[Ron Ramirez]

Several months ago, I won a 1950 Philco Tropic 3010 on eBay.

Before it was shipped, it looked like this:

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...before.jpg]

But once it arrived, it looked like this:

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...e00001.jpg]

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...e00002.jpg]

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...e00003.jpg]

Proper packaging would have prevented this disaster.

Fortunately, the 3010 uses the same cabinet as the USA Philco Transitone 51-532.

The 51-532 was made with a brown Bakelite cabinet, an ivory painted Bakelite cabinet, and an ebony cabinet.

The 3010 was made with a brown Bakelite cabinet or an ivory painted Bakelite cabinet.

Recently, I won another set like this...only this time, it was a brown Bakelite 51-532. It was purchased with the intention of using its cabinet to replace the badly broken 3010 cabinet.

Here are the two together, before the switch:

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum..._00004.jpg]

Once I removed the 3010 chassis, the broken cabinet literally fell apart in my hands - it was the chassis that was holding what was left of it together.

I then removed the 51-532 chassis from its cabinet. I also removed the loop antenna, as the 3010 does not use a loop.

The two glass dial scales were then removed from each cabinet, the dial of the 3010 was carefully cleaned, then mounted inside the 51-532 cabinet.

The 3010 chassis fits inside the 51-532 cabinet alright, but the holes for mounting the 3010 chassis are different from the 51-532 mounting holes - they do not line up. I will have to (very carefully) drill new mounting holes for the 3010 chassis. That should be easy...not.

But for now, enjoy the 3010's formal portrait:

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum..._00005.jpg]

The cabinet still needs to be cleaned and polished, and the chassis will require complete restoration. The 3010 uses a hot chassis! Yep, one side of the AC line is connected direct to the chassis! I'm debating converting it to a "floating" B- instead, if it can be done without too much trouble.

Another mod I am contemplating: The 51-532 uses a pilot lamp while the 3010 does not. I think the dial would look better if it were lit up while the set is in operation, so I might perform this mod to the set.

I also noticed the 51-532 uses a larger speaker. Hmmm...

The 3010 was made in three different versions. The set pictured above is the early version. There was a later version with a different dial scale, plus another later version in a different cabinet.