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Got a '35 Model 89 (123) - Printable Version

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Got a '35 Model 89 (123) - w1es - 04-30-2011

I just found this forum and it looks like a good one!

I'm Steve and as you can probably tell from my username, I'm a ham and so I can also help out some of you with questions regarding the chassis restorations.

A ham friend of mine found this 89 while he was making a delivery in Massachusetts (nice coincidence, as that's where I originally came from). The cabinet has a small missing bit of veneer, some scuffs and scratches but is in decent shape.

I've seen a lot of really sad-looking chassis on old ham sets as well as antique radios - this one's actually in nice shape as well. I'm hoping to post pics of my progress as I go along.

Although my friend tells me he fired it up and heard stations through a lot of hum, I'm going to wait until I replace all the electrolytics before trying.

One question with this 89: what wood species is used in the front veneer?

[Image: http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc520/w1es/86a06150.jpg]

[Image: http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc520/w1es/31a170d9.jpg]

[Image: http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc520/w1es/b3df6724.jpg]

Re: Got a '35 Model 89 (123) - Radioroslyn - 05-01-2011

Hi Steve and Welcome!
Nice find! You my want to check out the cabinet restoration page. If you are thinking about the missing veneer on the front of the cabinet I don't think It will matter so much as it is pretty dark in color. All of that is done with toned lacquers. The '89 is a good little set too it has a SW band and a RF stage. I don't remember what the sw coverage is some of those set just cover the old police band like 1.6mc-2.5mc or so. But that will give you the 160mtr band.
de
Terry N3GTE

Re: Got a '35 Model 89 (123) - Ron Ramirez - 05-01-2011

The original veneer is walnut.

Nice find! Icon_smile

Re: Got a '35 Model 89 (123) - Radioroslyn - 05-01-2011

If you don't have the diagram it can be found here:
http://www.nostalgiaair.org/Resources/877/M0013877.htm
I've got an aunt and uncle in Mebane.
Terry

Re: Got a '35 Model 89 (123) - w1es - 05-01-2011

Terry - QRZ is a wonderful tool, ain't it? Icon_smile We've lived in Mebane for five years come may and really like it here. My friend who gave me the radio has been a lifelong resident here - he drives a truck up and down the East Coast and found the set in MA, of all places.

Ron, I suspected the veneer was walnut - thanks for confirming. It's a really tiny piece but it will be a nice challenge to piece it in.

Thanks for the diagram! I haven't fired it up yet, so the SW band will come later - perhaps I can listen to some of the AM activity up near the top of 160.

And yes - I've been perusing the cabinet subforum and it's got a lot of good info. I also do woodworking but veneering is not something I've done much of, so I'm looking forward to doing the resto.

I've got some busy-time ahead of me, as my dad just gave me back a mid-30's GE tombstone that I'll have to re-do a second time (I put some old but not "as old" caps in it about 20 years ago and it's humming again...) and a Drake R-4A with a cantankerous VFO in addition to this 89.

One of the other nice things about this 89 is that the speaker is in perfect shape.

Steve, W1ES/4
Mebane, NC

Re: Got a '35 Model 89 (123) - AI2V - 05-02-2011

The 89's are nice radios. I sold mine a few years ago and only got around to replacing it a week ago with the 1933 version.

You almost certainly have the last version. If your circuits don't match the schematic, go to Ron's tech site (http://www.philcoradio.com/tech/89evol.htm) for a nice clean modern schematic. Click on the schematic you want and you will get a modern readable schematic to work from.

The 89 that I just acquired had been recently recapped but the resistors were original (you will find that your resistors above 50K are way out of tolerance or open). Two tube shields and their mounts were also missing which is great if you like to listen to squeals and howls. The audio tube socket was so intermittent that I had to replace it even after cleaning, polishing, and pinching the contacts.

Before long you will be asking about those tar blocks and the multi-cap can; DON'T THROW THEM OUT! They all get restuffed and it's not difficult. Have fun- and always come back with questions.