I recently purchased a 38-2 stand up console that doesn't work. I am very new to collecting radios and am wanting to learn how to restore them myself. THe cabinet is in good condition but I'm not sure about the tubes or the capacitors. What I do know is that the power cord needs to be replaced. COuld anyone tell me how to go about this project. Anything will help.
Thank you,
Daniel
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Hello, Daniel: nice find! It looks like it is in good shape. The 38-2 is a good 11 tube set, and worth doing right if you are going to attempt any restoration.
How you do this really begins with what knowledge you posess with respect to electronics, troubleshooting, and soldering. In order to replace the power cord you must remove the chassis from the cabinet and remove the old cord and solder a new one to where the old one was connected. Bad solder connections, even here where 120V inputs, will result in potential additional resistance and heat buildup, which is ungood.
The rest of the electronic resto again depends on the condition of the components. Tubes should be checked and replaced as required.Replacement of electrolytic capacitors is never a bad idea, as these components are prone to failure. Remember, they are 70-plus years old if original.
Other capacitors are next, the wax/paper ones also tend to age and become leaky. Resistors on these early Philcos also get out of tolerance but are easy to check in circuit.
Read as much as you can about these sets. This Philco site and the Philco Repair Bench site are two of the best for Philco and general electronic topics. Books are good sources. Free schematics can be had from Nostalgiaair website and other sites. And talk to other collectors. This is a great hobby with many nice people who get a kick out of helping other collectors.
Thank you very much. Now I at least know where to start. It sounds like a nice project to dive into and I will certainly be checking out some material and schematics. I can already tell this is a great hobby to be in. Everyone that I've come in contact with has been excellent and these radios are absolutly gorgeous pieces. Again, I thank you and will keep posted the happenings of the 38.
Daniel
We don't know iust how far into the set you'll go, in terms of doing the chassis. Since you are going to be doing your first radio, lemme give you a little tip. You'll find that the wiring coming out of the power transformer has brittle insulation, or at least, it isn't as flexible as new. LEAVE IT ALONE. You'll be installing new capacitors throughout the set, and when you're done, you'll have a killer masterpiece.
Philco never made a big deal of it, but their transformers, and therefore their audio has higher fidelity than the counterparts of other companies. That was one of the things that drew buyers to them in the stores. Back in those days, the owners of new Philco sets said that they just sounded better than other ones. That's why.
Don't dive into this too quickly, and you'll be rewarded by the results.
From everything I've heard, I will be sure to take my time at it and am very excited about the end result. I can't wait to hear this baby in action.
TA Forbes Wrote:.... Free schematics can be had from Nostalgiaair website and other sites....
Better service info from The Philco Repair Bench, not free, but quality photocopies and enlargements from
original Philco Service Bulletins, Production Change Notes, and other Philco info not found anywhere else on the web.
Chuck
Chuck, the payment is in route and I look forward to getting started on this project. Thanks for the help.
