Might Just Keep This As A Display Piece

[_Garak_]

Just got this Philips 581A/15 Bakelite case radio. It's in reasonable nick except for a crack to one of the sides that has been repaired in the past. It looks to be largely untouched on the inside.

What do members think? is it a decent set and is it worth getting working?




It's missing its 'Philips' badge on the front does anyone know if these are available anywhere?

[G6Tanuki]

If it doesn't actually _work_ I wouldn't give it house-room.

[I've got various radios whose cabinets were damaged/wormy - I happily threw out the cabinets and restored the underlying chassis to better-performance-than-new. There's nothing wrong with 'naked radios' ].

[Edward Huggins]

It's a good sounding radio with very good sensitivity and selectivity. Made c.1949.

[Station X]

It looks in good clean condition to me. I'd restore it.

Does it have a back?

Service info here:-

https://www.service-data.com/product...10/5873/m14610

[mark_in_manc]

I think it's quite attractive. Do you like it? I bet someone has a smashed set, and so one of those badges, somewhere...

[agardiner]

I'd restore that - looks a nice set.

Does Bakelite get woodworm? Splendid set, and all radios need to work, wonderful things they are.

[Station X]

As for "What's going on here" those two capacitors don't appear on the chassis layout in the service sheet. You'll have to trace where they're wired to. Bear in mind that capacitors in series follow the 1/C1 + 1/C2 =1/C3 rule.

The electrolytic cap C3 is supposed to lay flat next to the mains transformer, but I can't see it in your picture.

[yesnaby]

It looks rather classy, I would get it working and keep it.

[high_vacuum_house]

I cannot see an output transformer unless the speaker is one of those special high impedance types. The rectifier valve position is rather interesting as well! I expect that the Philips badge was common to much of the range of radios from this era so maybe search for a poor example of a wooden cased receiver.

Christopher Capener

[Radio Wrangler]

Philips knew what they were doing and were quite creative, bordering on adventurous.

It looks to be an interesting set.

The question of what to do with it is yours and yours alone to answer. Do you need another working table radio? Do you think it's interesting or attractive enough to be a keeper? It comes down to your opinions, needs and interests.

If you decide it's not for you, it isn't landfill material, there will be plenty of people interested.

An odd collection of valve bases! definitely Philips looking in the back.

David

[ms660]

Originally Posted by high_vacuum_house

I cannot see an output transformer unless the speaker is one of those special high impedance types.

It's chassis topside, behind the HT Reservoir and filter capacitors, you can see part of it between those two electrolytic cans in the 3rd photo.

Lawrence.

[_Garak_]

Originally Posted by station x

as for "what's going on here" those two capacitors don't appear on the chassis layout in the service sheet. You'll have to trace where they're wired to.

Case coming along nicely.







The re-painted lines appear White in the photographs but are actually Ivory

[paulsherwin]

Those caps do look distinctly dodgy, but appear to have been added a long time ago, if not in the factory. If you ever get around to restoring it electrically, it's probably best to revert to the circuit diagram then treat any exposed faults as new.

Nice looking set. You can clean all the speaker soot out with some mild vacuuming or maybe a bit of foaming cleaner and a soft paintbrush. Don't overdo it though, or the fabric glue may dissolve.

[Sideband]

Originally Posted by high_vacuum_house

I cannot see an output transformer unless the speaker is one of those special high impedance types.

It's hiding behind the two smoothing cans. You can just see it.

Looks like those two caps are wired in series (double the voltage, half the value) between cathode and one anode of the rectifier so possibly an attempt to cure modulation hum. Why only one of the anodes I have no idea......

Odd line up of valves, mixture of loctal and B8A. I'm guessing the first loctal is an ECH21 and the other is an EBL21. It then seems to have two EAF42's? I wonder if one of those is wrong?

No it's right!! Just checked the circuit. Two IF amps would make it a very sensitive set. Even more reason to sort it out properly and get it working.

[Sideband]

Originally Posted by Sideband

It then seems to have two EAF42's? I wonder if one of those is wrong?

No it's right!! Just checked the circuit. Two IF amps would make it a very sensitive set. Even more reason to sort it out properly and get it working.

Hmmm had a closer look. It seems one of the EAF42's is used as an AF amp/detector so still only one IF amp. Still it's unusual enough to restore.