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Philco 53A cathedral radio ;^)

diamondsouled

diamondsouled

Recycle belly button lint!
Philco 53A console radio ;^)

Picked up a very nice example of a 1933 Philco 53A radio at a garage sale today. Don't see many radios this era with the cabinets in such good condition. At least ones that are for garage sale prices :D. Expected to see a field coil speaker but there is actually a rather large 12" speaker that looks like a Jensen. All the tubes are present but I haven't been able to track down a schematic yet.

Will need some TLC for sure.

Looks like the one in this picture. Will take some actual pics of it tomorrow.

Today was a good day. Actually picked up some nice vinyl for free as well. :thmbsp:

Cheers

Lar
 

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http://www.philcoradio.com/tech/images/53.jpg This doesn;t have the "A" after it, but it might be similar. Check the tube lineup against the schematic. Fwiw, this is a console style...cathedral is the arch shaped ones so named because they looked similar to a cathedral.

BEAUTIFUL radio... Is that really the original finish? Most Philco's are kind of meh, but a few are stunning to look at. Even though they used cheap circuits and generally were budget radios, most Philco's perform very well.
 
Looks like one that passed through my place a few months back. The one I had was missing a knob I think. Was something of a project I decided not to take on. :D
 
Cool. Pics ?

And that set looks more like a 40-42 offering than an early 30s, but thats just my guess at it.
 
Was going by the date at the site with the pic. Looks 40ish to me as well.

Here's the tube compliment from left to right:

6J8E, 78, 6J5, 617FG, 6C5, 2 - 48s.

Mine is missing one knob as well. :D

Oddly the tube chart in the cabinet doesn't match the radio :scratch2:

Cheers

Lar
 

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Look at the model number on the plate. Philco used a 5 digit format after the mid 30s. I have a 39-116, which is a 1939 radio, model 116. Yours should be in a similar format.


THose metal tubes are not original. Interesting that one is Philco branded though. Metal tubes were an RCA thing, and Philco wanted nothing to do with anything RCA. They used glass tubes exclusively in their sets to avoid paying RCA any patent royalties on the metal tubes. They often had shielded tube bases designed specifically to prevent you from plugging in a metal or GT type tube. Only the original G bottle tubes with their smooth bases would fit. Around 1940 or so, they came out with loctal tubes, which had a totally different base and this locking center pin arrangement. It was pretty much a Philco thing, but some other mfgs used it. It never really caught on.
 
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That Philco site is great, thanks! I guess I should have added that it is a made in Canada Philco.

There's a picture of a 1942 53X that looks the same as mine. :yes:

Also should have mentioned that there is a small s after the A making it an 53A s.

Cheers

Lar
 

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Nope. not the same. The one I had had the knobs on the sides of the radio. Two per side. Looks like only one oringinal knob.
 
Jovinyl said:
Nope. not the same. The one I had had the knobs on the sides of the radio. Two per side. Looks like only one oringinal knob.
Click to expand...

The numbers of models made kind of boggles the mind. Especially considering that after around 1940 Philco US and Philco Canada were making different models.

Still haven't been able to track down a schematic. Lots of great antique radio sites out there though :yes:
 
radioactive said:
try over at antique radio forums or even videokarma lar.
Click to expand...

Was my thought as well Chris. Brilliant minds think alike :yes:

I've signed on to the Philco forum. Takes a while before the mods get back to you. I posted over on video karma as well

I'm thinking that justradios probably has the schematic so I've e-mailed them.

I wonder what PP 48's put out wattage wise? :scratch2:

Funny thing it was the wifey who pointed out the radio to me. She later admitted that it later crossed her mind: "What was I thinking?". Lolz.

Lar
 
48s were generally used in 24V "farm" sets, powered by 24V battery and windmill charger. The remaining tube heaters would have been connected in series. The B+ in these sets was 24-30V, so parallel or push-pull) output tubes were needed for reasonable speaker volume. The transformer next to the chassis was probaby added as part of AC converson.
 
Tom Bavis said:
48s were generally used in 24V "farm" sets, powered by 24V battery and windmill charger. The remaining tube heaters would have been connected in series. The B+ in these sets was 24-30V, so parallel or push-pull) output tubes were needed for reasonable speaker volume. The transformer next to the chassis was probaby added as part of AC converson.
Click to expand...

The transformer is connected to the speaker. As well as the AC cord there is a
short cord with a male three prong plug on the end. Maybe it was a combined AC/battery set? :scratch2:

Lar
 
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Checked Nostalgia but they didn't have this model.

Waiting to hear back from justradios.

The speaker must have been replaced quite a while ago. Will have to pull the chassis out and take a look see. No power getting to the tubes at all so something is open.

Cheers

Lar
 
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