Tropic 3104 identification
Posts: 1
Threads: 1
Joined: Apr 2017
City: Budapest, Hungary

Hallo Forum Members,
I live in Hungary, and have a Philco Tropic 3104. I renovated this nice receiver, and now works fine, but I like to know how when it was manufactured? I found very similar pieces, for example 53-960 or 55T_1942. My model number not set into Philco number system. I know this is manufactured for export, and near the II. WW ( or after II. WW) many pieces arrived to Europe for example to Switzerland. I attached some photos about.
Best Regards
Istvan
Posts: 496
Threads: 15
Joined: Mar 2013
City: Weymouth Ma
Istvan,
Welcome to the Phorum.
Henry
Posts: 5,182
Threads: 276
Joined: Nov 2012
City: Wilsonville
State, Province, Country: OR
Posts: 13,776
Threads: 580
Joined: Sep 2005
City: Ferdinand
State, Province, Country: Indiana
Hello Istvan,
That is a really neat Philco Tropic receiver!
I do not have an exact year of manufacture for your 3104. I have no information for 1949, 1951 or 1954 production of Philco Tropic sets. Therefore, I would have to guess that it is probably a 1951 model as it is very similar to the USA model 53-960 but while still managing to look a bit "older" than the 53-960.
--
Ron Ramirez
Ferdinand IN
Posts: 4,906
Threads: 54
Joined: Sep 2008
City: Sandwick, BC, CA
It was made in Canada, very interesting. However that doesn't necessarily mean that it will be found in the RCC manuals since it was clearly an export set. If it was a domestic Canadian set it would have either a 120 V 40/60 cps power supply, or a 115 V 25/60 cps power supply, not a 120/240 volt 50/60 cps power supply.
Regards
Arran
Posts: 13,776
Threads: 580
Joined: Sep 2005
City: Ferdinand
State, Province, Country: Indiana
I looked - it isn't in the RCC manuals.
--
Ron Ramirez
Ferdinand IN
Posts: 496
Threads: 15
Joined: Mar 2013
City: Weymouth Ma
I wonder why the documentation is treated like an ugly sister on exports? Years ago I had a Westinghouse export set that I still regret selling that did have a schematic in a misc. section in Riders.
Henry
Posts: 13,776
Threads: 580
Joined: Sep 2005
City: Ferdinand
State, Province, Country: Indiana
I would say the reason is that export sets were not expected to be encountered in the USA after they were built and shipped out of the country, so documentation was not provided here for the most part. Notable exceptions being 1939-1942 Tropics in the RMS Year Books of those years, and 1948, 1950, 1952 and 1953 domestic service data. And the 1948, 1950, 1952 and 1953 data might be incomplete.
--
Ron Ramirez
Ferdinand IN
Posts: 496
Threads: 15
Joined: Mar 2013
City: Weymouth Ma
Ron,
I understand what you are saying but you would think we would be able to find the data if it was sent overseas. It should be somewhere.
Henry
Posts: 13,776
Threads: 580
Joined: Sep 2005
City: Ferdinand
State, Province, Country: Indiana
Somewhere...perhaps...but obviously not here.
Oh, it was probably retained at Philco in Philadelphia. However, in spite of the Philco archives having been transferred to the Ford Historical Archives after Ford bought Philco, I wouldn't count on Ford still having anything on this subject.
--
Ron Ramirez
Ferdinand IN
Posts: 496
Threads: 15
Joined: Mar 2013
City: Weymouth Ma
Istvan,
I see your radio is posted in Radiomuseum along with a schematic. I am curious to know what publication the schematic and information is from.
Thanks,
Henry
Posts: 13,776
Threads: 580
Joined: Sep 2005
City: Ferdinand
State, Province, Country: Indiana
The schematic there is a Philco service bulletin for (USA) model 53-960.
--
Ron Ramirez
Ferdinand IN
Posts: 496
Threads: 15
Joined: Mar 2013
City: Weymouth Ma
Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)
|
Recent Posts
|
Model 80 Antenna Issue?
|
Thanks Gary and Rod.
I also found an article in the Philco Repair Bench under Service Hints and Tips, about installi...Hamilton — 12:32 PM |
Model 80 Antenna Issue?
|
Hello Hamilton, here is a little information found in our Philco Radio Library at the bottom of the Home page. Hope it ...GarySP — 11:28 AM |
Model 80 Antenna Issue?
|
I did as you suggested and touching the middle of the volume control did nothing so the coil has to be rewound. Any idea...Hamilton — 10:19 AM |
1949 Motorola 5A9M
|
This would be the second portable in the "other radios" forum where I have a similar one in my collection. I h...Arran — 12:41 AM |
Looking for any info: 1977 Ford-Philco Console Hi-Fi Turntable and Radio
|
Hi PittsburgTost.
The record changer looks like a Garrard or BSR (Likely Garrard). The spindles just pull out and pu...MrFixr55 — 11:57 PM |
Looking for any info: 1977 Ford-Philco Console Hi-Fi Turntable and Radio
|
Hello PittsburghToast ,
Welcome aboard and it looks like gary may have something for you !
now if I dig through my se...radiorich — 11:35 PM |
Model 80 Antenna Issue?
|
You are kind of on the right path. You can touch the grid cap of the Detector/Oscillator 36 tube. I'm expecting a respon...RodB — 08:48 PM |
Looking for any info: 1977 Ford-Philco Console Hi-Fi Turntable and Radio
|
Welcome to the Phorum, PittsburghToast! I found an old thread that my interest you regarding the quality and worth of P...GarySP — 08:48 PM |
Looking for any info: 1977 Ford-Philco Console Hi-Fi Turntable and Radio
|
Welcome to the Phorum!
:wave:
We do not have anything on that unit in our digital library. There is a Sam's Photof...klondike98 — 08:47 PM |
Model 80 Antenna Issue?
|
I’ve replaced all the caps and resistors and the radio is working but minimal volume unless I put my hand near the re...Hamilton — 08:24 PM |
Who's Online
|
There are currently 963 online users. [Complete List] » 1 Member(s) | 962 Guest(s)
|
|
|

|