3 radios scored

[bandersen]

Anyone remember my post about the Gold Coast Gallery ? http://www.videokarma.org/showthread.php?t=244359

Well, they've lost their lease, will be closing 11/22 and are having a blowout sale. Anything left over will be going to a liquidation outfit. Maybe it will show up cheap in the local classifieds - maybe it will disapper? So I grabbed my buddy and headed over. I wasn't really expecting much because I had already purchased what I really wanted and the prices were kinda high. Plus, I'm really out of room, but I figured I might grab a few tubes or knick-nacks.

I was surprised to see that about half of the radios and TVs were gone. The TeleTone 7", dual RCA T-100S, and B&W RCA in the "wingate" cabinet were still there. Maybe I'll go back on Sunday and grab them....

Well, to my surprise they were really open to haggling so I carried out 3 more radios. A Philco 70, Philco 38-7CS (charside), and a Sparton 400.


Here's the Philco 70. I think it's been refinished. It looks too light and has no decals. Also it's had a PM speaker added in an interesting mod. I wonder if that's the original speaker cannibalized for it's xfrmr ?
It has a nice set of globe tubes and early electrolytics.



Here's the Philco 38-7CS. It's my first chair-side and first set with cone-centric tuning. Looks like there may be a little re-wiring and one of the pots. is missing. Cleans up nice though and came with a vintage headset.



Finally, here's the Sparton 400. I was on my way out and asked if he had any vintage movie posters. I thought I might find some cool noir stuff like "Double Indemnity" or "Dial M for Murder". No luck there, but noticed this radio way up on top of a bookcase. The asking price was steep, but I talked him way down. Nice little set but it's missing it's 183 tube - damn I need two of them now! Very hard to find/expensive.



Oh, one last thing. I grabbed a few random tubes. A couple 80s (good), a 6BG6 (bad) and these odd bulbs ??? Anyone know what they are ?

[radiotvnut]

Looks like you made some nice purchases. It's always good when people are willing to negotiate.

[jr_tech]

Nice haul!! :

I think the bulbs might be germicidal bulbs:

http://members.misty.com/don/uvbulb.html#oz

jr

[bandersen]

Originally Posted by jr_tech

Nice haul!! :

I think the bulbs might be germicidal bulbs:

http://members.misty.com/don/uvbulb.html#oz

jr

Thanks! Now, where to put all of them
I don't want to leave this stuff out on the back porch during winter. It gets mighty cold out there and I figure that can't be good .

Wow - how did you find that link? I'm constantly amazed at the knowledge base at videokarma

[bandersen]

Hey, retrochad has a Sparton 400 too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yNXNsCk0ms
Cool to see another set working

[Eliot Ness]

Nice haul! It looks like the repwood grill in your Sparton Jr. is off center. If you look the top of your grill is at about 10:00 and it should be at 12:00. Hopefully they didn't glue it it very well and you can correct it later.

[jeyurkon]

Originally Posted by jr_tech

Nice haul!! :

I think the bulbs might be germicidal bulbs:

http://members.misty.com/don/uvbulb.html#oz

jr

In the undergraduate Physics lab I took they used these as a convenient source for the mercury spectra since they're low pressure. They had a simple prism spectrometer and they also had us use a diffraction grating.

Maybe that's why I have cataracts... Nothing like staring at vacuum UV.

John

[bandersen]

Originally Posted by Eliot Ness

Nice haul! It looks like the repwood grill in your Sparton Jr. is off center. If you look the top of your grill is at about 10:00 and it should be at 12:00. Hopefully they didn't glue it it very well and you can correct it later.

Thanks Mr. Ness - you just solved a little mystery I knew something wasn't quite right with that Sparton because the speaker xfrmr was in the way of one of the tube sockets.

Turns out the whole speaker and grille were off by 45 degrees. There are just four bolts holding the spearker and grill in place - no glue at all.



It's not quite perfect and I'll need to touch up a little discoloration on the grill, but much better.

[bandersen]

I did some research on my Philco 38-7CS and it turns out it's been modified. That record player and those switches shouldn't be there at all



Here's one that's been beautifully restored.

I'm guessing the mod was done by these guys long ago.


The chassis and tuning mechanism are in good shape. Just one metal capacitor missing and a broken volume control shaft.


I've already decided to restore the wiring to it's original state, but what about the turntable?
If I remove it there will be two large holes to patch and some smaller ones from switches and the tonearm. I do have some wsuitable walnet veneer and toner lacquer on hand.


It's a fairly uncommon set (7,750 made) so I'm leaning towards a full restoration of the cabinet right now. I know it won't be easy though.

What do you guys think ?

[7"estatdef]

Hey Bandersen
Really love that chairside!!! It makes me wish my little model 70 was a bit newer. It doesn't have some of the nice features like a tone control or agc a set a few years later would. Good luck with repairing the holes. I'm sure you'll do a great job! Noticed that you have a Brush earphone. I'll mention that it's special as it is a crystal unit not a magnetic type. Don't hook it up in the B+ circuit that will ruin it. Low level very high impedance.
Terry

[bandersen]

Thanks Terry.

I think the hardest part of the whole restoration will be finding the correct conecentric vernier knob!
This set came with one made out of wood with a chip missing It's supposed to be made out of bakelike and look like this. The conecentric action doesn't work with this thick inner knob.





I didn't know Philco was making chairsides so far back. Does yours look something like this one ?

I pulled the chassis for my Philco 70 and the only repair seems to be two new caps tucked underneath.

I was surprised that 5 of 7 tubes appear to be the originals from 1932 and they're all good The only tube missing was a #47 so I went digging into my stash and found a single good Cunningham.




First up for restoration is the Sparton 400 because it looks the easiest. I'll be posting separate threads for each project.
Bob

[7"estatdef]

Yep that the one. Here's some pics. http://www.flickr.com/photos/42774321@N08/
Mine had really strong toobs too most were replacements. After recaping,and rewiring the volume control the only thing bad was the primary of the ant coil. Fixed that up and her plays good. The voltage divider resistor had a open section that someone fixed in days gone by. The mod 70 has a few version an early and late. Looks like we both have the earlier version. Later one has agc and use # 35's in place of the 24A's. It too has two extra hole in the side that need repairing. Top lid has a pretty good bow to it (bad) but is in traction with some angle iron clamped to it. Hopefully this will flatten it out. Making a matching replacement would be a big job.
Terry

[bandersen]

Oh yeah, now I remember your project thread
I'm jealous of your speaker. Mine is down to the bare frame and only it's transformer is being used to feed a PM one.



Good luck with that traction !

Bob

[7"estatdef]

I saw one on epay a week or so ago. You may want to keep your eyes peeled if nobody here can help.
Terry

[newhallone]

Is all that is wrong with the knobs is that chip? If so I would glue some wood onto it and file it back into shape.