks and always the Ray Bintliff book Philco Condensors and More, a nice man, actually a gentleman, Veteran and Radio Guru in our club up here. I miss Ray. Paul.
Dan
as Paul said, Ray Bintliff's book is the most comprehensive source on those blocks and nearly comprehensive on the tone controls.
The Chuck Scwark site had most of the blocks.
Worst case, give me the block #s, and I will photograph and copy the info for you here (I will be on 2.5 weeks vacation starting Wednesday).
Blocks are simple. The drfawings will show the exact values and the lugs the caps go to.
At the risk of being sappy, Ray amazed me, my first visit he had the current Sunspot situation on a monitor bigger and better than mine, a great guy, WW2 vet, radioman. His biggest mission with RCA was doing all the color cutovers for TV affilliates with NBC. Most knowledgable guy I have known, so yeah look at his book.
Paul
Morzh
When I get to doing the chassis , I will contact you if I have any problems with the blocks.
I know I have the paperwork somewhere, but it's been a year or two since i worked on one of these.
Dan in Calgary
Paul
Yeah, I wish I had met him in person; I am sure he was a great guy. A WWII vet, he had to be in his 90s when he went, considering it was pretty recently.
Speaking of RCA, a friend, he worked for my company and was let go when the pandemic struck, he is probably 85 now, and an RCA engineer from the TV division, he started his career there, has a bunch of patents.....he is going homeless now. He was living in a small apartment with his wife and two dogs, and now is being evicted.
A shame.....