[Charlie]

Due to what I discovered today, I wasn't sure where to post this. As you read on, you'll find out what I mean!

All weekend long, that Philco roundie kept going thru my mind. At first glance, it just seems like your typical 60's roundie set. But for some reason, I kept thinking there was more to it than just that.

I knew I wouldn't have time to go back to the shop today, so I was able to talk some friends into going to get it for me. I don't have a truck, so I always have to con someone into going anyway! The set arrived a little while ago. We got it into my garage, and then I started looking it over. Couldn't see much of it the other day because it was in that dark attic with only a flashlight.

I was looking at the controls, and noticed it had two S's with some kind of emblem between them. Didn't really pay it too much mind at first because I was more focussed on the missing control door below it.

Then, I did a quick peak of the chassis (seeing mostly dirt). After a quick glance, I thought it looked like some tubes might be missing, but since this chassis didn't look familiar to me, I didn't give it a second thought.

The set was found with the CRT socket hanging, so I assumed that the CRT might be out. Did a quick check with the ohm meter, and found the filaments of the 21FBP to be open. I took sandpaper to the pins to see if that would help, but still nothin. Okay, the CRT is toast. No big deal.

Then I looked for the chassis number so I could look it up. Chassis # 19MT79... Sams 1024-2. Wait a minute... folder 1024??? That number seems a bit high! My Sams only go to 730 for the most part, so I knew I didn't have it. In the index, it shows folder 1024 to be somewhere in early to mid-1969. Now, I realize that it might be as long as 6 to 12 months after a model comes out before Sam publishes a Photofact for it, but 1969? As far as we know, it seems that roundies lasted till 1966... or maybe 67 at the very latest. Could it possibly be that this Philco roundie is from 68 or 69?

Then, I got to thinking about the chassis again. I remembered thinking that the power transformer looked a bit small for a roundie tube set. So I went back and looked closely at the layout and the tube diagram. Come to find out, this baby is a roundie hybrid! The tuners, IF stages, and AGC are solid state. That explains the SS on the front of the cabinet. So it turns out this is truly one of the very last roundies... a hybrid roundie possibly from somewhere between 68-69.

If someone has folder 1024-2, please look it up and check out the schematic. Any info would be appreciated! Is anyone else familiar with any roundie hybrids? Was a CTC-20 all tube?

Below are some better photos since i got it home.