Philco 444 variations? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Dickie · 28th Feb 2018, 6:41 pm

I purchased this "peoples set" at a house clearance auction a while ago and this weather has encouraged me to investigate it in detail. The chassis appears to be a 444 chassis, although there is no ID plate. However it is fixed to the case with only two (original?) screws, and they don't sit in between the two lower ribs, even though there are 4 holes. There are tell-tale indications that the 4 empty holes have been used. A web search reveals that the bottom ribs are located further in than those of a 444 case, and looks like the case of a 333. Is it likely that this is just Philco using up 333 cases, or have I got a home-made hybrid?

FERNSEH · 28th Feb 2018, 10:27 pm

When it came to examining my Peoples set it soon became evident it had been cobbled up from various bits and pieces. The cabinet is from a 333 battery set and the chassis from the model 296 wood cabinet version of the 444.
It's likely your set was assembled in the same manner as mine.
The 333 has a slightly larger cabinet and the chassis metalwork is totally different from that of the 444.
Most 333 sets come with three Mazda valves on MO bases but I've seen pictures of a 333 which has been equipped with valves which have the old British 7 pin base.

DFWB.

Tractionist · 28th Feb 2018, 11:23 pm

Hmmm ...... definitely a 444 chassis - seemingly in the wrong cabinet. (The manufacturing date is usually to be found 'ink stamped' beneath one of the under-chassis Bakelite capacitor blocs/tag pillars.)

Dickie · 1st Mar 2018, 11:50 am

The mains transformer has 3-37 stamped on it. The set has had a lot of work done on it in the past, not all of it useful. The chassis seems to have been cleaned up with emery cloth or similar, and left bare so it now has a uniform light coat of rust over it. Most of the capacitors have been replaced with unsympathetic radial modern types. On checking out the wound components I find the speaker voice coil is open circuit. Removing the loudspeaker from its baffle reveals that the cone has a large tear in it, and has been completely detatched from the mounting frame. The voice coil is OK, but the leadouts had been unsoldered.
Perhaps this was someone's "work in progress" that had been thrown back together for a quick sale.

DFWB- I can't find a 296 version of a 444. Is that the right number?

Dickie · 1st Mar 2018, 1:58 pm

Just found it- should be 269.

FERNSEH · 2nd Mar 2018, 1:38 am

"DFWB- I can't find a 296 version of a 444. Is that the right number?"
Hi Richard,
Yes, it is in fact a 269 chassis in my Philco.
The attachment shows a version of the 333 battery set equipped with the older B7 base valves.

DFWB.

28th Feb 2018, 6:41 pm	#1
Dickie Octode Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: St. Albans, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 1,478	Philco 444 variations? I purchased this "peoples set" at a house clearance auction a while ago and this weather has encouraged me to investigate it in detail. The chassis appears to be a 444 chassis, although there is no ID plate. However it is fixed to the case with only two (original?) screws, and they don't sit in between the two lower ribs, even though there are 4 holes. There are tell-tale indications that the 4 empty holes have been used. A web search reveals that the bottom ribs are located further in than those of a 444 case, and looks like the case of a 333. Is it likely that this is just Philco using up 333 cases, or have I got a home-made hybrid? Attached Thumbnails __________________ Regards, Richard, BVWS member

28th Feb 2018, 10:27 pm	#2
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: Philco 444 variations? When it came to examining my Peoples set it soon became evident it had been cobbled up from various bits and pieces. The cabinet is from a 333 battery set and the chassis from the model 296 wood cabinet version of the 444. It's likely your set was assembled in the same manner as mine. The 333 has a slightly larger cabinet and the chassis metalwork is totally different from that of the 444. Most 333 sets come with three Mazda valves on MO bases but I've seen pictures of a 333 which has been equipped with valves which have the old British 7 pin base. DFWB.

28th Feb 2018, 11:23 pm	#3
Tractionist Heptode Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 875	Re: Philco 444 variations? Hmmm ...... definitely a 444 chassis - seemingly in the wrong cabinet. (The manufacturing date is usually to be found 'ink stamped' beneath one of the under-chassis Bakelite capacitor blocs/tag pillars.) __________________ Red to red, black to black. Throw the switch and stand well back!

1st Mar 2018, 11:50 am	#4
Dickie Octode Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: St. Albans, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 1,478	Re: Philco 444 variations? The mains transformer has 3-37 stamped on it. The set has had a lot of work done on it in the past, not all of it useful. The chassis seems to have been cleaned up with emery cloth or similar, and left bare so it now has a uniform light coat of rust over it. Most of the capacitors have been replaced with unsympathetic radial modern types. On checking out the wound components I find the speaker voice coil is open circuit. Removing the loudspeaker from its baffle reveals that the cone has a large tear in it, and has been completely detatched from the mounting frame. The voice coil is OK, but the leadouts had been unsoldered. Perhaps this was someone's "work in progress" that had been thrown back together for a quick sale. DFWB- I can't find a 296 version of a 444. Is that the right number? __________________ Regards, Richard, BVWS member

1st Mar 2018, 1:58 pm	#5
Dickie Octode Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: St. Albans, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 1,478	Re: Philco 444 variations? Just found it- should be 269. __________________ Regards, Richard, BVWS member

2nd Mar 2018, 1:38 am	#6
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: Philco 444 variations? "DFWB- I can't find a 296 version of a 444. Is that the right number?" Hi Richard, Yes, it is in fact a 269 chassis in my Philco. The attachment shows a version of the 333 battery set equipped with the older B7 base valves. DFWB. Attached Thumbnails