New acquisition, Philco 655B - Printable Version
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New acquisition, Philco 655B - BDM - 08-08-2008
Well she made it to me safe & sound. The cabinet needs refinishing. It's been stained at some point in it's life. But, the cabinet is solid and all there. No nicks or chunks taken out. I haven't pulled the chassis yet to asses what it needs besides the usual. Brought it up on the variac, it just hummed. Good sign so far. Someone replaced one of the 42 tubes in the P-P section with a 41. The volume control was replaced with a switch of the wrong shaft size. Thank god for part sets
Chassis is nice and clean, just dusty. Anyone have a pic of what the cabinet should look like? I would imaging Philco toned the sides dark? I can't find any good pics on the NET.[Image: http://antiqueradios.com/gallery/d/78822-1/655b1.JPG]
[Image: http://antiqueradios.com/gallery/d/78824-1/655b2.JPG]
- etech - 08-08-2008
It looks pretty nice. That chassis is very clean. There is a small picture in the gallery here on the PhilcoRadio site.
http://www.philcoradio.com/gallery/1936b.htm#ae
Here is a pic of the 645B on the RadioAttic. I think its the same cabinet.
http://radioatticarchives.com/radio.php?radio=2273
Ed
- philco phan - 08-08-2008
asses?
- BDM - 08-08-2008
LOL...assess I guess. Heck I don't know....lol.. Thanks for the links Ed
- Doug Houston - 08-09-2008
Somebody sure did strip the panel. The veneer looks pretty good as it sits.You should be able to wash off the stain on it with lacquer thinner. Couldn't see the sides, but if they aren't walnut veneer, then Philco used toned lacquer on that part. Don't fret about the Philco decal being missing. I have some advice about that. PM me at your convenience.
The grille cloth looks right, from your picture. Probably a bath in Renuzit will make it purty again.
Bandswitch knob looks like an early model, though. I'm beginning to be confused about that. On my late 116B, it has the bar knob. On the 640X that my aunt and uncle bought new in November, 1935, and that I have now, it had the round knob. I'd surely like to get straightened out on that!
I think I have a 645, but the finish is very light. You could call it blonde, even. I had to refinish it, and it came out exactly as it had been. These round topped tombstones must have come out late in the '36 model year (Ron would know). I also have this cabinet design in a 37-650 (as well as a 37-650X). It's a lot of radio for a table set.
This is just another one of the championship-performing Philcos. Yoiu can always count on being ecstatic at their operation when you get them done.
- BDM - 08-09-2008
Doug, another gents is going to restore the cabinet. The guy I bought this from told me his father bought it used toward the end of WWII. I asked him about the bar knob. He said as far back as he can remember, it had that bar knob. I know these were later sets for 36. I figured it should be a round knob. Out of three 116B sets, only one came with the bar knob. My 640X came with a round knob also. Everything else has a boar knob.
I was wondering if that grill cloth was/is original.
- Texasrocker - 08-09-2008
Very Nice Radio Brian!! Congrats!!! Enjoy the restoration!!