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Philco International Speaker ??? - Printable Version

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Philco International Speaker ??? - Guest - 03-22-2010

I picked up this Philco PM speaker at yesterday's MAARC monthly meet, but I can't find any information on it in Ron Ramirez or Buford Chidester' references on Philcos and Cone Speakers.

I have the Philco Tapestry electrodynamic spkr, the cathedral PM spkr and a couple of the early metal cased PM spkrs, but this is something new to me and I'd like to know what it goes with.
Thanks in advance for any help you may provide.


[Image: http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/LDHare/PhilcoInternationalSpkrFrt.jpg]

[Image: http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/LDHare/PhilcoInternationalSpkrInterior.jpg]


LDHare

Re: Philco International Speaker ??? - Ron Ramirez - 03-22-2010

Items labeled "International Philco" were the result of a joint venture between Philco and IBM to build and sell various types of intercom/public address units for schools, businesses, churches, auditoriums, parks, and other such institutions.

More info here:
http://www.philcoradio.com/history/hist6.htm
http://www.philcoradio.com/history/othrphil.htm

Your speaker was probably part of a large unit similar to the one pictured on the second link above (the PA system installed at Southeast High School in Kansas City).

I've often wondered what happened to that big PA unit, since I'm a native of Kansas City...I didn't go to Southeast High School (my parents and I moved to Kentucky when I was 12), so I never saw it.

Re: Philco International Speaker ??? - Guest - 03-22-2010

Hello Ron:

That makes perfect sense. I should have figured that out since the cut off cord was too substantial for only a normal residential use audio feed. At first I thought that it was an electrodynamic speaker because of the heavy duty speaker lead and the substantial weight of the speaker, but alas, on closer inspection, it was only a PM seaker unit. I've seen the square, boxy 1937 Philco PA system speaker shown in your second link before, but not this one. In fact I think I have one somewhere around here if I can find it. Actually, I also have that Philco ventilator unit around here too:-) The things I don't know anything about are usually the things that I find most interesting.

At any rate, can this speaker work with one of the early ac receivers such as the Philco mdl 511, 512, 513's, or will the speaker impediance be a problem?

Thank you for your help.


LDHare

Re: Philco International Speaker ??? - Ron Ramirez - 03-22-2010

I can't find the specs for the audio transformer on your speaker, 32-7296.

If you run the output of your 511 into the input of this transformer, then yes, it will probably work (assuming the transformer is good)...may not be a perfect match but will probably at least produce some sound.