Restoring Philco 96 - Printable Version
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Restoring Philco 96 - morzh - 01-12-2025
This radio was bought...at least 8 or so years ago. I still was open to getting consoles, especially those that came with a right price.
I am sure it is a 96, as, first of, it is the Highboy with the leaf pattern
Also, upon opening the cassis, (the schematics of 96 and 95 are nearly identical) the tell-tell sign, the backelite capacitors, were found, that confirms the 96.
The chassis, other than lots of dust, is in fair to good condition. A fes rust spots are not bad, surface rust, and inside is clean.
This is the back of the radio.
And the chassis is out.
Like I said, dust galore.
Now, as I knew (some time ago I did check the speaker), the speaker has bad field coil (and good transformer). I have another speaker, exact same problem, and the third one was the same (I used its transformer elsewhere). Seems to be a common problem with G speakers.
Even though this is the type with removable FC, I am not a big fan or rewinding large coils, and so might try to find a speaker with good coil (the transformer I have).
RE: Restoring Philco 96 - jrblasde - 01-12-2025
That is quite the large tuning capacitor! What are the dimensions of the chassis? I realize that it must be quite large, but in the photos it looks very shallow. Also, what is that large pot enclosure in front of the AC transformer? Is that a battery compartment?
I am excited to watch this restoration. I know that they take up a lot of space, but consoles are just so special to me. Sometimes they don't get enough love.
RE: Restoring Philco 96 - morzh - 01-12-2025
To have some idea, I (and others) have 87, 111 and 112 restoration, which are the radios from the same period, with often the same or similar cabinets and grillcloth.
I never measured them, but yes they are shallower, or at least look shallower than the later chassis.
This is the 111. It was the earliest superhet by Philco, in the same cabinets and with the same type chassis.
https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=9096&highlight=Philco+111
This is the Philco 112, same radio as 111, but with electrolytics instead of the bug can.
https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=20706&highlight=Philco+112
This is Philco 86. It is a TRF, same as the current 96, but with more tubes: an extra audio stage plus it is a triode-based, and so would require neutralizing during the alignment.
https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=17679&highlight=Philco+86
RE: Restoring Philco 96 - morzh - 01-12-2025
More photos. As can be seen, everything is quite dusty.
Also someone changed what seems to be the interstage transformer. Long time ago. The repairs, as it can be shown further, seem contemporary.
After the first vacuuming
The it is put upside down and the bottom cover is removed.
RE: Restoring Philco 96 - morzh - 01-12-2025
Some weird looking backelite caps: they are all, except one, are flooded with solder.
I obviously lack the experience to clam this could not be factory, but since the chassis was repaired at some point, I suspect, this is also some sort of repair.
There is also some weir bubbling on the coils. The wire seems fine, and the bubbles, when pressed upon lightly, get squished. I suspect the glue of some sort bubbled for whatever reason. On two of the coils. On the other two there is also some strange glistening that seems some crystallane stuff, but I tried it with my finger, and nothing remained on the finger, so maybe this is a litz or some stranded material insulation that looks that way.
These are the bubbles, at the second photo I squished them.
These two resistors simply serialized; the mid-point goes nowhere.
And this again is the evidence of repairs:
The transformer, mentioned before, from the bottom (clearly not original), and a solder blob, found inside.