The PHILCO Phorum

Just joined the phorum, been lurking around ARF for a few years.

I don't know what the heck I'm thinking but I just bought another Philco Mystery Control console today. It's a 39-55 it's in good shape and its complete. Someone has worked on it in the past since one of the Elec caps has been replaced and all the station light sockets are rubber banded together and sitting on top of the chassis.

The guy I got it from said he plugged it in and it has a hum, and when he saw the 80 (he pointed to the tube) tube start to glow he pulled the plug so hopefully there wasn't any damage done.

I'm currently restoring a 39-116 the big brother to this 39-55 so I'm completely immersed in crumbled rubber wiring...
Check out the pics.











Is the only difference between the 39-116 and the 39-55 the fact that the 55 only receives on AM, and the cabinet is physically smaller? The chassis looks like the 40-205 parts chassis I have.

Hello and welcome. That is a nice-looking 39-55 you have.

You're a glutton for punishment, with two of those rubber-filled monsters to work on...

I should talk, I have a 41-616, as well as a half dozen other Philco models with rubber-covered wiring, waiting for me to get to them.

You asked:

Quote:Is the only difference between the 39-116 and the 39-55 the fact that the 55 only receives on AM, and the cabinet is physically smaller? The chassis looks like the 40-205 parts chassis I have.

Basically, yes.

The 39-55 is similar to the 40-205 in that both receive AM only.

What a beutiful set. This will be a very nice performer!

Hello, welcome to the Phorum!

Nice set!! Unfortunately the modern design and performance is coupled with the crappy rubber insulated wiring!! I nearly rewired the entire chassis of my brother's 41-285 last summer. It started as just replacing the power cord and a couple of components. But just touch wiires that were close to what I was working on and there goes the insulation.

Yeah I know what you mean. Thats exactly what happened with my 39-116 started replacing E-caps and power cord and everytime you touch heck look at that rubber it falls off the wire.

Ill take some pics of the 116 chassis soon and post them up. It is a neat set.

Welcome,

I have a 39-55 waiting to restore as well. I purchased it,along with the matching mystery control, from the grandson of the original owner and it was untouched. The wiring is a bugger, I replaced the motor Cap to get it operating and now need to come up with a temp. battery till I get the one from "Batterymaker". He fabricates replica batteries for the mystery control using modern replacement batteries in a box that fits inside the control. I ordered it in Feb. and am waiting.....waiting.... . Good luck and everyone here is good about answering questions, so feel free.

Glenn

Hi Keith, good to see you here.

I understand about that rubber wiring, and in some areas it can be almost impossible to get to.
I'll bet it will sound great when you're done. Take care,
Gary.

Thanks for all the coments.

I have a battery from batterymaker for the mystery control i have. I have another control but the only thing
Left is the innards the case was destroyed by water i got it that way.

The rubber wiring can be a challange to replace but not to bad if you take your time
And take lots of breaks so you dont go insane.

Just thought of something.

All the station ID labels for this set for for Local Arizona stations. Would it be possible that this set was sold in AZ originally? Is there any way to track it by serial number to see what region it was sold in?

Yes, if the call letter tabs are set to Arizona stations...then, most likely, it was originally sold in Arizona

On the other hand, unlike Zenith, no data exists (that I am aware of) for Philco serial numbers.

Well that sucks they didnt keep track of S/N's.

Are there any records of the Philco distrubitors in Arizona back then, like names or addresses?

Did the big chains sell Philco radios back then like Sears, and Wards? I know Sears had their own line (silvertone right?).