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Philco C661 - Printable Version

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Philco C661 - klondike98 - 02-25-2026

This 1955 model came to me in a pretty beat up condition. Not so bad that the plastic cabient was actually broken but very nicked up and scratched. The metalic dial face is also scratched, dented and stained and the gold metal or plastic center of the tuning knob is missing. I'm not sure how well this will clean up but we'll see....

       

   

RE: Philco C661 - klondike98 - 02-25-2026

I started on the front speaker grill area which had the worst of the gouges and scratches and would be the easiest to disguise and polishing treatment that did not go as well as hoped. 600 grit sand paper lightly on the grill area seemed to smooth out most of the scratches and improved the overal look so nothing was glaringly apparent. The entire plastic case was then polished with Novus plastic polish.

For the metalic dial face I tried the "fine scratches" Novus and gently rubbed the stained areas. Surprisingly it started removing the stains and cleaning up the face. I just took careful cleaning around the red painted areas but I was pleased with how it came out. Unfortunately some of the scratches are just too deep and will have to remain as part of the "character" of the radio.

   

The inside of the cabinet was just the usual cleaning dirt out with some dremel wire brushing of a couple of metal pieces to remove some surface rust.

RE: Philco C661 - radiorich - 02-26-2026

Hello bob,
I have not worked on one my own radios for while now been busy working on stuff for others .
Sounds like you are making headway ?
Sincerely Richard

RE: Philco C661 - morzh - 02-26-2026

Gosh, Bob, I admire your patience.
I hate cleaning plastics, let alone aluminum faceplates with painting on them.

RE: Philco C661 - klondike98 - 02-26-2026

Thx guys. Well Mike, I don’t have the electrical trouble shooting skills you have so I try to make up for it with the cosmetics of the cabinet and chassis and just hope the recapping and rewiring I need to do get the radio working. I’ve watched painting restorers take dirt and varnish off old paintings and this was a bit like that. There is still some discoloration of the plastic on the back. Looks a bit like blooming in chocolate, a light white. Don’t think it’s going to come off.

RE: Philco C661 - Arran - 03-01-2026

Bob;
If that blooming effect is what I think it is I too have noticed it in plastic cabinets, particularly those of a dark colour I think it's the dyes they used to colour the plastic, whilst they were blended relatively consistently when the cabinet was made I think maybe age, and U.V has caused some sort of shift. In some cabinets it looks almost like a grain, which is much more noticeable in something like Catalin, but polystyrene seems to have one too, likely from being injection molded. I've also see light spots where the plastic was exposed to battery acid, or some sort of solvent, and they ended up bleaching out somewhat.
Regards
Arran

RE: Philco C661 - morzh - 03-01-2026

>>>I don’t have the electrical trouble shooting skills you have

Don't be modest. All of you know that stuff better than I do. Troubleshooting ain't everytyhing in this hobby. Maybe 20%.

RE: Philco C661 - klondike98 - 03-09-2026

Thanks Mike, the blooming doesn't look too bad and it is what it is I think. I think the cabinet is about where I'm going to leave it for now and I'll start working on the chassis. That thread will be in the Electronic Section.

RE: Philco C661 - klondike98 - 04-04-2026

The other big cabinet issue is the tuning knob. It is missing a gold colored covering that is in the middle of the knob. It looks like it was glued in and has come off. You can see what the knob is supposed to look like from this link to a C661 in our Gallery Library.

Mine is somewhat less than that!

   

I sanded down the rough section and filled the holes with Timbermate wood filler. There is probably a better filler for plastic but this is what I had on hand.

   

After a couple of rounds of fill and sand I got it pretty smooth.

   

And the final product after taping it and painting with a gold spry paint.