The PHILCO Phorum

Hello everyone. I just found this website last night.

I recently came across a 46-1203 that my dad owned that he didn't care to have because he has so many other radios. So I decided I'd take it off of his hands...

So I've got a bit of work to do to get it in decent working condition... The radio works for sure, record player needs some work The whole thing has quite a bit of background noise the whole time... Those are all the apparent "problems". From what I've read, I'll probably need to change the capacitors and fix the crystal cartridge... I've done some electronics work before but it's been a while, so I'll have to study up again...

The only other thing other than just getting it working good again I'm concerned with is most of the stuff I would like to listen to isn't on 78s. Is there anyway that anybody knows of that I could add variable speed to it?

I'm not concerned about keeping everything vintage/original, other than having the look of it original.

Any tips or piece of advice are appreciated...

Ben

Hello and welcome!

The first thing you should do is contact Chuck to purchase a copy of the service information for your 46-1203.

http://www.philcorepairbench.com/schematics.htm

If you want to play LP and 45 records, you might as well replace the changer; you won't be making the original into a variable-speed unit very easily. A three-speed changer from a vintage 1950 Philco would be a good choice; it would at least look semi-authentic, unlike a BSR or whatever from the 1970s-1980s. (No, I don't know where you might find a 1950 Philco three speed changer, sorry.)