Philco 49-1002

[captainmoody]

Found this one at an Estate sale Friday for $20. I don't really collect anything older than the late 50's, but had to get this one! I first saw this model in the book "A Flick Of The Switch" that I purchased in 1975. (Thought it was an interesting set at the time), and tried to locate one for about the next ten years, then gave up and forgot about it.
After replacing an open 4-section 'lytic, and cleaning several tube sockets, the set powered up with a great picture and clear sound as well. It had been sitting unused since the 60's only occasionally being powered up as the owner was a collector.
Ok, here's the bad part.. He was a tinkerer and replaced the tuner in the 50's. The set is all original and complete except that.
I don't know much about these, but didn't they originally have an 8 position three tube tuner? The one in there now has positions 2-13.
Can anyone fill me in on this, and where I might find an original to install?

[Don Lindsly]

Eight position tuner is correct for that model. It was probably replaced for some good reasons.
1. The contact blocks may have failed in the original
2. There were more than 8 channels in the area
3. A fine tuner adjustment
4. Unable to locate coils for new channels

If you locate a tuner, you will need the correct channel coils, knob and escutcheon.

[captainmoody]

Oh, I see. Sounds like the tuner I have now is an improvement over the original.
So i'm probably better off leaving it alone then?

[Eric H]

Originally Posted by captainmoody

Oh, I see. Sounds like the tuner I have now is an improvement over the original.
So i'm probably better off leaving it alone then?

Well it'll tune more channels assuming it works but after 2009 it won't matter, channel 3 will be enough.

I have a chassis for a 48-2500 that may have the right tuner, I should also have some knobs but I'm not sure if I have a channel selector knob, I'll look for them and let you know.

[captainmoody]

Thanks!

[classicradios]

I have a couple knobs from a Philco 50T-1404 you can have, Probably not the same though.
Jim

[Carmine]

If you locate a tuner, you will need the correct channel coils, knob and escutcheon.

Hey, lucky for you CaptainMoody, I work with a guy who has those exact parts, and no need for them!

[captainmoody]

Thanks, Eric H, Carmine, and Classicradios!
Does anyone know if Morgan McMahon is still around? He would have to be about 85 or so today..
How about Charles Seidel of Santa Barbara? He was the TV collector featured in A Flick Of The Switch as well. From the photo, he had a lot of Motorola and Hallicrafters 7" sets.

[Steve K]

I believe that he passed away about a year or so ago. There was a thread about it in the Antique Radio Forum if I remember correctly.

Steve

[Steve K]

I take that back. I did a search at ARF and could not find anything about his death. The last report I saw was that he and his wife are living in Southern California.

Steve

[bgadow]

Originally Posted by captainmoody

I first saw this model in the book "A Flick Of The Switch" that I purchased in 1975.

That was the first old radio/tv book I ever owned, and had me dreaming quite a bit as a teenager! There was that one guy in the back who had a huge stack of small screen sets...I wonder where he is now, or Morgan McMahon (memory?) for that matter?