I am finishing up on model 48-1270.I noticed that grill cloth is a problem now.Looking thru samples, I don`t see the correct cloth for my radio or its my old eyes.Does anyone know the correct number or pattern?? It was alot of fun digging out caps buried for eternity. I dont have a signal gen to tune it up precisely but tuned the best I could by ear.FM,SW,AM all play.I have worked on smaller tube radios,so this was a challenge.Its not a Zenith,but this radio is the memory of my grandmother who left it to me many years ago.I hope to find someone to tune it before it goes back in cabinet,all the radio people here in my small NC town are gone or died.I live on NC/VA line north of Greensboro,NC.
Thanks for any help,
Kim
If the original grille cloth is in good shape I would send it out to be dry cleaned and leave it as is. Even though the reproduction cloth sources seem to be going through some turmoil right now in reality most of the grille cloth reproduced was the more common patterns from the pre war period, so there are a lot of patterns that were never reproduced and may never be.
I have been collecting and restoring radios for good number of years and I must confess that I have never bought reproduction grille cloth, most of what I have are Canadian market and off brand sets so with few exceptions (like Philcos) the original grill cloth pattern is unobtainable. So in most cases I do one of two things, I either make do with what I have and clean it up, or if it is missing or shreded to pieces I search for a satisfactory substitute. I know of someone that could custom weave grille cloth but in most cases it would not be worth it.
Regards
Arran
P.S The photo of a 48-1270 in the gallery is a Philco catalogue or sales brochure photo, does the speaker grill have a metal screen over it?
It's hard to tell from the pictures available exactly what your cloth looks like. If that is not a metal screen then pattern #27 might be as close as you'll come with what is currently available.
I also recommend saving the original cloth if at all possible. You'd be surprised how well you can patch small tears or blemishes from behind the cloth with a little Stitch Witchery. There are also a lot of DIY dry cleaning tips you can search for. Bottom line is I'd rather have a set with the original cloth even if it was slightly blemished, but if it is too far gone to be saved then start looking at patterns. Good luck!
It has more of a small checker board type pattern.I peeled off cloth from board backing & washed cloth in hot soapy water. Laid it flat on table to dry.Pattern 27 is wrong in that it looks more gold & wrong pattern.This is more a whiskey color than gold.The 2 screens are a gold tone but not a bright gold.I thought after the amount of dirt in water,they would be a brighter cloth- whatever color they are.The 2 screens hide them for the most part & these cloths are in great shape.Original it will be.
I hope I can luck up & find someone close by that can tune it up to play near 90-100%.
It is a nice sounding radio & great looking piece of late 40`s furniture. Born in 1955,I listened to a Philco PT-26 as a young kid. Local AM.Only radio I remember growing up as TV
came along with Roy Rogers, ect.This will be my 2nd Philco radio.I guess Philco was the only radio for my parents & grandparents.
Bear in mind that the original grillecloth on your radio has faded some.