Philips 170A radio - general question - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

dicky96 · 25th May 2009, 6:52 pm

Hi guys,

I've not been here for ages but this week I spotted a Philips 170A18 radio coming up in an house clearance auction, it's very clean cosmetically and it's surprisingly heavy!

All looks intact inside, and this looks to be a rather old set by the size of the valves for one thing, and it's general styling.

Could anyone give me an idea of the age of this set and whether it would be an interesting project to work on? Assuming I can get hold of it on the cheap that is lol

best regards
dicky

Steve_P · 25th May 2009, 7:06 pm

The 170A came out in 1946. The manual is available up top there.

Quite and interesting and reliable set, and well capable of working today. Valves rarely go, it's capacitors that do. If you get it, don't just plug it in, do some checks first. This is a rewarding hobby though.

If you want to restore it, start here:

http://www.vintage-radio.com/repair-...ion/index.html

and have a read.

We're all here to help, so you aren't on your own.

Cheers,

Steve P.

PJL · 25th May 2009, 7:22 pm

I restored one of these and they are common (not valuable) but a good solidly built set. Check it has the proper mains connector which is attached to the back panel. Unless you are very lucky the EM34 is likely to be dead. The philips wierdness in this model is wet electrolytics which will probably need replacing as they will have dried out, beehive trimmers which are very good, and an unreliable output transformer with crazy feedback arrangement...Peter

Skywave · 25th May 2009, 11:14 pm

If memory serves me right - it was a long time ago - isn't there a large wirewound resistor - pale orange in colour; 1k5 ohms? - about the centre of the chassis (underneath) that tends to go O/C?

Al. / Skywave.

dicky96 · 26th May 2009, 2:55 pm

OK well it cost me a tenner so I thought I'd go for it it. Will have a good prope look at it later and see what condition it's in

best regards
dicky

yestertech · 26th May 2009, 4:24 pm

Good luck with the Philips - it is an excellent performer due to the additional RF stage and works very well on SW using only the internal plate aerial.
I have refurbished a few of these and still have 2 more here on the ROUNTUIT pile. They are in quite plentiful supply ( at the moment at least ! ) due to the relatively high numbers made.
The audio quality is excellent.

Andy

telstar · 26th May 2009, 7:23 pm

Hi Dicky. Good luck with your Philips radio.There is also a wood cabinet version with the Mullard badge on it, called MAS281. This was introduced in 1947, but was built by Philips. It is a bit larger than the 170A radio, but not so easily obtainable.
Regards
Mike

25th May 2009, 6:52 pm	#1
dicky96 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Stoke On Trent, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 16	Philips 170A radio - general question Hi guys, I've not been here for ages but this week I spotted a Philips 170A18 radio coming up in an house clearance auction, it's very clean cosmetically and it's surprisingly heavy! All looks intact inside, and this looks to be a rather old set by the size of the valves for one thing, and it's general styling. Could anyone give me an idea of the age of this set and whether it would be an interesting project to work on? Assuming I can get hold of it on the cheap that is lol best regards dicky

25th May 2009, 7:06 pm	#2
Steve_P Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6,644	Re: Philips 170A radio - general question The 170A came out in 1946. The manual is available up top there. Quite and interesting and reliable set, and well capable of working today. Valves rarely go, it's capacitors that do. If you get it, don't just plug it in, do some checks first. This is a rewarding hobby though. If you want to restore it, start here: http://www.vintage-radio.com/repair-...ion/index.html and have a read. We're all here to help, so you aren't on your own. 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...?

25th May 2009, 7:22 pm	#3
PJL Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seaford, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 5,997	Re: Philips 170A radio - general question I restored one of these and they are common (not valuable) but a good solidly built set. Check it has the proper mains connector which is attached to the back panel. Unless you are very lucky the EM34 is likely to be dead. The philips wierdness in this model is wet electrolytics which will probably need replacing as they will have dried out, beehive trimmers which are very good, and an unreliable output transformer with crazy feedback arrangement...Peter

25th May 2009, 11:14 pm	#4
Skywave Rest in Peace Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chard, South Somerset, UK. Posts: 7,457	Re: Philips 170A radio - general question If memory serves me right - it was a long time ago - isn't there a large wirewound resistor - pale orange in colour; 1k5 ohms? - about the centre of the chassis (underneath) that tends to go O/C? Al. / Skywave.

26th May 2009, 2:55 pm	#5
dicky96 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Stoke On Trent, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 16	Re: Philips 170A radio - general question OK well it cost me a tenner so I thought I'd go for it it. Will have a good prope look at it later and see what condition it's in best regards dicky

26th May 2009, 4:24 pm	#6
yestertech Nonode Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Coulsdon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 2,135	Re: Philips 170A radio - general question Good luck with the Philips - it is an excellent performer due to the additional RF stage and works very well on SW using only the internal plate aerial. I have refurbished a few of these and still have 2 more here on the ROUNTUIT pile. They are in quite plentiful supply ( at the moment at least ! ) due to the relatively high numbers made. The audio quality is excellent. Andy

26th May 2009, 7:23 pm	#7
telstar Octode Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,593	Re: Philips 170A radio - general question Hi Dicky. Good luck with your Philips radio.There is also a wood cabinet version with the Mullard badge on it, called MAS281. This was introduced in 1947, but was built by Philips. It is a bit larger than the 170A radio, but not so easily obtainable. Regards Mike