[jmac3ky]

Restoring a Philco 38-7 code 121. The schematic doesn't show the external antenna which I understand is a one of the early "loop" arrangements inside the console cabinet. The terminals are marked Red, Black, and Grd. Anyone have the Philco instructions or a diagram of the setup?

Thanks, John

[Ron Ramirez]

The 38-7 never had a loop antenna.

The RED and BLK terminals were designed for use with the Philco High Efficiency Aerial, a special dipole supplied with 1937 and 1938 model Philcos. It used a two-wire transmission line from antenna to radio. One of the two wires - the red wire - connected to the RED terminal; the other (black) connected to the BLK terminal.

In lieu of the Philco aerial, you may use a longwire antenna connected to the RED terminal; in which case there should be a jumper between the BLK and GND terminals.

[jmac3ky]

The answer I was looking for. Thanks Ron.

[beanderson]

I'm working on the same radio at the moment and recapped the whole thing. I'm still working through resistors. I finally got sounds out of it, but they're pretty staticky and weak reception. Would not grounding the black to ground make any difference in receiving stations?

Thanks

Bernie

[robsradioactive]

You can try it both ways, but with a long wire antenna, more often than not, grounding the "GND" terminal either makes reception worse or introduces plenty of buzzing noise. A lot depends on the quality of your ground system.

Rob