Posts: 2,353
Threads: 92
Joined: May 2010
City: Clayton, NC
Recently got a Philco 118 highboy, excellent cabinet, trashed speaker, questionable chassis. Had a GREAT playing 118 chassis and an extra H13 speaker. Did have to use shadowmeter from highboy chassis. Maybe it's me but I have never have had an easy time adjusting a shadowmeter for centering of the filiment in the meter aperture and distance of the filiment from the meter aperture.
HOWEVER it is togther and plays and recieves great. The 118 is often overlooked, as it is "only" a two band radio. But it is an 8 tube radio with a 42 driver and 2 42's (triode push pull) that are the same as found in the larger 16 and 116 sets.
Now if I can: (1) get that d__d Philco 144 working; (2) start work on the Philco 43 that I am intrigued by; (3) Just say the H**l with it and go smoke a cigarette, which is weird because I don't smoke cigarettes.
Posts: 1,400
Threads: 70
Joined: Oct 2007
City: Linn Creek, MO
The Philco 118 is indeed a wonderful radio.
Steve
M R Radios C M Tubes
Posts: 13,776
Threads: 580
Joined: Sep 2005
City: Ferdinand
State, Province, Country: Indiana
I have a 118H but I have not restored the chassis yet. But my 18B cathedral (a year older, AM and low SW "police" band) is an excellent performer, nearly as good as my 116B.
I've restored 118 chassis previously, and have always been impressed by them.
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Ron Ramirez
Ferdinand IN
Posts: 2,353
Threads: 92
Joined: May 2010
City: Clayton, NC
My 18 is the shouldered tombstone model. Solid cabinet and electronics but wrong color (no stain/toner used when it was previously resto'd). This is one that I plan to add color to one of these days, but other projects have priority at this time. I am currently finishing a Silvertone 1940 and an Airline 62-196, and am starting a Philco 43B and a Philco 630B. The 630 may be "bumped" in priority by a Philco 640B. Oh yes, and also have a troublesome 144B that I cannot seem to make play.
With a couple of exceptions, my Philco collection is 1930-1938. Philcos made before and after really dont interest me. Come to think of it, I would have to say that my collection is almost exclusively 1930-1938 tombstones, cathedrals, and a few consoles. Bakelites and table models are also just n ot my cup of tea.
Nearly all of the ones I have on display are "players." I have no TV service, by choice, and my TV here is nothing more than a DVD player. The older I get, the more appalled by what is on the TV I get.
Although I have been into radios since the '60s, I didn't discover how organized the hobby was until about a year ago. I must say that this is an EXCELLENT web site, and your book, which I have an early and a recent copy of, is a super resource for the Philco models that I am interested in.