noob here with broken philco

[Donny]

after reading AK I'm interested in old radios and stereo stuff I've had a philco 40-145 sitting in my parents kitchen for 15years lol I dug it out and plugged it in it lights up the tubes light but either I don't know how to work it (I wasn't alive in 1940) or it needs repair can not recieve station etc I have no sound at all

[Sandy G]

Welcome to AK, pal ! Yr old Philco was probly made 1939-40. I wouldn't plug it in again until you've had it checked out, you could get a nasty shock and/or ruin what looks like a VERY nice old set. All radios have capacitors & resistors in 'em; back when, caps were made out of wax & paper, & after 65 years they will undoubtedly have gone bad. Possibly a few resistors have gone out of spec, & maybe a tube or 2 has gone south as well. Just because they light up doesn't mean they're any good. I'd replace the A/C cord, too-it looks kinda iffy in the photo. More than likely, yr old Philco can be made to play again; there are several guys here that can do it for you for a reasonable fee, or if you know what you're doing, you can attempt it yrself. Be warned, though-Old radios are kinda like tater chips-nobody can stop at just one !-Sandy G.

[asynchronousman]

Hey! From our conversations I could not have gotten a clue as to what a NICE set you have shown us. Only some minor dings and the grille cloth is really swell looking and the dial glass looks in good shape for a 65 year old radio...you have a great set and now the only hassles are replacing bad electronic parts. Just remember not to take any guff from the Zenith crowd because this is really neat! I wish my "first" set had been in such good shape, working or not.

In my opinion, you shouldn't have to always make them "showroom perfect" either. Some dings add character and giving up arms and legs isn't always worth it, unless you are doing it to sell or for someone else. But I'm way ahead of you it's your first one. I got into this because I wanted my great-grandma's Firestone and couldn't have it.

Once again, welcome to AK...set a spell, won't ya?

[Tom Bavis]

The Philco service bulletin for this set (schematic diagram, parts list, alignment procedure) is on my website. You'll need to download the DjVu browser plug-in from lizardtech.com to view or print it.

My Philco Page

[bgadow]

I've got one of these models and they're decent sets. Chances are good that with new electrolytic caps this thing will work. I'm a fan of Philco's, at least of this vintage. Decent performers and classic looks.

[Donny]

I've cleaned on it some with it being in a kitchen 15years I have a slight cooking grease problem! I really don't want to damage the looks of the unit so I haven't taken it apart yet I pulled on the knobs I don't think they want to come off!!! these have a set screw or a clip holding them on? Oh I have no Idea what I'm doing this might be to nice a radio to be working on myself I gave away a big philco about a year ago I should have tried repairing it but it was in horrible shape it fell apart loading it!!!

[asynchronousman]

A jeweler's screwdriver (slotted, like you tighten your glasses up with) will often take them out. If they are stuck, slight heat from a hair dryer for short periods may loosen it enough to unscrew. Don't do that until you try a penetrant. Be careful as that plastic may be touchy.

What is affected by your grease problem and how bad? If it's hardened some, Goo Gone and other mild grease cutting products will dent that mess good. It won't go away like *magic*, it will take a little effort and elbow grease (takes some to clean some). I often hear about "Simple Green" but I don't know from experience how that does cutting grease like that.

Keep at it, you are doing well.

[Donny]

I cleaned most of the grease off already using a very non safe cleaner no harm done! these finishes are very tough! the pic is of it is before cleaning still looks about the same just now it doesn't fell sticky! and it's not as dark now ,it had some build up on the corners. since the finish is good for it's age I'm gonna leave it but I might use pledge

[Jeffhs]

If your set lights up (the pilot light behind the dial comes on) and the tubes all light normally as well, but the radio still won't work, you probably have a B+ (plate supply) problem--either there is no plate voltage on the tubes at all, or what voltage is there is raw AC. If you do not know what I am talking about, stay out of the back of that radio as there are high voltages present at many points under the chassis, which can and in many cases will give you a nasty, even lethal electric shock if, for example, you touch the chassis and anything connected to earth ground while it is plugged in.

The fact that you were not yet born in 1940 has nothing to do with being able (or not) to operate your radio. Those older sets weren't difficult to operate in the least; all one had to do to turn it on was to turn the volume control knob until it clicked, which operated the power switch (it is attached to the back of the volume control and is mechanically linked to it).

The manual tuning knob works the same as any other standard radio. The most complicated feature of your Philco is the pushbutton station presets; actually, these aren't difficult to operate once set up, but the procedure to set them to your area's local stations could be tricky unless you have the instruction manual and/or schematic (wiring diagram). The procedure is different for every old radio with these preset buttons, so I'd get the manual first, before trying to set them.

Once your Philco is operating as it should (I'd check the filter capacitors and resistors first along with the tubes and paper caps, as Sandy pointed out), it will be a great set, capable of pulling in excellent DX (distance reception) when used with a proper antenna. Yours also looks as if it has at least one shortwave band, which offers its own thrills and challenges, especially at night. I am an amateur (ham) radio operator, and have heard many such shortwave stations on my own gear in the three decades plus I've been in the hobby.

I also have a small collection of old radios, the oldest being a Zenith H511 table model from 1951 and the newest, a Zenith K-731 AM/FM set from 1963, plus a bunch of '60s-'70s vintage transistor radios as well. Have been fooling around with electronics and radio since I was eight years old (I'm 48 now) and have had my amateur radio license since the age of 16, in 1972. Sandy is right; old radios are like "tater" chips--you can't stop at just one! Once you get into this hobby, you are likely going to be in it for life. I know I am.

Good luck and welcome to AK. I'm sure you'll like it here.

Kind regards,

[Charlie]

Sweet lookin Philco! I like the front design!

As mentioned earlier, these are generally pretty easy to get working again. I worked on a Philco similar to yours (but without the pushbuttons) for a guy this past year and it came out great!

New capacitors will likely bring back it's performance. Cost of new caps might be between 10 to 20 dollars depending on what it uses. Like Sandy said... it might need a tube or two. Most of them are reasonably priced, but some do get expensive. Hopefully your set uses more common tubes.

Was noticing you're in Texas... where at? There are several of us spread out here... Corpus, Austin, Dallas, the West... and I'm near Beaumont. Perhaps one of us could give you a hand.

[asynchronousman]

Originally Posted by Donny

...since the finish is good for it's age I'm gonna leave it but I might use pledge

NO! By all means use Old English or similar if indeed it's wood. Pledge will put a buildup back on the set and you don't want that. If it's plastic polish it but not with furniture spray.

[Sandy G]

Yeah, I was thinkin' the same thing-oughta use use Old English, or maybe better yet Murphy's oil soap-especially if it's REALLY nasty. Above all else be gentle & take it easy-you ain't scouring a pot! -Sandy G.

[Donny]

Hey I'm in Vidor we are neighbors! ok what I know about electronics don't take it apart while it's plugged in caps go bad with age I do have a multimeter the cheapy one that does most the work for you. I did read some about tv's but when I read about discharging I chickened out! I would love to fix this thing myself or atleast do some of the work. On the finish I changed my mind I'm gonna use some sanding sealer and gloss to bring it back to life it will be a long lasting finish around 20years maybe longer! I will also spot stain and puty the bad spots the plastic on the display is yellowed badly I'm thinking lexan or some plastic from a ? whatever I can find. I did take a look at the wiring it looks ok cept parts of a red wire is cracked and 1 wire guess from ant is bad I'll post pics soon

[Donny]

pic 1

[Donny]

wiring looks decent cept the red wire