Information on Philips Type 218B.

[Scorpio]

Hello,

Apologies if this is posted in the incorrect section.

I have recently acquired a Philips Valve Radio Type 218B.
I cannot find any good information, or even images of it anywhere. Even a search of this forum comes up blank.

When searching "Philips Valve Radio Type 218 B" in Google, the first image which appears is the exact radio I have (the damage to the back casing is identical), and I can find no other image showing another the same.

The closest I have found was a Philips 555A or 470A, of which it seems be in between the two, sharing a lot with the 555A but the bottom section is much more similar to the 470A.

If anyone can find something I cannot, I would very much appreciate it.

[Station X]

Hello and welcome to the forums. Service data for this radio is available here:-

http://www.service-data.com/section.php/5759/1/218b

[ms660]

The pics in the radiomuseum listing for the Philips 218b don't seem to tally up with the service data I'm looking at unless I've made a mistake.

Lawrence.

[Station X]

Originally Posted by Scorpio

When searching "Philips Valve Radio Type 218 B" in Google, the first image which appears is the exact radio I have (the damage to the back casing is identical), and I can find no other image showing another the same.

I assume you were taken to the Radio Museum site? The pictures there were taken from eBay, which is where I assume you bought the set from?

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/philips_218b.html

[ms660]

The rear cover is a 218b but the radio isn't, that's what I'm reckoning so far, the loudspeaker and pickup cut outs on the rear cover that's shown in the Ebay listing don't line up with the sockets on the chassis, the hole for the mains lead looks like an addition, the receiver has an EBL1 sound output valve fitted, the 218b has a twin pentode valve for push pull according to the service data.

There might be a clue on the chassis S/No plate?

Lawrence.

[Station X]

Given that the 218B is a battery set it shouldn't have a mains lead. Neither should it have a mains transformer, which it clearly has! The pot on the back panel doesn't look original either.

[ms660]

I can't find anything about the OP's chassis on the web yet, still looking.

[ms660]

The chassis in the Philips 6-39a looks very similar:

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/philips_6_39a6_39.html

And the 470a:

http://www.timonradiosivut.fi/Philips_470A.html

There may be others.

Still no joy on the OPs receiver yet.

Lawrence.

[Station X]

There's a similar cabinet here:-

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/philips_219b.html

From the same contributor, but it doesn't look like the set in the 219B service sheet.

We need the valve lineup and chassis plate details from the OP's set.

[Station X]

Also this:-

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=120105

Are we looking at a set made up from a back, cabinet and chassis from different models?

[ms660]

As far as I can make out, the schematics for the 218b & 219b show that there is no tone control is fitted.

The OP's cabinet shows that there is no provision for a tone control, the rear cover appears to have one fitted, a plywood base in the cabinet is shown, probably for a battery or batteries.

Several original pic sources around to show and verify what the cabinet for the 219b looks like.

Only one original pic source for the 218b.

This pic shows that the LS & PU sockets on that chassis (219b) would line up with the cut outs in the rear cover shown in the OP's receiver:

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...1&d=1444151652

I'm thinking the 218b & 219b had more or less the same chassis but would have different cabinet styles, based on that I think the OP's receiver could be a 218b cabinet with what is clearly a 218b rear cover and the chassis's an implant from sommert else hence the tone? control bodged on the back and the voltage selector mounted on the plywood battery base.

Out of interest the 470a chassis is similar to the OP's, the original Philips manual for the 470a (in Dutch) shows it's fitted with side contact valves and it shows the tone control fitted to the side of the cabinet.

Lawrence.

[Scorpio]

I didn’t expect this to cause such confusion! I agree with the general consensus that someone has made something work out of 2 or 3 broken radios of the same size.
Just for the sake of curiosity I will post up pictures of what’s inside it once it turns up.

[Scorpio]

Originally Posted by Station X

I assume you were taken to the Radio Museum site? The pictures there were taken from eBay, which is where I assume you bought the set from?

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/philips_218b.html

This is correct. It should hopefully be with me by tomorrow for further inspection.

[ms660]

Another observation, look at the mains selector panel, the left hand side shows snapped or badly cut.

Lawrence.