Hello Everyone:
I'm a newbie with reasonable electro/mechanical skills. I have a Philco Transitone Model PT-30 and wish to get it back into shape. I have done a bit of research and know enough that it should be re-capped before plugging it in. I have the schematic and think I can manage this. After visual inspection, it also needs a new power cord. Is there anything else in particular that I should know about this model?
Also, the dial cover and dial needle/pointer broke during shipment. I have a fix on how to make a new dial cover, but does anyone know where I can get a replacement pointer? And how do they come off?
Much obliged!
Hi Jack,
You can indeed make your own dial cover. If you decide to buy one, Mark Palmquist makes all kinds and has one in stock already. I have no business connection with him, but I know hw makes some high quality stuff.
http://jmpalmquist.home.comcast.net/Philco_PT30.jpg
http://jmpalm.home.mindspring.com/Inventory.htm
For the pointer, you can try Julie (radiopup) radiopup AT bellsouth dot net
or Kelton RKTRAMM at aol dot com
The last tme I saw them they both had a lot of pointers. Just send a photo of your old one so they can match it. I believe it is one of the red, double ended ones?
Ad far as I know, the pointers slip over the tuning shaft. Ron can verify that.
How bad is your pointer, and do you have all the pieces to it? With superglue, epoxy and paint, you can restore the pointer.
That would be something I would personally try first. If the slip on center piece is still ok, the rest would be easy. Just a thought.
Good luck with your set.
Gary.
Gary:
Thanks for the info!
You are right, the pointer is red and double ended. I do have the pieces and thought about trying to glue it back up. Not sure if its plastic or metal, but its brittle whatever it is. Can't slip it off the shaft easily, though. If I try harder, I'm sure I'll break it up more. I'll try your source and see what they say.
I'd rather buy a plastic cover than make one, so the mark Palmquist referral is great.
Thanks again.
PS - Just received a Philco Model 48-250 today. Looks very good. Seller said it worked with some hum, but the cord looks very bad to me so I'm not going to plug it in. Chasis is way cleaner than the PT-30, but it still needs to be re-capped at a minimum. Can't wait to fire one of these up and hear them sing.
Jack
Hi,
You can see a PT-30 in my site's Gallery.
http://www.philcoradio.com/gallery/1941a.htm#bg
This is a PT-30 I used to own. I don't have that one anymore, but I found another to take its place.
The pointer is red plastic, and simply presses onto the tuning condenser shaft. The plastic on yours may be very brittle; and if so, you may as well get another one as it might be a difficult job gluing the old one together...especially if it fell apart more when you pull the remainder off the tuning condenser shaft.
Both Julie and Kelton are good people to deal with, you won't go wrong ordering from either one.
Ron:
Thanks for the link to the picture. That's the one. The grill cloth in my unit is a funky, floral pattern though. And worn out. I ordered some new cloth more like what is in your picture.
I also ordered a new dial cover from Mark and a new pointer from Julie. I buffed out the cabinet and replaced the AC cord. Now I need to re-cap it and go from there. The output transformer looks like it might have gotten hot and leaked a bit. Is there a source for a new one, if I should need to R&R it? It is a Philco part number 32-8136N.
Thanks,
Jack
From the 1941 Philco parts catalog:
Primary impedance 2000 ohms; secondary 3.3 ohms. No wattage given but I doubt the PT-30 puts out much more than 2 watts anyway, so a 3-5 watt rating should be OK.