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Old 30th Jul 2016, 8:25 am   #1
grahamperrin
Triode
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, UK.
Posts: 38
Default 1948/1949 Philips type 520A television and radio

I can't remember where I got this set, probably in the 1980s, but it was the closest I came to a 'project'.

Click image for larger version

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ID:	127986 Click image for larger version

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The radio worked, and I could hear the sound of TV channels. As far as I recall, it had symptoms of a failed frame output transformer.

In the service manual I see a frame output choke (S57 on a diagram, replacement part MK.511.88) but not a frame output transformer. Does that make sense? Or am I missing something?

Long ago I kidded myself that the 520A was a rare and valuable secondhand set, because it was originally more than twice as costly as the relatively commonplace Bush TV22. I'm almost certain that the 520A was priced at 112 or 115 guineas.

Back to reality it's not valuable, one was auctioned for £48 in 2009.

Mullard equivalent

At http://www.thevalvepage.com/tvmanu/mullard/mullard.htm I see –

Quote:
…MTS501 is a repackaged Philips 520A and the MTS684 the Philips 683U. They even cost the same…
– but there, the (1950/1951) price of the MTS501 is £79-16-0, and this Jonz Valve Page photograph of a (pre-October 1949) MTS521 (£102-18-0) – Click image for larger version

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ID:	127985– appears to be an almost perfect match for my 520A: Click image for larger version

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The fabrics that cover the loudspeaker grille may be different. And if you wonder how the fabric of mine became so tattered, it's thanks to cats. In the first photograph above there's Pickle, emerging from a brief expedition into the shockingly dusty interior.

More on the Mullard MTS 521/521A: Postscript: http://www.thevalvepage.com/tvmanu/philips/philips.htm confirms that the 520A was also released as the Mullard MTS521.

Distinction

1934/1945 Philips 520A radio pictured at http://www.jllacer.com/Euro_Radios/philips520A.htm

Last edited by grahamperrin; 30th Jul 2016 at 8:43 am. Reason: more on the Mullard
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