Dreaded Philips V5A

[andycapp]

Hi, being a new comer to this magical world, knowing next to nothing about it I purchased this V5A about 10 days ago. I didn't really do a lot of research on it before hand, I only purchased it because I was looking for a not to pre-war radio and this fit the bill. Now apart from the obvious advice I was wondering if any one had any opinions going on the pics, just taken. I haven't taken any of the cabinet because that is in good condition apart from a good clean and polish. It does work after a fashion, all lights up. You can very faintly hear 4-5 stations but I haven't tried with an aerial yet. Hope the pics are okay thanks Andy will have to post two lots of pics.

[andycapp]

Second lot of pictures.

[paulsherwin]

I suggest you connect an aerial.

[PJL]

Those Philips black capacitors will most likely need replacement. Looks in good shape, even the insulation looks OK. Shame they scrapped the electrolytic cans. The waveband switch looks a little messy, is that grease?

[andycapp]

Thanks Paul, haven't had a chance yet as I am incapacitated with a very bad back. Thanks PJL, not sure about any of it yet due to same reason, I had to get my daughter to take photos, as soon as I am able I will go through it all myself and see what's what. I was just hoping to get a few opinions before I am active again, thanks Andy

[marconi_pete]

These sets are quite attractive looking sets and are rather unusual in that they have no chassis, and the components and valve bases are fixed to the bakelite cabinet, making it a tricky job to recap the set. You are very lucky to have acquired one in such good condition. It's a shame someone has replaced the smoothing caps on the lower right of the cabinet and not bothered to restuff the originals. Good luck with the restoration and do keep us posted. Can't wait to see the before and after pics.

Thanks,
Peter

[paulsherwin]

As Peter says, some caps have clearly been changed so it may have been recapped completely. If you can hear stations without an aerial it must be working reasonably well. It certainly looks tidy enough.

[andycapp]

Thanks for replies, i'm very glad it looks in reasonable condition from the pics, hopefully I wont be laid up too long and I can get into it, I will definitely keep it updated as soon as I can get something done. Fingers crossed it wont be long, Andy

[Keith]

Hi Andy, Looks very clean compared to mine. Some people claim the design is proof that the Dutch were smoking odd substances earlier than we thought. As one member put it "Looks like it was put together with a shovel!"

[andycapp]

Thanks Keith, I just hope I can get around to moving again soon, at the moment its a job just to type this. They certainly do look as if they were thrown together but there you go, what can you do when you really want one? Andy

[julie_m]

If in doubt, change C23 (Trader sheet) a.k.a. that capacitor.

[SteveCG]

... and it is another set with a 145 Volt mains option ...

[andycapp]

I wonder does anyone know the correct size of the top rear cover retaining screws on this radio?
I don't suppose for one minute you can still get the small retaining claws from the top fixings, either NOS or something of a more modern design.

I will put a prayer on the wants section but won't hold my breath, thanks for all replies,

Andy

[avocollector]

Congrats on one really weird radio set - no wonder they thought the dutch were smoking dried vegetable substances when it appeared!! Looks great fun to work on.

[unitaudio]

Utterly bonkers! Philips, you gotta love 'em!

Regards,
Paul

[Tyso_Bl]

One of the few radios that look as interesting from the back as the front, so we've designed this cabinet, now lets see if we can put a radio inside it.

[David G4EBT]

You might find this 'success story' thread interesting:

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=72625

Note the extensive re-wiring that was undertaken to bring the set up to a safe and reliable standard. Not a task for the fainthearted!

Forum member Ben Djikman in the Netherlands is very clued up on Philips and you might be encouraged by his comments about this set in that thread.

Ben also supplies specialist hard to get items for vintage radios, notably dials, knobs, radio backs and speaker fabric for continental and British radios.


Good luck with the radio.

[emeritus]

I don't know this set, but regarding the screw question, [#13], according to my elderly copy of Machinery's Screw Thread book, before the ISO-Metric thread standard was agreed, there were at least three different general purpose metric screw thread standards in use in continental Europe: the French, German, and Swiss. In some cases threads of the old national standard were compatible with ISO-Metric, but many were not. It is not just a question of the pitches being different for a given diameter, the series of diameters were different too. No Dutch standard is listed, and so Philips could have been following either the French or the German standard.

Whereas the ISO metric series (starting from 2mm) is 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 6.0, etc., the French standard series was 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, and the German standard was 2.0, 2.3, 2.6, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0. The 3.0 diameter had a pitch of 0.5 in the ISO and German standard, but 0.6 in the French standard.

I suspect the Philips may have used the DIN standard, as I had a 1960's Philips tape recorder that used some 2.6mm screws. For diameters greater than 3.0mm, the old German standard screws have the same pitch/diameter combinations as the current ISO-metric. For France, only 6mm and greater are in agreement, the smaller French threads having different pitches from ISO metric for the same diameter. If all else fails, you could run a suitable tap into the bores and fit modern ISO metric screws.

[Cobaltblue]

I seem to recall although the source escapes me at the moment that the Phillips V5 was a response to the 6 Guinea challenge.

A 1936 government call for a good quality radio to sell for just £6 6s 0d

The Philco 444 achieved it by using American Valves with the exception of it unique specially made BTH output valve.

Philips achieved it in the V5 by cutting the costs to the bones.

I remember Gerry Wells telling me back in the 80's how these were fixed by Philips themselves.

The Service operative would unscrew all the large components melt the wax* on the items waxed* to the case, sort of roll it all up and unroll it on the bench.

*So long since I seen mine I cant remember if its wax or pitch!

Metal screens then had to be located between various parts as the speaker was left in the case and formed part of the sets screening.

The set would then be fault found and repaired in the normal way then the whole thing rolled up and put back into the case.

The worst job on these and enough to make a grown man cry is to restring them.

This thread has made me feel the need to dig mine back out last seen and used in the 80's

Cheers

Mike T