[Tom Hamilton]

Hi, Everybody,

I'm looking for some help in identifying this Philco radio and it's speaker. Here is a link with some pictures from Ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Parts-chassis-an...7675.l2557

From the tube shield holders I spotted in the pictures, I'm guessing this chassis is from 1938 or newer. I was able to count 5 tube sockets for sure, maybe six. This speaker has 4 wires going to the chassis. The Philco part number on the electromagnet coil is: 32-9142-W. I can't spot any other numbers on this speaker or output transformer.

Can anyone out there in Philco land identify this chassis and/or speaker? I've got this speaker and want to make sure I use the output transformer attached to the speaker with the correct single output tube.

Thanks a lot, Tom

[Ron Ramirez]

That is a chassis and speaker from a Philco 642 - a 1936 model designed to operate on 32 volts DC.

If you're thinking of trying to use its speaker in an AC set, forget it - the field has a DC resistance of 115 ohms, roughly 1/10 of the resistance needed in the majority of Philco sets.

The speaker is a K-29, by the way - it has a push-pull output transformer, but its primary impedance is 4000 ohms - right for the 48 tubes used in the 642, but wrong for 42 or 6F6 push-pull outputs which want to see around 5900 ohms.

[Tom Hamilton]

Thank you Ron.

The speaker didn't cost me a lot, but I was hopeful it could be used in AC radios. The seller on Ebay seemed to be very knowledgeable about old radios. He restored them. I wondered, to myself, why he would even sell an 8 inch speaker.

On the plus side, I was able to practice my paper cone repair skills. Now, the paper cone looks pretty good.

Live and learn. Tom

[TA Forbes]

The 642 is not a common set. Why not try and find a cabinet for it?

[Arran]

I think it would use the same cabinet as a Philco 620, which are much more common. The only issue I see is the rusty chassis, I don't know how severe it is but it would be an interesting set to put back together if possible.
Regards
Arran

[Tom Hamilton]

Hi,

This chassis and speaker was offered as an auction item on Ebay. Someone else wanted some parts off the chassis if no one bid on it. I then asked to buy the 8 inch speaker if there were no bids as well. There were no bids so the seller, Rettop sold me the speaker for $10.00 plus $17.50 shipping. My intention was to use this speaker for an AC powered Philco project, but I just found out from Ron that this speaker is only good for a battery powered radio.

As I'm pretty new to radio repair/restoration and still learning, I had no idea that a battery powered radio speaker was totally incompatible in an AC powered radio. Like I said earlier, live and learn.

If someone wants to contact this Ebay seller to buy the chassis and salvage this radio please contact me and I will put you in touch with him. I believe this chassis (and speaker) came from an estate sale.

Tom

[codefox1]

Got to be a way to power up the speaker, whether it is worthwhile or not is another matter.