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Vintage Radio (domestic) Domestic vintage radio (wireless) receivers only. |
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25th Oct 2021, 7:19 pm | #1 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: Ripley, Derbyshire, UK.
Posts: 52
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Might Just Keep This As A Display Piece
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? |
25th Oct 2021, 7:25 pm | #2 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,996
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Re: Might Just Keep This As A Display Piece
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' ].
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25th Oct 2021, 7:51 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK.
Posts: 8,327
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Re: Might Just Keep This As A Display Piece
It's a good sounding radio with very good sensitivity and selectivity. Made c.1949.
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Edward. |
25th Oct 2021, 8:03 pm | #4 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK.
Posts: 21,288
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Re: Might Just Keep This As A Display Piece
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
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Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron. |
25th Oct 2021, 8:04 pm | #5 |
Octode
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Manchester, UK.
Posts: 1,874
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Re: Might Just Keep This As A Display Piece
I think it's quite attractive. Do you like it? I bet someone has a smashed set, and so one of those badges, somewhere...
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25th Oct 2021, 8:13 pm | #6 |
Octode
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Thetford, Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 1,741
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Re: Might Just Keep This As A Display Piece
I'd restore that - looks a nice set.
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25th Oct 2021, 8:17 pm | #7 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
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Re: Might Just Keep This As A Display Piece
Does Bakelite get woodworm? Splendid set, and all radios need to work, wonderful things they are.
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25th Oct 2021, 8:19 pm | #8 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK.
Posts: 21,288
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Re: Might Just Keep This As A Display Piece
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.
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Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron. |
25th Oct 2021, 10:33 pm | #9 |
Octode
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Newport, Gwent, UK.
Posts: 1,623
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Re: Might Just Keep This As A Display Piece
It looks rather classy, I would get it working and keep it.
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25th Oct 2021, 10:50 pm | #10 |
Octode
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Belper Derbyshire
Posts: 1,935
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Re: Might Just Keep This As A Display Piece
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
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25th Oct 2021, 11:26 pm | #11 |
Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
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Re: Might Just Keep This As A Display Piece
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
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26th Oct 2021, 10:20 am | #12 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 13,454
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Re: Might Just Keep This As A Display Piece
Quote:
Lawrence. |
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1st Nov 2021, 8:41 pm | #13 | |
Tetrode
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: Ripley, Derbyshire, UK.
Posts: 52
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Re: Might Just Keep This As A Display Piece
Quote:
Case coming along nicely. The re-painted lines appear White in the photographs but are actually Ivory Last edited by _Garak_; 1st Nov 2021 at 8:47 pm. Reason: Added text |
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1st Nov 2021, 8:55 pm | #14 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
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Re: Might Just Keep This As A Display Piece
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. |
1st Nov 2021, 8:55 pm | #15 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK.
Posts: 7,567
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Re: Might Just Keep This As A Display Piece
Quote:
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.
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1st Nov 2021, 9:45 pm | #16 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK.
Posts: 7,567
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Re: Might Just Keep This As A Display Piece
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.
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