Philips B3G63A - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

yestertech · 8th Jan 2009, 11:13 pm

This set has been on the scrap pile a few times, but was always sidelined during the sort out. It was part of a job lot of radios which, shall we say had seen better days...
Like all the others, it was very grubby, but one day with 5 mins to spare as I waited for the soldering Iron to warm-up, I wiped over the grimy top with a wet cloth and realised it may be one of those "dirt preserved" radios which I like to find from time to time !
Sure enough, having rubbed some Bakobrite into the top, I was rewarded with a fine looking sheen.
Back it went to the ROUNTUIT PILE - I finally got around to dismantling and cleaning the rest of it the other day. Boy was it GRUBBY
Thankfully it all polished up a treat as you can see, and I burnt off a few Xmas excesses I can tell you, polishing all the tarnish from the Brass.
I recalled it was working when I first checked it, but having removed the chassis I realised I nicked the EL84 for another set. Having replaced this, it was playing but there was clealry something amiss with the tuning, as it stuck with a slight twanging noise if I moved either the FM or AM tuning knobs

With the glass and diffuser removed ( holds breath - I always fear the dial will break being squeezed over those "grommets" !) the problem was found - The FM tuning drive had been forced beyond the lowest scale marking, and the cord for this plus its mid cord tension spring was now wrapped around the section of the tuning drive reserved for the AM drive.
Luckily nothing was broken and it was removed and restrung as per the Philips manual.
After a quick squirt of DEOXIT on the switch bank, everything tested fine.

I don't think I've ever had a valve set which required so few component changes - NONE !
I doubt anyone had ever been inside either, as all the rear cover screws were present ( and tight ! ) and I could see no obvious component replacements
Both FM and AM were loud and clear and there was no trace of DC on the EL84 grid...
All voltages seemed OK and the soak test was fine after several hours. RESULT

I'll keep this beauty for the time being, as at least it has FM and is quite small into the bargain. Sadly I cannot locate the before pic of this set !

Andy

PS must apolgise for the state of the woodwork, the dog has taken to sitting in the windowsill !!

Nickthedentist · 8th Jan 2009, 11:31 pm

Very nice, Andy.

It would have certainly been a shame to scrap it

Look forward to seeing the before pic, if you find it.

Nick.

Steve_P · 8th Jan 2009, 11:34 pm

It proves the theory that old parts don't necessarily have to be changed en masse.

Well done, what else have you got gathering dust I wonder...

Cheers,

Steve P.

yestertech · 8th Jan 2009, 11:42 pm

Thanks folks

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve_P

what else have you got gathering dust I wonder...

Cheers,

Steve P.

You don't want to know !! Actually not that much - I tend to be rather ruthless
Keeps me sane
I happened across the before picture as luck would have it, looking for something else !!
You can just see the wiped cloth effect on the RHS top
Andy

PS The other pic is the remains of a VHF2D which didn't make the grade - Like many others before it, it does make useful ( ??) scrap !

howard · 9th Jan 2009, 12:22 pm

Well done Andy,

Glad you went ahead and restored this set. I'm very fond of these Philips B3G63A AM/FM sets and the Stella ST236A clones, I've got four of them here and they're very easy to restore and IMHO work better than the contemporary Bush sets (glad to say my PYE VHF2D came out rather better than yours !)

Howard

johnn · 9th Jan 2009, 3:35 pm

Looks good Andy.
My B3G63A was out during Christmas. They don't seem to need that much work!
I like the 353A too, but that's away with a young disabled man who likes valve radios & Dansette record players.
John.

Tim · 9th Jan 2009, 3:46 pm

Nice job Andy! My one of these only needed a main smoother change, all the Philips b;ack capacitors were fine. Think yourself lucky it didn't require re-stringing! Good sounders and performers when the EF85 and 80's are in good condition.

8th Jan 2009, 11:13 pm	#1
yestertech Nonode Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Coulsdon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 2,135	Philips B3G63A This set has been on the scrap pile a few times, but was always sidelined during the sort out. It was part of a job lot of radios which, shall we say had seen better days... Like all the others, it was very grubby, but one day with 5 mins to spare as I waited for the soldering Iron to warm-up, I wiped over the grimy top with a wet cloth and realised it may be one of those "dirt preserved" radios which I like to find from time to time ! Sure enough, having rubbed some Bakobrite into the top, I was rewarded with a fine looking sheen. Back it went to the ROUNTUIT PILE - I finally got around to dismantling and cleaning the rest of it the other day. Boy was it GRUBBY Thankfully it all polished up a treat as you can see, and I burnt off a few Xmas excesses I can tell you, polishing all the tarnish from the Brass. I recalled it was working when I first checked it, but having removed the chassis I realised I nicked the EL84 for another set. Having replaced this, it was playing but there was clealry something amiss with the tuning, as it stuck with a slight twanging noise if I moved either the FM or AM tuning knobs With the glass and diffuser removed ( holds breath - I always fear the dial will break being squeezed over those "grommets" !) the problem was found - The FM tuning drive had been forced beyond the lowest scale marking, and the cord for this plus its mid cord tension spring was now wrapped around the section of the tuning drive reserved for the AM drive. Luckily nothing was broken and it was removed and restrung as per the Philips manual. After a quick squirt of DEOXIT on the switch bank, everything tested fine. I don't think I've ever had a valve set which required so few component changes - NONE ! I doubt anyone had ever been inside either, as all the rear cover screws were present ( and tight ! ) and I could see no obvious component replacements Both FM and AM were loud and clear and there was no trace of DC on the EL84 grid... All voltages seemed OK and the soak test was fine after several hours. RESULT I'll keep this beauty for the time being, as at least it has FM and is quite small into the bargain. Sadly I cannot locate the before pic of this set ! Andy PS must apolgise for the state of the woodwork, the dog has taken to sitting in the windowsill !! Attached Thumbnails

8th Jan 2009, 11:31 pm	#2
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,864	Re: Philips B3G63A Very nice, Andy. It would have certainly been a shame to scrap it Look forward to seeing the before pic, if you find it. Nick.

8th Jan 2009, 11:34 pm	#3
Steve_P Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6,644	Re: Philips B3G63A It proves the theory that old parts don't necessarily have to be changed en masse. Well done, what else have you got gathering dust I wonder... Cheers, Steve P. __________________ If we've always had it, why is the Car Boot open? You're not sneaking another Old TV in are you...?

9th Jan 2009, 12:22 pm	#5
howard Nonode Join Date: May 2005 Location: Godalming, Surrey, UK. Posts: 2,593	Re: Philips B3G63A Well done Andy, Glad you went ahead and restored this set. I'm very fond of these Philips B3G63A AM/FM sets and the Stella ST236A clones, I've got four of them here and they're very easy to restore and IMHO work better than the contemporary Bush sets (glad to say my PYE VHF2D came out rather better than yours !) Howard

9th Jan 2009, 3:35 pm	#6
johnn Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Scunthorpe, UK Posts: 154	Re: Philips B3G63A Looks good Andy. My B3G63A was out during Christmas. They don't seem to need that much work! I like the 353A too, but that's away with a young disabled man who likes valve radios & Dansette record players. John.

9th Jan 2009, 3:46 pm	#7
Tim Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 3,310	Re: Philips B3G63A Nice job Andy! My one of these only needed a main smoother change, all the Philips b;ack capacitors were fine. Think yourself lucky it didn't require re-stringing! Good sounders and performers when the EF85 and 80's are in good condition. __________________ "Nothing is as dangerous as being too modern;one is apt to grow old fashioned quite suddenly."