[Antipodal]

Hi Everyone ,
 I have a Philco  auto radio  set on the bench at the moment.Valve lineup is 6A7 78 75 41 84. Sadly neither on the cover nor on the valve identification sticker inside is there any model number. That's okay so far . I guess I can work on it blind . 

But I cannot figure out how to get the speaker , located inside the box , out so I can work on the set.If there is anyone on the Phorum who has worked on one of these sets who knows how to get the speaker (and probably the output transformer as well ) out I'd be grateful to tap into your expertise.

Hopefully as you'll see from the photos you'll see that it is a pushbutton set, though the actual buttons themselves have not stood the test of time.Does anyone know if they are available ? Thanks everyone. Also if any one recognises this radio and can point me to a source for a schematic that would be most helpful . Thanks.

[MrFixr55]

Hi Antipodal,

Sorry, I have not seen this radio, nor do I have the schematic, but if you thumb through the various Philco Auto Radio schematics (they usually start with a letter other than B), You may find something that looks like your tube layout. The schematic would likely be similar

This set likely is a "universal" type under dash set. It is quite compact and appears to be mid 1930s before the use of octal or Loctal tubes and before permeability tuning. It appears to be quite compact. It was likely a lower cost model despite the pushbuttons due to the lack of an RF amp.

As to the speaker, my guess is that if you remove the 4 screws that hold down the tuner to the chassis, you will find screws that hold the speaker to the chassis.

[Joe Rossi]

Hi Antipodal,

Is this a 5-tube or 6-tube set? Most of the Philco schematics I’ve checked so far have 2-78’s.  Also, any idea what brand of auto it came out of?

Joe

[Antipodal]

Hi Joe,
Thank you for your interest in this set . It is a five tube set . It has only a two gang tuning condenser and no r.f. stage .I think Mr Fixr is right - it is an aftermarket set being branded Philco and made to fit under the dash so not a factory installed in the car set. The tube lineup is correct , the valve numbers correct for their function in the set. So no one has discovered a valve not lighting and put in a substitute " because it fits in the socket so it must be right" as sometimes happens.
Thanks again and cheers, Antipodal

[Joe Rossi]

Try a Philco Model 5. Ryders volume 3. On Nostalgia Air there is also a Beitmans schematic. Joe

[MrFixr55]

Hi Antipodal,

I don't think it is a Model 5 after comparing the chassis layout to the pictures that you provided, but it must be very similar, so the schematic should be good. However, it is a Philco manufactured, aftermarket under dash one piece set. Often, there was no dash space for radios, especially before about 1935 or so, as a standard "DIN" (a European term but no American equivalent) or manufacturer designated opening did not occur until the mid to late 1930s. Therefore, the radio mounted on the firewall with wire cable controls to a "Head", usually mounted on the steering column or sometimes under the dash, or sometimes in place of the clock for an in-dash look. This set breaks the mold by mounting the entire set on the lower lip of the dash.

The Model 5 is a "modern" 5 tube vibrator powered superhet radio, similar to the AA5 circuit with pentagrid converter, remote cutoff pentode IF, combo diode triode detector/1st AF amp and pentode output, compared to others such as the Model 3 (a TRF set), Ca 1931-1932 and even others with a higher number such as the Model 7 Superhet, ca 1032-1933, which required B Batteries or an external Dynamotor or Vibrator supply.

Another clue to your set not being a Model 5 is that the Models 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, etc. were known as "Transitones", the name of the company that designed and built them before Philco bought the company. Yours is branded "Philco" and built with Philco branded caps.

By the mid-1930s, car manufacturers started designing their cars for either the addition of radios or were sold with radios. These aftermarket under-dash or 2-piece radios were additions to older cars which were designed or built before the car radio.