1937 Philips 727A AC mains 5 valve MW/SW/LW table radio - Page 2 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

howard · 6th Jul 2011, 9:10 pm

Hello again,

I was so impressed with the above 727A (which wasn't mine) that I bought one for myself to restore but this was in worse condition and far more challenging.

It was restored in much the same way ie: all tubular capacitors replaced, almost all the wiring resheathed, one or two out of spec resistors replaced, one electrolytic stuffed etc. etc. but surprisingly both its original smoothing capacitors were found to be OK. Initially it only worked on SW but after replacement of an open circuit padding capacitor (diagnosed by Ron Bryan) and a thorough clean of the waveband switch with DeoxiT it eventually worked on all bands. It soon packed up though, and just hummed loudly, that problem was tracked down to a shorting out TDD4 valve. I managed to obtain a NOS TDD4 for £8.50 from vintage-parts.com and then the set then started to work well. I also had a lot of trouble finding decent secondhand VP4B and PenA4 valves.

The outside of the case was unmarked but moths had eaten away a lot of the grille cloth so I had no choice but to replace it and for around £12 I bought some from Ben Dijkman - it's not an exact match, although it is a Philips pattern and it suits the set well. There was a lot of rust on the chassis nearly all of which was succesfully removed using Rustins rust remover. One broken dial cord was replaced and the wooden base had a few woodworm holes so that was treated, filled and painted with matt blackboard paint. The outside of the case was polished with Brasso.

Ron Bryan very kindly helped realign the set, surprisingly it needed very little adjustment.

So now I've got my own 727A, it works well, and it looks and sounds as a late 1930s radio should.

Howard

HamishBoxer · 6th Jul 2011, 9:55 pm

Great job.Looks like the day it left the shop.

David

Sideband · 7th Jul 2011, 8:14 am

Superb job Howard. Your attention to detail is second-to-none!

SB

ms660 · 7th Jul 2011, 12:04 pm

I luv that cabinet.

well done.

MALC SCOTT · 7th Jul 2011, 6:41 pm

Well done Howard

johnn · 8th Jul 2011, 2:14 pm

What an excellent transformation! I have a 727A waiting in the wings with a replacement mains T/S, but the main smoothing capacitors are fine. Does not seem to be a problem if they stay full of liquid. I like these sets too.
John

6th Jul 2011, 9:10 pm	#21
howard Nonode Join Date: May 2005 Location: Godalming, Surrey, UK. Posts: 2,593	Another 1937 Philips 727A AC mains 5 valve MW/SW/LW table radio Hello again, I was so impressed with the above 727A (which wasn't mine) that I bought one for myself to restore but this was in worse condition and far more challenging. It was restored in much the same way ie: all tubular capacitors replaced, almost all the wiring resheathed, one or two out of spec resistors replaced, one electrolytic stuffed etc. etc. but surprisingly both its original smoothing capacitors were found to be OK. Initially it only worked on SW but after replacement of an open circuit padding capacitor (diagnosed by Ron Bryan) and a thorough clean of the waveband switch with DeoxiT it eventually worked on all bands. It soon packed up though, and just hummed loudly, that problem was tracked down to a shorting out TDD4 valve. I managed to obtain a NOS TDD4 for £8.50 from vintage-parts.com and then the set then started to work well. I also had a lot of trouble finding decent secondhand VP4B and PenA4 valves. The outside of the case was unmarked but moths had eaten away a lot of the grille cloth so I had no choice but to replace it and for around £12 I bought some from Ben Dijkman - it's not an exact match, although it is a Philips pattern and it suits the set well. There was a lot of rust on the chassis nearly all of which was succesfully removed using Rustins rust remover. One broken dial cord was replaced and the wooden base had a few woodworm holes so that was treated, filled and painted with matt blackboard paint. The outside of the case was polished with Brasso. Ron Bryan very kindly helped realign the set, surprisingly it needed very little adjustment. So now I've got my own 727A, it works well, and it looks and sounds as a late 1930s radio should. Howard Attached Thumbnails

6th Jul 2011, 9:55 pm	#22
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,935	Re: 1937 Philips 727A AC mains 5 valve MW/SW/LW table radio Great job.Looks like the day it left the shop. David

7th Jul 2011, 8:14 am	#23
Sideband Dekatron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 7,578	Re: 1937 Philips 727A AC mains 5 valve MW/SW/LW table radio Superb job Howard. Your attention to detail is second-to-none! SB __________________ There are lots of brilliant keyboard players and then there is Rick Wakeman.....

7th Jul 2011, 12:04 pm	#24
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: 1937 Philips 727A AC mains 5 valve MW/SW/LW table radio I luv that cabinet. well done.

7th Jul 2011, 6:41 pm	#25
MALC SCOTT Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Willington, County Durham, UK. Posts: 1,499	Re: 1937 Philips 727A AC mains 5 valve MW/SW/LW table radio Well done Howard __________________ Malc Scott

8th Jul 2011, 2:14 pm	#26
johnn Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Scunthorpe, UK Posts: 154	Re: 1937 Philips 727A AC mains 5 valve MW/SW/LW table radio What an excellent transformation! I have a 727A waiting in the wings with a replacement mains T/S, but the main smoothing capacitors are fine. Does not seem to be a problem if they stay full of liquid. I like these sets too. John