Philco 70 cathedral knobs - Printable Version
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Philco 70 cathedral knobs - SteveG - 03-29-2017
I just bought a super nice original finish Philco Model 70 cathedral. It even has the copper Mershon capacitors in place. There are two small knobs, a large flowered knob and a later 30's Philco knob on it now. Should it have three small fancy knobs and one large one or what?
Steve
RE: Philco 70 cathedral knobs - OldRestorer - 03-29-2017
Haha, This question come up a lot...
Unfortunately I dont remember, lol..
I have all the types if you need any...
RE: Philco 70 cathedral knobs - Ron Ramirez - 03-29-2017
It depends on which version of the 70 you have - early or late.
Early versions (below S/N B22000) use three of the small rosette knobs on the three lower shafts, and a medium rosette on the tuning shaft.
Late versions (above S/N B22000, these use 35/51 tubes and do not have a separate 27 oscillator tube) use a large rosette on the tuning shaft, two medium rosettes on the tone and volume shafts, and a small rosette on the off-on switch shaft.
This has been argued about, disagreed upon, etc. many times over the years, but Philco's own documentation bears this out. So, I go along with the Philco documentation.
"You don't have to agree with me - you have every right to be wrong if you want to be." - Rev. Lowell Mason, RIP
RE: Philco 70 cathedral knobs - SteveG - 03-30-2017
Kirk and Ron,
Thanks for the input. I have to wait now, until it arrives, to determine the serial number. Will advise, upon its arrival next week. I'm hoping to find a nicer tube shield with a full decal and it looks like the dial face may be faded a bit, so I'll look for an original to replace that too.
Steve
RE: Philco 70 cathedral knobs - morzh - 03-30-2017
And a good thing is, I guess, that from the outside there is no appreciable difference between the old and new versions (it's an arcane knowledge, if there is anything to know; I know there is a difference in the way the grill latticework is routed along the edges but I am not even sure this is the difference in question) so either set of knobs, early or late, will look right.
RE: Philco 70 cathedral knobs - Ron Ramirez - 03-30-2017
It may look right to those who do not know, but that doesn't make it right. I want my early 70 to look the way it did when it left the factory, so it has three small rosette knobs plus a medium rosette for tuning.
One could use 1935 Philco hex knobs, or even RCA or Brand Z knobs. It wouldn't look right but it would be functional. (Actually you couldn't use RCA knobs as many of those required a half-flatted shaft and the Philco shafts were 1/4 flatted.)
RE: Philco 70 cathedral knobs - SteveG - 03-30-2017
I appreciate what Mike says, but I'm kinda particular about my stuff too. If I can make it right, that's where I'm headed...
RE: Philco 70 cathedral knobs - Ron Ramirez - 03-30-2017
Good for you!
RE: Philco 70 cathedral knobs - SteveG - 04-05-2017
Well, I got the radio yesterday and the serial # is 652376 so it's a late version. How late is this?
RE: Philco 70 cathedral knobs - simplex1040 - 04-05-2017
I am working on a "later" version and the Switch has a tiny knob , volume has rosette and tone has rosette and tuning has a bigger rosette knob.
RE: Philco 70 cathedral knobs - Ron Ramirez - 04-06-2017
(04-05-2017, 08:33 PM)SteveG Wrote: ...and the serial # is 652376 so it's a late version.
Actually, it is still an early version.
Late versions have serial numbers above S/N B22000.
Let's examine that in detail.
When Philco's serial numbers made it to 999999, instead of starting over or adding a seventh digit, the next number became A00000. When they got to A99999 the next number was B00000.
So...according to Philco's documentation...any 70 chassis with a S/N above B22000 was supposed to be a late version. S/Ns below B22000 were early versions.
RE: Philco 70 cathedral knobs - SteveG - 04-06-2017
Ron,
Thanks for that clarification. Luckily, I have all the knobs for that version!
RE: Philco 70 cathedral knobs - simplex1040 - 04-06-2017
This thing sounds good once I "fixed" what someone else fixed.....
RE: Philco 70 cathedral knobs - Ron Ramirez - 04-07-2017
Don't they always...
RE: Philco 70 cathedral knobs - gregb - 04-07-2017
(04-06-2017, 10:43 PM)simplex1040 Wrote: This thing sounds good once I "fixed" what someone else fixed.....
Never a truer statement, I can't believe how bad some repair work from the past was and how rare I see examples of good work.
Gregb