I have a Philco 90, which I want to restore. The last technician who repaired the radio made many strange changes, including the loudspeaker, which belongs to a Philco 70. This left a 45 push-pull tube inoperative. I changed the audio transformer from single ended to a new, push-pull, universal transformer, using the case of the old one to keep the original appearance. I now must rewire the whole radio with 20 gauge, cloth wire. The problem is with wire colors. The originals are very old and I cannot distinguish their colors. Does anybody know which colors I should use for the different circuits and parts? For example, of the 4 wires coming from the speaker, which is the color connecting to both 45 plates, and which to the points "D" and "E"? Does it matter which end of the secondary connects to which end of the voice coil? If so, which are the colors? I would like to have a list of wire colors (or a color code table) for antique radio restoration. Thank you very much.
Both sides of the secondary for the audio output transformer are equivalent so it makes no difference which you use.
Here is a list of suggested hookup wire colors from the Radio Daze (
http://www.radiodaze.com/) catalog:
BLACK - Grounds & Returns
BROWN - Filaments/Heaters off ground
Red - B+ power supply
ORANGE - Screen Grid
YELLOW - Cathode
GREEN - Control Grid
BLUE - Plate
VIOLET - Power supply, negative leads
GRAY - AC Power lines
WHITE - Bias supply, B minus, C minus AGC
This list may not match the factory wiring, but if you are rewiring the whole radio it's a good template. Good luck, Bob
Does anyone know where you can get cloth covered wire with colored tracers in it, such as Philco used for field coil and speaker wire in the '40s? Some of the insulation on my 1940 and 1941 radios has become brittle and and frayed a little bit.
Magneto Parts carries some cloth-covered wire with tracers. However, the smallest they sell with tracers is 18 gauge, and their wire is intended for vintage automotive use.
A quick Google search did not reveal anyone else selling cloth-covered wire with color tracers.
there is a company that makes wiring for cars up in New England area that I will track down the web address. They make two types regular insulation and cloth insulation and it was available in different gauges but it would be for 12 volt
http://www.riwire.com/ One could ask what the physical properties are to see if they could also be used for antique radios.