Hi Everyone,
First post here, here goes.
I am ready to start working on my '19, and I have probably the most basic question you can have. I need to remove the chassis from the cabinet. The problem/question has to do with the wires that connect from the chassis to the speaker.
On another radio of similar vintage, the "speaker cable" connected at the chassis via a circular plug. There is a hole in the back of my chassis with what looks like a cardboard disk,covering the hole, and the speaker wires emanate from there, but there is no connector/plug. Is this the the way the radio was originally built, or was a connector originally used?
Also, regardless of the answer to the above, it looks like I will have to remove the chassis and the speaker together. Does everyone agree with this? I don't see any way that the speaker and chassis can be disconnected. Just wonder if I'm missing something.
Thanks in advance,
Jon
Not at all, you will have to maintain electrical connection between speaker assembly and main chassis. Don't plug it in until all filter and tubular capacitors have been replaced. Chances are that tubes may be fine. GOod Luck.
Same case was with 80jr.
I took them out together, first released the chassis, then the speaker and pulled them out.
Then when I had to handle chassis too much I eventually desoldered the speaker, but I did label every wire which I strongly advise you do too.
To Codefox's suggestion I could add: do not plug it in until you make sure the tubes are OK, especially the audio output tube(s) - this can whack the output transformer.
And overall it does not hurt to make sure your rectifier is OK and there are no shorts to the rect. output before you commit to pluggin in the speaker.
When you remove the speaker, do yourself a favor and cut out a piece of cardboard and tape it over the front of the speaker. It will keep the speaker protected while you work on things. Speaker cones are so fragile, it is very very easy to poke a hole in one.
Hi Jon and Welcome to the Phorum!!
If you like I could come over and have a look at it? I work in Horsham and live close by. Can tell what ever you need to know about set. Have been servicing radios for 40 yrs or so. You can PM me here.
Terry
ps I don't bite but sometimes I smell funny!!!
1932 was the worst year of the Great Depression, and Philco struggled to sell radios that year, operating at a loss for 1932. The elimination of speaker plugs and jacks was most assuredly a cost-cutting move, although it did make their radios harder to service as a result. The early production of Model 15 consoles also did not have speaker plugs/jacks, but were also hard-wired. This made no sense for a console, and a special five-pin plug and jack was soon added to Model 15 and 91 consoles.
The lower-priced Philcos continued to have hard-wired speakers in the following years, while many of the more expensive consoles received plugs and jacks for their speakers. The 16B did not get a speaker plug/jack until the four-band version went into production in late 1934 (1935 selling season).
I'll mention to you that I picked up a model 19LZX at Kutzstown in the spring. Nice set and I got it from an old friend that I haven't seen in over 20yrs. It's working but hasn't been serviced other than replacing the caps in the p/s which was done before I got it.
The hole in the back of the chassis may have been for round AC connector which was used on the LZX model. The power to that connector is switch by the switch on the volume control.
Terry
ps. A pic of one like mine can be found here:
http://www.philcoradio.com/gallery/1933a.htm#d
Thanks to all for the replies and for the advice. I will be very careful with this set. I may be partial, but I think this is the most beautiful radio ever made, and I'm so lucky that mine is already in excellent condition.
I'm sure I will be back with more questions as I progress.
Thanks again,
Jon
+1 on Puhpow's advice regarding protecting the speaker. Fixing holes because your finger slipped is no fun. Remember, they ain't making them anymore and you only have original once.
I hate it when I put a finger through the speaker. Hate it even more when I put part of the radio through the speaker.
What really fun is when you have the set on and out of the cabinet and you decide to move the speaker. You grasp the spkr frame one hand and the wire with other. Then WAMMO!!! You didn't see that bare spot on the wire. You get the Bjunior shock out of you and the spkr going flying do to uncontrollable muscle contractions.Cone gets destroyed. Done ask me how I know.
Terry