The PHILCO Phorum
Philco Canada 51A - Printable Version

+- The PHILCO Phorum (https://philcoradio.com/phorum)
+-- Forum: Philco Radio Discussions (https://philcoradio.com/phorum/forumdisplay.php?fid=5)
+--- Forum: Philco Electronic Restoration (https://philcoradio.com/phorum/forumdisplay.php?fid=8)
+--- Thread: Philco Canada 51A (/showthread.php?tid=11039)

Pages: 1 2

RE: Philco Canada 51A - Ron Ramirez - 11-29-2014

Thanks, Paul. Some Canadian Philcos, I think, look better than American models. And this is one of them. I can't think of any American Philco that had a decorated glass dial like the one on this set.

Well, this is the wrong section for cabinet restoration, but here is why I can't put the 51AT chassis into the cabinet yet:

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum/51AT_cdn/Image00012.jpg]

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum/51AT_cdn/Image00013.jpg]

I bought this radio a year or two ago from a Canadian eBay seller, and some of the cabinet's joints and seams came loose in shipment. This will help stabilize the cabinet.

RE: Philco Canada 51A - Arran - 11-30-2014

(11-29-2014, 05:36 PM)Ron Ramirez Wrote:  The alignment went OK save for one band: the 9.5 to 12 mc band. The tracking is off and while I can move the 12 mc signal lower on the scale, I cannot move it any higher than 11.6 on the scale - that is where the adjustment screw tightens up completely. The other bands all turned out fine.

Ron;
  It may be worth checking the molded micas associated with that band, particularly if they are in the oscillator tank circuit. Who knows, maybe one of them is slightly leaky, or increased in value and makes the oscillator run a little off?
Regards
Arran

RE: Philco Canada 51A - Ron Ramirez - 11-30-2014

Good point, Arran. But I think I will wait until the next time I have to get a few parts as I do not have any 375 pF mica caps on hand. I will pick up two; my 42-730EZ does not work at all on that band. Who knows, maybe the micas will cure both sets. Having studied the schematics of both, I think it would have to be either the 375 pF mica, or the trimmer itself.

RE: Philco Canada 51A - Ron Ramirez - 11-30-2014

Back together again:

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum/51AT_cdn/Image00014.jpg]

Among the damage this radio suffered in shipping is the crack you see in the wood above the dial. Between that and the separation of some of the seams, it is amazing to me that the dial glass survived intact.

I'm wondering what to do about the two missing pushbuttons. There are several American Philcos that have similar buttons; but they are all rounded on the end, unlike the four remaining buttons on this one which are flat on the end. I suppose I could install a set of six American Philco pushbuttons, and call that good enough.

The next photo is for Paul:

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum/51AT_cdn/Image00015.jpg]

Not perfectly focused, but not bad. I'll also add this photo to the Philcos all aglow gather here thread.

RE: Philco Canada 51A - NostalgiaRadioTime - 11-30-2014

Looks great, Ron! Icon_thumbup

Regarding the missing buttons, your idea of using 6 from an American Philco sounds good. Or maybe use two and just file / sand the ends flat. If there's enough "meat" on the end to allow you to do that. Otherwise you might be able to make two buttons out of some wood dowel rod and paint them to match the others. Yeah, not the most ideal, but I've done that on a project or two and it worked in a pinch.

RE: Philco Canada 51A - Jeremy S - 12-02-2014

Outstanding job!

RE: Philco Canada 51A - Arran - 12-02-2014

 Those pushbuttons look familiar, I think that they may have used a similar style on some pieces of test equipment.
Regards
Arran

RE: Philco Canada 51A - GarySP - 12-02-2014

Looks great, Ron.  That radio looks like it was near my neck of the woods.  WJR, WWJ, and WXYZ are all Detroit stations, and CKLW and CFCO  are from Windsor and Chatham-Kent, Ontario.  All are within a 75 mile radius.  Take care, Gary