12-22-2007, 02:25 PM
Hi
Questions answered inline...
I got the pushbutton switch assembly removed and after looking over the radio it appears that about 95% of the wires will need replacing.
Is this normal for this particular chassis?
Yes.
How many of Philco's other chassis will have this problem?
All Philco sets made between 1939 and 1942. You can also unsolder one end of each wire, remove the remnants of the old rubber insulation, then resleeve with color-coded heat shrink tubing.
Any hints on restoring this radio?
Take your time and be patient. To get at all of the old rubber-covered wiring, sometimes the bandswitch on these models (41-250, 41-255, 41-256, 41-280, 41-285, 41-287, 41-290) must be disassembled, to avoid breaking the bandswitch wafers. You'll also need to disassemble the IF cans and replace or resleeve every wire.
It appears that i will have to remove the bandswitch assembly as well.
Or disassemble it...by removing the two nuts that hold it all together and then pulling the individual wafers apart...being careful not to lose the spacers that go between the wafer sections...
How many hours does it usually take to restore one of these (caps and rewire)?
A LOT. Too many, in fact.
Do customers pay what it's worth to restore one of these?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
The labor cost must be through the roof.
If the job is done right...it has to be, in order to be fair to the person doing the restoration work.
What would a restored radio of this vintage be worth?
As much as someone is willing to pay for it. And nowhere near as much as the time and effort you must put into one of these to properly restore it.
Not trying to be a smart-you-know-what here. But in all honesty, my feelings on "what is it worth" are similar enough to Steve Adams' thoughts on this subject that I usually refer those looking for values to this page on his website. (Steve owns the Radio Attic.)
Good luck on that 41-250. You're going to need it.
Questions answered inline...
I got the pushbutton switch assembly removed and after looking over the radio it appears that about 95% of the wires will need replacing.
Is this normal for this particular chassis?
Yes.
How many of Philco's other chassis will have this problem?
All Philco sets made between 1939 and 1942. You can also unsolder one end of each wire, remove the remnants of the old rubber insulation, then resleeve with color-coded heat shrink tubing.
Any hints on restoring this radio?
Take your time and be patient. To get at all of the old rubber-covered wiring, sometimes the bandswitch on these models (41-250, 41-255, 41-256, 41-280, 41-285, 41-287, 41-290) must be disassembled, to avoid breaking the bandswitch wafers. You'll also need to disassemble the IF cans and replace or resleeve every wire.
It appears that i will have to remove the bandswitch assembly as well.
Or disassemble it...by removing the two nuts that hold it all together and then pulling the individual wafers apart...being careful not to lose the spacers that go between the wafer sections...
How many hours does it usually take to restore one of these (caps and rewire)?
A LOT. Too many, in fact.
Do customers pay what it's worth to restore one of these?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
The labor cost must be through the roof.
If the job is done right...it has to be, in order to be fair to the person doing the restoration work.
What would a restored radio of this vintage be worth?
As much as someone is willing to pay for it. And nowhere near as much as the time and effort you must put into one of these to properly restore it.
Not trying to be a smart-you-know-what here. But in all honesty, my feelings on "what is it worth" are similar enough to Steve Adams' thoughts on this subject that I usually refer those looking for values to this page on his website. (Steve owns the Radio Attic.)
Good luck on that 41-250. You're going to need it.
--
Ron Ramirez
Ferdinand IN
