Posts: 1,411
Threads: 72
Joined: Oct 2007
City: Linn Creek, MO
A few months ago, I bought Philco 90 chassis from one of our friends at ARF. This is the less common late version, with the push-pull 47 output. I haven't done a complete radio restoration in more than a year. After watching Ron's restorations and a couple of others, I decided it's time to do this one. About the time I bought the chassis, I had a fellow order a 90 cabinet so, I went ahead and made two at the same time, knowing I would need one. Also, the large tube shield was missing. I was able to find a 91 tube shield on eBay. The only thing I don't have is the correct speaker.
[Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/4816...c04b_k.jpg] Philco 90 Chassis by Steve Davis, on Flickr
[Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/4816...81df_k.jpg] Philco 90 Chassis by Steve Davis, on Flickr
M R Radios C M Tubes
Posts: 1,411
Threads: 72
Joined: Oct 2007
City: Linn Creek, MO
The chassis has quite a few rusted spots that I have sanded out. I removed the tuning condenser and masked aluminum cans and tube sockets. I bought a couple of cans of spray paint, hoping to find a close match to the original color.
[Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/4916...6327_k.jpg] 100_0039 by Steve Davis, on Flickr
The Ultra Matte Slate turned out to be a little bit dark.
[Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/4916...961b_k.jpg] 100_0021 by Steve Davis, on Flickr
So, I tried Satin Granite.
[Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/4916...5707_k.jpg] 100_0038 by Steve Davis, on Flickr
It turned out too light.
[Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/4916...23a9_k.jpg] 100_0029 by Steve Davis, on Flickr
I decided to mix the two. I sprayed the paint in to a couple of mixing cups then mixed them and used my spray gun to apply. After a little trial and error, I came pretty close. The tube shield is the original finish.
[Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/4916...8779_k.jpg] 100_0031 by Steve Davis, on Flickr
Steve
M R Radios C M Tubes
Posts: 1,475
Threads: 69
Joined: Nov 2012
City: Kansas city, MO.
That looks good Steve. I've had the same problem of trying to find a paint that is close to original chassis color in a spray can.
Keep the restoration updates coming.
Posts: 13,776
Threads: 580
Joined: Sep 2005
City: Ferdinand
State, Province, Country: Indiana
--
Ron Ramirez
Ferdinand IN
Posts: 1,199
Threads: 49
Joined: Oct 2017
City: Allendale, MI
I'm watching carefully too! I've had to paint a couple of chassis but have had a hard time deciding what the original color was. Heavily oxidized cadmium is different than fresh cadmium (I've cadmium plated a few aircraft parts.) Chassis areas that have been covered with transformer mounting tabs look different than the exposed areas (much brighter.) I've used a brighter aluminum paint which is, no doubt, much lighter, brighter than original. I'm anxious to see how yours turns out!!
(This post was last modified: 12-03-2019, 11:28 PM by rfeenstra.)
Posts: 1,411
Threads: 72
Joined: Oct 2007
City: Linn Creek, MO
The early Philco chassis such as the 90 were not cadmium plated. I'm not sure what they used, it looks like some thin wash coat of some kind. Slightly later Philcos had cadmium plated chassis.
Steve
M R Radios C M Tubes
Posts: 194
Threads: 43
Joined: Jan 2019
City: Brownsville 42210
State, Province, Country: Kentucky
oh boo you didn't paint it hot pink ha ha.
Posts: 1,199
Threads: 49
Joined: Oct 2017
City: Allendale, MI
Posts: 1,411
Threads: 72
Joined: Oct 2007
City: Linn Creek, MO
Jake, go ahead and send me yours, I'll paint it hot pink for you
Steve
M R Radios C M Tubes
Posts: 194
Threads: 43
Joined: Jan 2019
City: Brownsville 42210
State, Province, Country: Kentucky
All i used is gojo and mothers mag polish on mine lots of black and nicotine paste came off but my old 50A smelled like 70+ of cigar use. cleaned up pretty well but i was fortunate there was no rust.
Posts: 1,411
Threads: 72
Joined: Oct 2007
City: Linn Creek, MO
I removed the end bells from the power transformer, cleaned and painted them. I painted the core while still on the chassis. I masked the windings and placed cardboard under it to protect the chassis.
[Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/4916...e1ec_k.jpg] 100_0041 by Steve Davis, on Flickr
[Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/4916...a188_k.jpg] 100_0045 by Steve Davis, on Flickr
[Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/4916...d8a7_k.jpg] 100_0058 by Steve Davis, on Flickr
Steve
M R Radios C M Tubes
Posts: 1,411
Threads: 72
Joined: Oct 2007
City: Linn Creek, MO
Posts: 1,411
Threads: 72
Joined: Oct 2007
City: Linn Creek, MO
Posts: 194
Threads: 43
Joined: Jan 2019
City: Brownsville 42210
State, Province, Country: Kentucky
I like your chassis helper though it does look heavy.
Posts: 1,411
Threads: 72
Joined: Oct 2007
City: Linn Creek, MO
I'm ready to start restuffing condenser blocks. I have a new set of "dogbone" resistors that I will be installing at the same time.
[Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/4916...ebf6_k.jpg] Philco 90 Restoration by Steve Davis, on Flickr
When I look at the bottom of the chassis, I can see a few problems. The most noticeable is the end section of the B-C resistor is burned. This section provides the bias for the 47 tubes. It reads 195 ohms, it should be 205. That makes me wonder if there one or two turns shorted. I may cut that section out and replace it with a separate resistor.
[Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/4916...7dbf_k.jpg] Philco 90 Restoration by Steve Davis, on Flickr
Another thing is, someone in the past, added an extra capacitor that makes no sense. Originally there was a .25 uf located in a metal can with 3 other sections that by passes a 25K resistor going to the 27 detector amp. This lead to the .25 uf was clipped and the .01 cap was connected in series with the .25 uf. This looks to have been done many years ago.
[Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/4917...9531_k.jpg] Philco 90 Restoration by Steve Davis, on Flickr
Steve
M R Radios C M Tubes
Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)
|
Recent Posts
|
Testing a speaker and output transformer Trutone A2-G
|
Well I have found 315v on the rectifier when cold. Drops off to 280 after 15 minute warmup.
Checked pin 3 on both 6F6 t...murf — 04:14 PM |
Testing a speaker and output transformer Trutone A2-G
|
Thanks for the replies, I will check these ideas out and report back.
murfmurf — 03:18 PM |
Testing a speaker and output transformer Trutone A2-G
|
Sorry, my mistake.
murfmurf — 03:07 PM |
Testing a speaker and output transformer Trutone A2-G
|
MrFixr
Honestly, I haven't done that yet and do not want to screw up the threads; maybe you could do it, or we could...morzh — 12:48 PM |
Two small radios from France. Restoration and review.
|
Greetings;
I think that it's possible that the assortment of components was the result of post war parts shortages, a...Arran — 12:18 PM |
Philco model 38 code 121 not receiving signal.
|
Unfortunately I can't inject any audio into the volume control. It is in the primary circuit of the antenna coil, not in...Stormlord5500 — 09:32 AM |
Philco model 38 code 121 not receiving signal.
|
Sounds good Gary I'll do that. I have plenty of stuff like that I can scrounge up. I am still kind of new to all this so...Stormlord5500 — 08:47 AM |
Philco Battery-WWII vintage
|
Seems to me that this a general purpose or radio filament 6V battery of very high amp-hour capacity and very high "...MrFixr55 — 08:08 AM |
Testing a speaker and output transformer Trutone A2-G
|
Hi Morzh,
From my end, no. I did not know that there are 2 threads on this topic. Maybe it should be combined.MrFixr55 — 07:13 AM |
Testing a speaker and output transformer Trutone A2-G
|
Any reason for the 2nd copy of the thread?morzh — 10:22 PM |
Who's Online
|
There are currently no members online. |
|

|