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Philco 16X Restored - Printable Version

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Philco 16X Restored - Sean - 03-05-2011

This is a restoration I had been working on over the past 5 years off and on. Here's the background story on this radio. I first saw this set at one of our radio club auctions. I had an interest in it but I really didn't need nor have the room for another console. The bidding got up to about $20 when nobody else was willing to up it. I decided that I would pay a little more than that but the bidding ended just before I could get my hand up. There were two guys who were bidding on it. Each of them had a 16B that needed some parts and they wanted this set to get those parts. They ended up making a deal with each other to take the parts they needed and I guess they split the cost. About a year later one of the guys had the set at a local hamfest minus the escutcheon and a few knobs. It turned out that they each found that none of the parts they needed were on this set. The other guy had taken the escutcheon but I guess he had an early 16B that uses a different escutcheon. After looking at the set a few it was offered to me for $10 so I bit. The first photo shows the state of the cabinet when I bought the set. When I got it home I powered it up slowly on a variac and was amazed at the sound quality when I tuned in some orchestra music on shortwave. After about another year I started the restoration.

I actually got the radio pretty much completed about a year or so ago but issues kept popping up. First a static noise would appear after the set had warmed up for a few minutes. It was independent of the volume control so I started checking the audio section. I could find no source of the static except it was on the B+ line after the field coil. I presumed it was some arching in the field coil and would be more trouble to try fixing than what it was worth so had decided to just live with it. There must have been another problem that arose that led me to check the RF tube because I found that replacing the RF amplifier tube eliminated the static. I always like to run a set as much as possible to chase out any more problems that will arise before calling it done. While running it I found that after being tuned to a shortwave station for a while the radio would pop and the station would disappear. I could re-tune the radio and find the station again. I used my frequency counter to check the frequency of the local oscillator and found that when the pop occurred the frequency would jump 20kc or so. I pulled the chassis last weekend and found the capacitor coupling the plate of the oscillator tube to the mixer was leaky. I replaced the cap and all is now well. I moved the radio upstairs earlier this week. I know the toner I used on the trim is too dark but I kind of like it that way. The toned areas are the only refinish on the cabinet. The rest of the finish was cleaned up and I sprayed a coat of clear lacquer over the original finish.

Note from site admin: Sorry, but the photos which were attached to this post are no longer available.

Re: Philco 16X Restored - Ron Ramirez - 03-05-2011

Wow...great job, Sean! Icon_thumbup

Sean Wrote:I know the toner I used on the trim is too dark but I kind of like it that way.
I don't think it is too dark...it looks perfect!

You do know that for $10, you stole that set, don't you? Icon_wink

Re: Philco 16X Restored - TA Forbes - 03-05-2011

Looks GREAT!!! I love hearing about deals like this one. They are still out there, that is what makes this hobby so much fun.

I am chasing a BEAUTIFUL original Majestic Grandfather Clock radio now, 200.00 asking price, but it is over 4 hours away and I am afraid that one of the other people that are on the way to see it will snatch it.

Re: Philco 16X Restored - TA Forbes - 03-05-2011

BAD: the grandfather clock radio got away. Another buyed got it.

Good: found a Philco 144 Shouldered tombstone. Since I only have one of this style (model 18B) I am thrilled to find another. And since I am VERY familiar with the inner working of the 144 chassis (I have one that nearly drove me crazy trying to fix it. Score remains radio-1, Tom-0) I should be able to get it working.

Re: Philco 16X Restored - Uffda - 03-06-2011

Nice job! I enjoyed hearing the back story also.