Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

1937-38 Acoustic Clarifiers
#1

Are the clarifiers used in the 1937-116 & 690 the same as the ones in the 1938-116 & 690?? can they be swapped ?
Thanks,

Gene
#2

Yes. Same size, same appearance, made the same as far as I can tell.

--
Ron Ramirez
Ferdinand IN
#3

Thank You, Ron!!

Gene
#4

I know that if I were running Philco I would have used the same design of clarifier from 1936-38, there wouldn't be any point in changing them without a valid reason.
Regards
Arran
#5

I fail to see the reason of making tens of new models every year and discontinuing the previous ones....they did it all the time.
#6

They did that to some degree but mostly they just facelifted existing models and made some technical mods. The Philco 60 and 89 were examples of this, the changes were mostly on the cosmetic side such as cabinets.
Regards
Arran
#7

On the subject of Acoustic Clarifiers... how the H**l do they work? I've actually spent some time examining the patent, but to me they seem to be passive radiators in a a non sealed (that's an understatement!) box, which seems absurd.
#8

They are passive resonators, that help dampen out cabinet sympathetic vibrations.

Ron can correct me if I'm wrong, but many of those high-end cabinet did have backs.

Chuck
#9

OK Chuck

The 1936 and 1937 Philco models with clarifiers (116X, 116PX, 680X, 37-116X, 37-690X) did not have backs. Philco used ventilated backs on the 1938 models (38-690, 38-116 plus several lower end consoles without the High Fidelity circuitry and with no clarifiers). Even in the 1938 models, the woofer chamber was not sealed.

--
Ron Ramirez
Ferdinand IN
#10

You do not necessarily have to have back for it to work. Often times the radio was against the wall, so the wall and the narrow space between the radio served as the lossy load, so clarifiers could use that. But even without back the very presense of an anti-resonator tuned to the resonant frequency of the cabinet/speaker system helps somewhat.
#11

Interesting. Has anyone actually done an A/B test to see if they're actually doing anything?
#12

When I have my 38-116 Playing, It sounds better if it is put up against a wall. The bass is much more present. Do not know if the clarifiers do anything. I think it was a gimick Philco came up with to compete with RCA as RCA used the sound tubes in their sets.. Just my thinking.........what do you guys say?
#13

My feeling is that they do work. The Philco patent filed for the clarifiers shows a bass response curve of the cabinet with and without the clarifiers. Without them there is a pronounced peak at the cabinet resonant frequency, while with them the peak is reduced by about 10 dB.

The clarifiers are actually tuned damping diaphragms, which absorb and dissipate energy at their self resonant frequencies.

Here is a link to the actual patent:

https://patentimages.storage.googleapis....059929.pdf
#14

Ah, yes. The "bass reflex effect" with a console up against the wall.

Forgot about that. D'oh!

I'm properly chastised....

Chuck Icon_smile




Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)
[-]
Recent Posts
Philco 91 Speaker Replacement
The spider is glued on the cone and so is the voice coil. I think you can use a cotton swab dipped in acetone and carefu...RodB — 02:42 PM
Restoring Philco 37-604C
Yes I saw that. If I knew, I'd probably try to arrange for getting it myself. But I have just got one. Which does not m...morzh — 01:44 PM
Philco 38-2 Automatic Tuning
When you push the lever, you are supposed to rotate the disk to the desired station. Then the magnetic tuning will acqu...morzh — 01:42 PM
Philco 38-2 Automatic Tuning
I figure out the muting from another picture that helped. Now I need to know how the automatic tuning works. When I push...dconant — 12:11 PM
Philco 91 Speaker Replacement
How would I go about removing the spider from the cone?dconant — 12:04 PM
Philco 38-2 Automatic Tuning
Hello, I am having trouble getting my automatic tuning to stay unmuted. If I play with the tuning handle I can get it to...dconant — 10:51 AM
Does anyone make photofinish replacements?
Here’s the link to the DIY photofinish section of our site: klondike98 — 09:46 AM
Delco car radio Peko vibrator converstion issues
Hi Richard, Thx for posting the schematic.  As I remember as a kid, these were great performers for the time, likely...MrFixr55 — 08:56 AM
Delco car radio Peko vibrator converstion issues
hello mr Fixr, The Electro  Powersupply that I am powering the radio with has a huge choke plus a 10,000ufd electrolyti...radiorich — 10:58 PM
Delco car radio Peko vibrator converstion issues
How about putting a choke in the power supply? The big cap was likely an attempt to stabilize the DC. Kids who cre...MrFixr55 — 09:19 PM

[-]
Who's Online
There are currently 2955 online users. [Complete List]
» 1 Member(s) | 2954 Guest(s)
Avatar

>