1937 Philco Radios
skrol
Posts: 3,441
I have inherrited my grandparent's old Philco 37-650 from 1937. It has sat for many years unused. My aunt passed away in August, the house is being emptied to sell and I couldn't see this radio going to waste. It was dirty as he-double-toothpick and I was amazed how it cleaned up with vacuuming and some very dilute mild dishsoap. The cabinet need a little work and I'm hoping I can bend Jesse's ear for some advice.
I am not sure if it works yet and am refraining from trying to power it up without a dim-bulb tester. I have also read that the caps should be replaced before even trying.
I am also inherriting my dad's old Philco 37-60, also from 1937. He has had this since he was a young man in Fells Point, dabbling in electronics. He restored it a number of years ago. Before he passed away in November (tough year), he told me that it still works.
Unfortunately, my dad gave away his Hickok tube tester and caddy of tubes
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I am not sure if it works yet and am refraining from trying to power it up without a dim-bulb tester. I have also read that the caps should be replaced before even trying.
I am also inherriting my dad's old Philco 37-60, also from 1937. He has had this since he was a young man in Fells Point, dabbling in electronics. He restored it a number of years ago. Before he passed away in November (tough year), he told me that it still works.
Unfortunately, my dad gave away his Hickok tube tester and caddy of tubes
.Stan
Main 2ch:
Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.
HT:
Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60
Other stuff:
Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
Main 2ch:
Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.
HT:
Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60
Other stuff:
Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
Comments
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So Cool!
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I think Jesse made some recommendations in my thread about my tube stereo console as to how to clean those. I’d go check it out.
From https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/177816/today-i-stole-me-a-piece-of-gear/p1
"....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963) -
Thank you. It sounds like I started ok. I rather like the idea of not refinishing the cabinet. There is a patina to what is there. I am wondering how to clean off the decades Pledge furnature polish that was likely used?
Stan
Main 2ch:
Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.
HT:
Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60
Other stuff:
Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601 -
It's very important to determine if the radio has a "hot" chassis:
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My wife has a hot chassis.
Oh...
Those are some cool radios.
They used to make some really nice stuff with great care and craftsmanship. -
Thank you. It sounds like I started ok. I rather like the idea of not refinishing the cabinet. There is a patina to what is there. I am wondering how to clean off the decades Pledge furnature polish that was likely used?
The touching up was specific to my cabinet as it had a couple small scratches."....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963) -
Thank you. It sounds like I started ok. I rather like the idea of not refinishing the cabinet. There is a patina to what is there. I am wondering how to clean off the decades Pledge furnature polish that was likely used?
The only product that will successfully remove the silicone infused Pledge crap
is a dewaxer/silicone remover solvent such as this, https://www.genesisautobodysupply.com/product/2835/etalon-degreaser-silicon-remover-1-liter-etantisil-1?srsltid=AfmBOoqd-0dxeEPQY4YYGlzul4dX1n1Tw-y8ndFM35szGIizVTRb3U3AMfg
As for touch up and I see a lot of those areas use Mohawk touch up markers. The trick is to apply the marker and immediately wipe the excess with a soft cotton cloth to leave the marker color in the scratch not around it. Use a marker color that is a bit lighter than the actual color.
Forgot to mention, when all cleaned up and touched up, etc. apply Renaissance wax to restore the luster.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk
