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Mid-century portable 53-658 - Printable Version

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Mid-century portable 53-658 - klondike98 - 08-13-2015

One of the local antique dealers called me about this little guy.  It looked to be in decent shape, had a battery still in it but hadn't leaked and was cheap enough.  Hopefully the leather will clean up nicely.  (it has the back to it as well, its just not in the pic)

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/9izqnqj9hr365d2/Philco53-658_as-received-Front.jpg?raw=1]

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/izi1fkhvtj65q11/Philco53-658_as-received-Back.jpg?raw=1]

RE: Mid-century portable 53-658 - sam - 08-14-2015

hey bob
you can put that in storage with mine Icon_mrgreen
[Image: http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag143/mafiamen2/IMG_2265_zps23278154.jpg]
I used spray nine cleaner on mine come nice and clean try not to get red leather edges wet  dye will come off
they sound pretty good get lot of stations
yo have battery that's a plus  gut it and put nine volts in it Icon_thumbup
great find
sam

RE: Mid-century portable 53-658 - Radioroslyn - 08-14-2015

Looks like the mixer toob has a crack in it. Top looks awful white. Hope it's a 1R5 not that Z toob.
Good find.

Terry

RE: Mid-century portable 53-658 - codefox1 - 08-14-2015

Once fixed, very sensitive and highly directional aligned with antenna coil. You can stuff the battery compartment with cells or make a AC adapter.

RE: Mid-century portable 53-658 - Paul Philco322 - 08-14-2015

Heck just use the AC line. Even though they are simple I like those dials, ships, CD, etc....Codefox is right on sometimes the early bar antennas are pretty good. If you can make it go like that Firestone you did you will have a neat lttle set.

Paul

RE: Mid-century portable 53-658 - klondike98 - 08-14-2015

Should be fun, will post progress when I get to work on it.

RE: Mid-century portable 53-658 - klondike98 - 08-14-2015

Terry, you're right, that tube does look bad but it is a 1R5.

RE: Mid-century portable 53-658 - Raleigh - 08-16-2015

Battery guts are pretty easy to make if you have the outside cardboard box and connector. Some people make their own connectors and print their own cardboard.

Can you read the Philco battery number? The battery looks small, but you can still probably fit enough 9 volt batteries in to make the high voltage section. I've also used AAA and AA cells in series to make the high voltage if there is enough room. Lifetime of 9 volt cells is not too bad, but if you have enough room to use AA alkalines in series for the high voltage, you get very long battery life--more than the original.

I've used AA, C, and D cells in series to make the filament supply section, depending on how much room I have.

RE: Mid-century portable 53-658 - klondike98 - 08-16-2015

Yes, the Philco P-274 battery is still there so if I can separate the outer printed cardboard from the guts of the battery I can make the replacement.  Its voltages are A+ @ 9v and B+ @ 90v.

The IR5 tube was indeed cracked and you could easily see the crack after taking the tube out.  Good call Terry.  The IU4 tube is also bad.

I moved the thread to the electronic restoration as I've started to take a look at the chassis.  Here's the underside.  You can see that one of the components has failed completely.  I believe its C15 in the schematic based on its position in the circuit, although I've not come across a cap that looks like the one in the photo before.  Looks more like a resistor or coil.  Anyone seen a cap that looked like that, perhaps a later repair??

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/8mbx2uyqj9q4pme/Philco53-658_as-received-underchassis.jpg?raw=1]

Close up of failed cap
[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/obiw7qs8cnkc4jg/Philco53-658_C15.jpg?raw=1]

RE: Mid-century portable 53-658 - Eliot Ness - 08-17-2015

Bob,

That capacitor is a Sprague Bumble Bee, and although I don't usually see them split open like yours they are notorious for being bad.  Funny thing, the audiphools love those things and pay big $$$ for them even though they are leakier than an old faucet.

RE: Mid-century portable 53-658 - klondike98 - 08-17-2015

Thanks John!! Appreciate the info. This one is definitely kaput!

RE: Mid-century portable 53-658 - sam - 08-17-2015

hey bob
battery is easy to make
make sure you clean  battery / plug   switch really good
tight space to replace caps but worth it
if you can`t find or make handle
http://www.brettunsvillage.com/trunks/howto/parts/schandles.htm
sam

RE: Mid-century portable 53-658 - codefox1 - 08-17-2015

Replace all the caps, resistors too, you'll be surprised how much room there is. Respect layout and direction of parts. Nice set once you are done.

RE: Mid-century portable 53-658 - klondike98 - 08-17-2015

Thx codefox! Yep, and the selenium rectifier also.

RE: Mid-century portable 53-658 - klondike98 - 08-18-2015

Battery came apart with a little help from a utility knife blade, a few choice words at the appropriate moment and some Dos Equis
[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/j1ldrqwvrcnvbzz/Philco53-658_battery01.jpg?raw=1][Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/o8zs9i9jumsxp7t/Philco53-658_battery02.jpg?raw=1]