The PHILCO Phorum
Philco 42-400 121 - Printable Version

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Philco 42-400 121 - Microtouch - 01-25-2015

         Having visited this site on many occasions and having decided to restore a Philco model 42-400  121, I thought I'd try searching this site for information before I ask questions.  However, nothing comes up here with that model #.  I have found it elsewhere but not here.  Am I not searching properly?

 I don't usually restore radios. I tend towards vintage record players, stereos, mostly tube type but an aquaintance of mine decided to give up his radio hobby due to advance years and sold me a lot of his testers and parts.  He was insistant on my taking a 1935 Airline floor model radio and this Philco.  I eventually restored the Airline to much satisfaction and thought I'd start into the Philco.  The cabinet is refinished (it really needed it) and of course it's time for the chassis.   I like the style and it looks great on my second floor landing.  I have the schematics but I'd thought I'd mine this site for  information & do's and dont's.  Thank you. 

 

RE: Philco 42-400 121 - klondike98 - 01-25-2015

Welcome to the Phorum!!

Here's the gallery info on it http://www.philcoradio.com/gallery/1942a.htm#x

Here are some threads that mention the 42-400 that are in this Phorum (I just googled "Philco 42-400")
http://www.philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=9913
http://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=3656
http://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=2573
http://philcoradio.com/phorum//showthread.php?tid=3957
http://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=3901

Don't know that they will help but there are some.  Don't hesitate to ask questions; folks are usually very willing to help out if they know the answer.  

I do know that 1942 models (actually 1939 to 1942) have rubber covered wiring that usually needs to be replaced or re-insulated.   The link provides some advice on doing so.

1937-1942 pilot lamps often need some rewiring, advice for that is also on this site.

RE: Philco 42-400 121 - Ron Ramirez - 01-25-2015

Microtouch

Welcome. Unfortunately, the search function within the Phorum, powered by MyBB, is sorely lacking. It is much better to go to the homepage of this website - http://www.philcoradio.com/ - and use the Search box at upper right of the home page. That search will turn up many more hits than will the Phorum Search function.

Bob's given you several links already, so you will see that this model has been discussed here previously.

That will be a very nice radio once you get it going.

RE: Philco 42-400 121 - Microtouch - 01-26-2015

Thank you Ron and Bob. I looked at the rubber insulation and some is fair but I did see cloth covered in there too and that seems to be ok. The good news is I have some period cloth covered wire laying around so... Years back I restored a Philco 48-1201 Record Player/Radio and I find it fun to use. My friends marvel at it and the neat design. I will keep you posed as I move ahead with this but as I have a busy life, don't we all, it is going to be a long haul project. Thanks again.

Update 42-400 - Microtouch - 07-17-2015

I wanted to give an update on what is happening with my 42-400 radio.  I replaced all E-caps and paper caps as well as one burnt resistor,  Some rubber wires were bad and they too were replaced.  I fired it up on the variac and got some noise only, so I tested all the tubes and they tested good, except for the XXFM which tested only fair. I cleaned  some corrosion off the pins and brought her up on the variac again.  I got a Lehigh Vally station on the AM across the dial and no other station. Also, it was rather weak.  This is a fringe station and the local stations did not come through.  As for the Short Wave, I fared a little better with several stations coming through and better volume. So my questions are, "Now what"? and  is there a manual for this radio.  I have the service manuals but I think I need a copy of the owners manual too, if one exists .  The push buttons are not marked and I can't make out what they're supposed to do. The dial glass is broken in two...   great sadness   Icon_sad  and I will have to have the speaker re-coned.  That's my update.  Thanks!!

RE: Philco 42-400 121 - klondike98 - 07-17-2015

Micro, I merged you new post with your original thread to keep things together. The push button info is in the service info. You can get all the service info for your set from Chuck Schwark but I doubt he has the owners manual...ask him. You may need to align the set.

RE: Philco 42-400 121 - Microtouch - 07-17-2015

Thanks for the response and the merge. I'll look again at the service sheets. I saw a brief on the push buttons but nothing specific. I assume some are presets but am unsure which ones select AM, SW, or FM. I was thinking too that the set may need to be aligned. I've not yet aligned a radio and am wondering whether or not it's a good idea to cut my teeth on this one.

RE: Philco 42-400 121 - klondike98 - 07-17-2015

The service info I lonked to says on-off button is on the left, next 5 are presets for broadcast band, next 4 are for SW N FM.

RE: Philco 42-400 121 - Microtouch - 07-17-2015

(07-17-2015, 07:34 PM)klondike98 Wrote:  The service info I lonked to says on-off button is on the left, next 5 are presets for broadcast band, next 4 are for SW N FM.

Thanks Klondike. I am studying the schematics, including the Riders. I watched a couple videos on alignment and will look for more. For now I want to go over it more closely now that I know it has promise.

RE: Philco 42-400 121 - klondike98 - 07-18-2015

Keep in mind that the pre-war FM band on that model is not the same band as todays FM. You won't hear much on it.

RE: Philco 42-400 121 - mikethedruid - 07-21-2015

There are a number of circuits on the internet for building converters so that one can use these old FM band sets and pick up the modern FM band. Just do a search of "pre war FM band" and you will find links to them.