Airline 04WG-731B - Printable Version

Airline 04WG-731B - Printable Version

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Airline 04WG-731B - klondike98 - 06-25-2019

I found this a few months back and will be restoring it with my friend RickH who is new to the radio addiction. We'll work on it a bit each week. Today was opening it up and seeing what we have. The sticker in the shop said it "turns on" which I'm assuming means the pilot light lit up. We did not power it up. Here is a LINK TO THE SCHEMATIC.

The main surprise was that there was a 50L6GT tube in the spot for the 35L6GT output tube. The 4 component electrolytic cap has been replaced and the power cord was spliced with a newer cord. We'll test tubes and perhaps start recapping next time. This 1941 set does have some of the poor rubber insulated wire that will also need replacing or resleeving, although it appears that some of that may have already been replaced. There was also an asbestos sheet covering the entire base of the radio. I've elected to take that out and dispose of it. The cabinet is not too bad but I think we will refinish it for the experience.

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/gcj0werxsf15a2l/airline04WG731B_01.jpg?raw=1]

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/j0cw0wbhm47t6g0/airline04WG731B_02.jpg?raw=1]

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/h3a8mt5h3i25b6t/airline04WG731B_03.jpg?raw=1]

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/l06zlteaqhs7xk7/airline04WG731B_04.jpg?raw=1]

RE: Airline 04WG-731B - Paul Philco322 - 06-25-2019

Simple case but stately, Wells made some decent stuff, 7 tubes w/sw band is nice. Like that early internal AM antenna, well preserved.

Good luck, should be nice when done. Old Montgomery Wards, those were the days. Icon_wink

Paul

RE: Airline 04WG-731B - Radioroslyn - 06-25-2019

Quick call the police someone stole the 2nd IF transformer. Oh the designers did...

RE: Airline 04WG-731B - klondike98 - 06-25-2019

[someone stole the 2nd IF transformer]

Icon_lol

I did not notice that until you pointed it out....

RE: Airline 04WG-731B - Paul Philco322 - 06-26-2019

Is that some duct tape I see under there.

Paul

RE: Airline 04WG-731B - klondike98 - 06-28-2019

Yes, good eye Paul. The prior owner's replacement multi-cap electroytic can is "insulated" with it so the csn does not touch other parts. Icon_eek

Thst will come out.

RE: Airline 04WG-731B - morzh - 06-28-2019

Yeah that is some way to fit a twistlock in Icon_lol

RE: Airline 04WG-731B - klondike98 - 07-02-2019

This week's progress was checking tubes and starting on the capacitors. We got the replacement multicap can out and after getting the duct tape gunk off saw that an 80/80/50/50uF rated for 200v/200v/200v/50v was in there (original was 80/40/20/20 rated ?/?/?/?). Antique electronics has a 33/33/47 rated for 160v that I think I could use and then tack in an 80 separately.

Does anyone have a thought on whether the 160v rated caps are OK to use to replace the 40/20/20 sections...see schematic. Thanks!

RE: Airline 04WG-731B - klondike98 - 07-03-2019

I went ahead and ordered the multi cap electrolytics at 160v rating although the single 80uF will be much higher rating because that's what I have and the 35L6GT tube that we'll need.

As I was going over the schematic, I realized that the person who had replaced the electrolytics previously (using that duct tape for insulation) also tied the can's common to chassis ground in addition everything else that is connected to the point "X" in the schematic. The brown common wire went around the screw in the chassis and then to point "X".
[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/a1cfvl59f8bjdm3/airline04WG731B_05.jpg?raw=1]

I remember unscrewing the connection that was made and the remaning wire on the can still shows the loop around the screw Icon_eek

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/tfavcuzr3pfopvc/airline04WG731B_06.jpg?raw=1]

I'm not sure I understand how it could ever have worked in that configuration but I'll leave that for Terry to comment on... Icon_thumbup

RE: Airline 04WG-731B - Steve Davis - 07-04-2019

If I understand what you are saying correctly, the “X” point and the capacitors common negative were connected to the chassis. Point “X” is one side of the line So the 200k resistor would have been shorted out and you would have a hot chassis

Steve

RE: Airline 04WG-731B - klondike98 - 07-04-2019

Yes Steve, that is correct. Point “x” was connected to the chassis when the previous repair was done.

RE: Airline 04WG-731B - klondike98 - 08-09-2019

We did finish this Airline up. Since the multi cap electroytic was already missing and not available to stuff we went ahead and simply replaced components with modern ones rather than stuffing. Several of the wires needed to be replaced or sleeved as the rubber insulation was bad. Is now playing, not the best and much better with an external wire antenna attached in addition to the loop. The cabinet cleaned up nicely and after stripping off the lacquer, toning slightly and applying clear gloss lacquer, sanding and rub out it does look better than it did. On to the next project. Will be looking for a simple set for my buddy to do on his own as his first restore.

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/llwz60kt29gasvn/airline04WG731B_07.jpg?raw=1]
[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/q0737teaivfkbau/airline%2004WG-731B_after.jpg?raw=1]

RE: Airline 04WG-731B - Eliot Ness - 08-09-2019

That turned out really nice Bob! Congrats to you and your friend on a job well done Icon_thumbup