The PHILCO Phorum
RCA 55Q5 - Printable Version

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RCA 55Q5 - Paul Philco322 - 09-09-2025

This is a radio from Ron's shelf. No doubt would have been featured as a resto thread, yes the Philco King had a soft spot for RCA sets as well. Elliot Ness aka John helped get this set into my hands and I am grateful. I hope Mr. Ness is headed to Kutztown next week and feeling better. This set got a recap and controls lubed, it plays fine for a 5 tube set with transformer, short antenna, but....

You can see that the cream color paint an Bakelite has faded as you would expect after 86 years. I do not want to screw this set up, other than the flea bites and fade the case is OK though I have thought about getting the Citrus Strip and going for the Brown Bakelite look. What do you all think?

I cannot imagine that this set was not used to listen to the reports of the embers of war that would turn into flames shortly after it was sold, pretty cool. 

It is a John Vassos design which to me adds to it's cache. I need to try it tonite and see what she can pull in, Thanks Ron, and thanks John, I now have another radio that I will have a hard time parting with, btw it is a heavy set, not what I need.....

https://www.flickr.com/photos/92577012@N02/albums/72177720328931202/

And some more info.....

https://www.tuberadioland.com/rca5q56_main.html

Paul

RE: RCA 55Q5 - Arran - 09-09-2025

It looks very similar to a Canadian RCA-Victor A-20, except that the latter uses a 6SK7 for an IF amplifier, and has the 6SA7 mounted in a shock mounted socket for some reason, band coverage looks the same as it uses the same dial. The A-20s have a wooden cabinet though.
Regards
Arran

RE: RCA 55Q5 - RodB - 09-10-2025

Paul,

I've used Rustoleum Ivory satin and semi-gloss on bakelite and plastic cabinets and it came out very nicely. Lightly sanded the chipped and worn areas with 220 grit to flatten and then the rest of the cabinet, clean with oms, then spray with several light coats. Probably want to wash off the nicotine before you start.

RE: RCA 55Q5 - Paul Philco322 - 09-10-2025

I was thinking making it a brownie, I am thinking its Bakelite but in all the ads I saw on this radio they say plastic case, If I strip it and it came out crummy I could still paint it. I have had good luck with RustOleum. Used High Heat RustOleum on my metal radiator covers and they came out super.

I cleaned it with Go Jo and then water to get off the soap. It did not brighten up too much. The grille cloth I think Mike Katz has an accurate RCA match.

Anyone know what that piece of Wool is near the tuning condenser is for? Beats me.

I have been listening to it all morning and it sounds very good. I guess RCA was pretty well engineered back then.

Paul B.

RE: RCA 55Q5 - Arran - 09-10-2025

Paul;
Do all of these sets have that "wool" on the one side? If so maybe it was to deaden vibration, during the 1930s they seemed to be fixated on sound from the speaker affecting the front ends, they shock mounted everything on rubbers, the tuning cap, and often the whole chassis. On several of my sets I just let the chassis sit on the bottom since I had no chassis washers, other then the height of the control shafts it didn't seem to affect anything, by the 1940s they often didn't even bother with them mounted the chassis down on a sheet of asbestos, without a bottom cover, presumably to save on steel.
In my RCA A-20 sets they mounted the 6SA7 socket on rubbers, though they didn't bother with a sheet of thick fibrous material near the tuning drum, not that there would be much room for it. They did have chassis washers under them, and a sheet of asbestos as well, these were 1939-40 models I think, and were quite popular judging by how many I ended up with.
Regards
Arran