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Philco 15DX restoration

I don't know about you Ron, but tomorrow, I'm off to the store and look for semichrome. Should spiff up the 38-116 cans I'm working on.
JerryIcon_thumbup

A friend in need is a pest!  Bill Slee ca 1970.

It is kinda pricy, but a little goes a long way. That can has lasted me years. Look for the little 1.76 oz tube.

I don't think it's available everywhere like in Walmart but some of the auto parts stores may have it. I've never bothered polishing aluminium, I've usually been content with a bright but a matte finish on IF cans and the like, which is pretty close to how most of them were when they were new.
Regards
Arran

I posted a video on YouTube last night about these rusty speakers and received some tips about unmounting the larger speaker cone and decided to give it a try. I removed the screws around the perimeter and very carefully separated the cone from the frame then removed the spider screw. Success Icon_smile Now I can really get in there and tackle that nasty rust Icon_thumbup

The cone is glued right to the frame in the smaller speaker. I'm not sure it's possible to remove it without damage.
[Image: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8080/83975...58b4_c.jpg]

[Image: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8075/83964...c0de_c.jpg]

Bob, your a braver man than me! Good luck and post pics as you go through it. I never had the confidence to remove and replace a cone, always sent speakers to someone who knows more than me about that stuff (most everyone). I will be watching your progress.

Jerry

A friend in need is a pest!  Bill Slee ca 1970.

WOW
Ditto, you are brave, if that was me I would have screwed up that voice coil. Good work and good luck on putting it back together. Icon_thumbupIcon_thumbup. Joe

Joe Bratcher near Louisville, KY

Not sure about the K series (8 inch) Philco speaker, but on newer speakers with a cardboard gasket, a careful application of straight acetone will allow the outer edge of the cone to be removed from the frame. You have to apply the acetone, let it sit for 10-15 minutes, and carefully start to remove the cone edge from the frame. One or more reapplications may be needed.

Phorum member Ed Locker showed me that trick a few years ago.

Speaking of tricks, thanks much for the Simichrome tip. I've been using Mother's Mag & Aluminum Polish on IF cans, but it doesn't seem to work as well on the 1930s Philco coil and IF shields that were spun permanently onto the chassis.

--
Ron Ramirez
Ferdinand IN

Thanks for the suggestion Ron. I just gave it a try and it worked quite well Icon_smile However, the cone was in pretty crummy condition to begin with so I'd like to replace it.

Does anyone have an opinion as to what replacement cone to use ? I measure about 7.5" O.D. I'm contemplating an 8" from MAT Electronics but am not sure if it will fit properly.

http://matelectronics.com/prestashop/en/...sories?p=3


[Image: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8188/83988...d4ef_c.jpg]

[Image: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8215/83999...e9cc_c.jpg]

Ugh. I'm glad I popped the cone out. This really needs to be cleaned out properly for the voice coil to move freely.
[Image: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8371/83999...dc18_c.jpg]

After three days of rust stripper, the speakers are finally rust free Icon_biggrin
[Image: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8218/84076...7d44_c.jpg]

As long as the center hole is small enough that you can mount the voice coil and spider to it it should work, do those have a foam or a paper hinge/surround? Or is it rubber? I too have known about the acetone trick for removing a glued on cone, actually lacquer thinner works just as well. You don't really need to let soak as long as 15 minutes, 5 to 10 is usually sufficient. You can use some strips of film negative or some other thin yet stiff plastic to shim between the voice coil and the pole piece.
Regards
Arran

I think the MAT Electronics cones have foam surround. I ordered a few and hope to have them by the end of the week. I was thinking I could leave some of the old paper cone attached to the voice coil / spider if needed to bridge a gap to the new cone.

Now for the output transformer. A little drilling took care of the rivets.

[Image: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8471/84100...76e5_c.jpg]

All of the cones I have found so far have foam surround. I got lucky and bought several 8 inch cones on eBay a few years ago. The center holes are a bit small, but that is easily corrected by carefully cutting with a good knife. The depth is perfect for Philco "K" series speakers but too deep for Philco "S" speakers which need a shallower cone. The surround requires a bit of trimming as well to fit the pincushion frame.

You're doing a fine job with those speakers, Bob! Icon_thumbup Icon_clap

--
Ron Ramirez
Ferdinand IN

Some newer speakers have a synthetic rubber surround/hinge but the foam ones are almost as common as the paper ones were. In the past there were a lot of problems with the foam disintegrating, especially the orange colored foam, you see a lot of replacement kits for sale for those types. I like the speakers that used a leather or chamois surround/hinge, they seem to be the most durable provided they were stored properly.
Regards
Arran

My order from MAT arrived and the cone was even better than I expected. Just a little trimming on the surround and it will fit perfectly Icon_smile

Before I mess around with installing it though I think I'll try out the original cone.
[Image: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8363/84207...9484_c.jpg]

The depth is a pretty darn good match.
[Image: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8224/84218...26fa_c.jpg]




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