The PHILCO Phorum
Philco 39-116 - Printable Version

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Philco 39-116 - fields 100 - 02-19-2014

Hi,
As I am almost finished restoring my 38-2670 and 71B, I was wondering about this console. There is one available, albeit w/o "mystery control". How complicated is it? I do not want to go over my head as it almost happened to me with the 38-2670 (RF section), but I survived ( with your help, guys) and enjoyed after that doing the 71B, it was like a picnic. Thanks in advance for advice.

RE: Philco 39-116 - morzh - 02-19-2014

It will be fairly intense. Even for an experienced guy. But...not impossible.

RE: Philco 39-116 - TA Forbes - 02-19-2014

Adapting/programming a mystery control is tricky, but Ron has some excellent documentation about this in another series of threads.

RE: Philco 39-116 - fields 100 - 02-21-2014

@ Morzh "...intense...but not impossible".
That sounds enticing and time consuming at the same time, as with one radio per month average (it is my output now,retired and bored otherwise), we will need more of a living space. On the serious note though, they are asking
$300.00, untested, no remote, nice cabinet. You think it is a fair number?

RE: Philco 39-116 - gregb - 02-21-2014

If the cabinet is nice I would go for it as I have always wanted a Mystery control set. There seems to be plenty of the remotes around so you should have no problem getting one of them.
Have Fun!

Gregb

RE: Philco 39-116 - morzh - 02-21-2014

From what I've seen sold, with nice cabinet and NOT rusty/otherwise in a bad shape chassis and speaker, yes, an acceptable price. Not that you couldn't try to haggle.

RE: Philco 39-116 - Arran - 02-21-2014

No, $300 is way to much for one without the remote in non working condition. These sets have yards of rubber covered wire in them, that alone is a reason to pay as little as possible for one. The squarish cabinet 1939-42 Philco consoles are not really that well liked, they are also not that rare, so it does not make any sense to pay a brand Z shutterdial sort of price for one.
Regards
Arran

RE: Philco 39-116 - gregb - 02-21-2014

Hey Aaron, if you come across a Mystery control set in good shape for less than that please let me know. I have been looking for one for years and have yet to find one.

Gregb

RE: Philco 39-116 - fields 100 - 02-21-2014

@Arran,

My wife salutes you, Arran. She is also not happy with the appearance of it.
Well, now it is two against one.I'll see what I can do.Besides, even if the main unit is operational, there is no way to test the remote control receiver part of the unit which is,I believe, 5 tube business plus number of mechanical relays and ratchet mechanism. Decisions, decisions.

RE: Philco 39-116 - Arran - 02-22-2014

I have found at least two in my area, and several other 1939-42 Philco consoles with squarish cabinets, Philco had a distributor in the region as did G.E. In the case of the one I was thinking of getting the guy was more interested in playing email tag then actually meeting up, so I lost interest, it was a shame because he also had a Philco 118B, but whatever. I was not that desperate to get one because I already have my fill of consoles, and, in the case of the 39-116/39-3116, the radio receiver itself isn't really anything special, five of the tubes are dedicated to the wireless remote circuitry. If you want one bad enough start hitting the swap meets in the U.S Midwest during the summer, or get Klaus to pick one up for you if he goes down there.
Regards
Arran