[Ron Ramirez]

Let's start on another, shall we?

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...770-01.jpg]

This is the oldest, largest, and heaviest Tropic in my collection. The cabinet alone is surprisingly heavy.

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...770-02.jpg]

As you can see, the chassis looks like a typical thumbwheel drive Philco from 1939-1941...only it has no pushbuttons.

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...770-03.jpg]

A close-up of the dial scale. Notice that it has four bands with complete "all wave" coverage from 540 kc to 22 mc. A unique feature of this radio is a tuning light, mounted just below the dial scale.

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...770-04.jpg]

This is a back view of the chassis.

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...770-05.jpg]

The metal model number tag...

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...770-06.jpg]

...and a sticker indicating it was serviced in the Bronx, NY. The guarantee expiration date is hard to read, but if you look close, you can just make out the date: Apr. 12, 1942.

So either this set was sold in the USA, the "made expressly for export" on the model number tag notwithstanding, or else whoever originally purchased the set immigrated here not long afterward, and settled in the Bronx (and brought their very cool - and very rare - Philco Tropic with them).

Now let's take a closer look.

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...770-07.jpg]

Right away you can spot a problem if you look closely - a tube socket has been mounted from the top of the chassis! I will correct that issue during the course of the restoration.

Now let's look under the chassis.

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...770-08.jpg]

Since none of the original paper caps are left underneath, I'm not sure whether or not I am going to install restuffed caps under here.

Who am I kidding, of course I will (if I have enough, that is).

I was warned by my friend from whom I purchased it, that it had a bad coil. Now, I don't remember which one, but I will find out. I hope I can manage to rewind it. It would be great if it were as easy as the AM band oscillator coil in my 42-788, but I don't think I can be that lucky twice in a row.

I could take the easy way out and just stick any 1939-1941 Philco chassis with thumbwheel controls in the cabinet. (Just kidding! I would not do that with a set like this.)

Like the 42-788, this will be no walk in the park. But it should be interesting...