Kent King's Blog (33)

Hey all...I have two Philharmonic sets taking up space and I won't be finding time to do anything with them...so I am putting them out here. The first is a red band deluxe (1939). This set has caps replaced and does play but needs additional work. The second is a 1937 pointer dial set with the "Chicago" dial. This set is unrestored but complete. Both sets include a tuner, amp and a 15 in speaker.…

I'm working on a 1939 Beam of Light Philharmonic Deluxe and noticed a wiring error (ok, maybe)...in looking at the schematics available, it gets worse. Refer to the 3 images attached as needed. Here we go:

In the 1937 schematic, and in most sets I've worked on, pin 8 (cathode) and pin 5 (grid #3, usually tied to the cathode) go directly to ground. Pin 5 (at ground) is used as a tie point for the "pass through" caps in the IF cans. In the 1939 schematic, it looks like Scott added a…

Next Wed evening (10/16), I will be presenting on E. H. Scott and his radios on the AWA Shares monthly Zoom meeting:

https://www.antiquewireless.org/homepage/awa-shares/

You do not have to be a member of AWA to attend, but you do need to register prior to the talk. I hope some of you are able to join me - I've got some neat pictures and info to share.

Kent

This is the beginning of a running blog on updates to the files saved in the Info Archive. This morning, I updated the file "Milsets.pdf" in the WWII Sets folder. Fellow member Angelo found some new US Govt documentation on the WWII sets and I have updated the file with a few new bits of info. More to come soon.

I met a fellow at Kutztown who has this set. He says he has the PS and speaker as well. It is in NJ, email me (kent3256@hotmail.com) for more info. There is an expander with it...…

A collector has reached out to me seeking parts for an RC6 phono - if anyone has one that is good for parts, please drop me a note. Thanks!!

Kent

I have a pretty decent pointer dial Philharmonic, with the midwest station dial (new replacement, original was cracked). The set is complete and chrome is very decent, this set will turn out great with a good cleaning and restoration. Includes a full set of tubes (the smaller 6L6 tubes are GA, not G, couldn't find 4 matching ones). Amp has some rust but is also cleanable. And we have a good 15 in pedestal speaker with it.

I will not ship this, but will meet you or deliver…

I've been working on several Philly sets and I am really just appreciating all the differences in the various sets. So the earliest ones had a series of 5 capacitors which are switched across the plates of the P-P expander tubes. This feature was changed to a treble control and also removed if you had a remote control chassis. I need to know what the rotating switch looked like for the assembly shown here:…

I found this reference in a 1928 sales booklet. I would like to find the piece described. Next best - a good scan of one if you have it:

The title says it all...does anyone recognize this as a McMurdo Silver cabinet? I'm guessing it is not, obviously the mounting is all wrong. Opinions?…

OK folks...question: Here is the schematic of the outboard volume expander for an AW23. I was working on one earlier today and noticed a mod that I had not seen before. If this mod isn't factory, it was done a <long> time ago - near its original production. The mod is simple - a 20ufd/25VDC cap is wired from the 6A7 cathodes to ground (+ side on the cathode). It is soldered right on the wiper of the balance potentiometer. Any thoughts on what this might do? Should I remove it/leave it…

The shippers and everyone did a fantastic job getting the Valencia set from the LA auction to my place here in Ohio. I have wanted this cabinet for many years, I'm so excited to finally have one. This is one of my winter projects, the set is really clean too, I expect this one to be a showpiece set when restored. - Kent…

If anyone can look at the underside of a red-band Philharmonic Deluxe, I need to know where the switches and the variable capacitors should be at each end of the rotation. After recapping, I realized this set has been played with and I do not believe the shaft is properly aligned with the control. Any assistance would be appreciated!

BTW - this is not the same as a pointer dial set - the Deluxe has an extra wafer switch on the shaft - so hopefully someone has another Deluxe…

If there are any folks on our forum who live in the greater LA area - could you please reach out to me at kent3256@hotmail.com?

I need some help in the next couple of weeks to get some sets moved around, I would be happy to compensate you for your time and trouble. 

Thanks!
Kent

If you are within driving distance of central Ohio - this set is up for auciton:…

Everyone -

I have the following items for sale. Email me at kent3256@hotmail.com for more info. All of these are going to Kutztown, but if you email me and we make a deal beforehand, I'll make you a better deal....and all of these are reasonably priced, I need to thin things out around here.

1. Philharmonic Deluxe in a Warrington cabinet, tuner, amp and pedestal speaker, knobs, escutcheons - complete but unrestored.

2. Philharmonic pointer dial, remote control,…

I've been restoring the early (5 knob) AW23 that was found on a trash pile in Columbus. This was the lightning strike set I wrote about in a different post a couple weeks ago. 

This is a VERY early AW23, there are several unique things about this set:

First, the grid lead to the mixer (6A7)...in most sets, the lead comes out through the large tuning cap cover and feeds through a hole in a phenolic piece riveted to the 6B7 shield base. On this set, there is a…

we hear lots of talk these days about supply chain, but Scott suffered from challenges for many years. Here is a new one for me....I am restoring the AW23 that fellow member Kevin found on the trash pile in Columbus a couple months ago. Got it up here over the weekend and opened it up...

it is 100% Potter capacitors. Now I have probably been…

So, it looks like an AW23 speaker, but it doesn't have the two plugs for the tweeters and the stub cable (and no stub cable). The connector is like that used on the pointer Philharmonic (two large pins not together, not like a 23). Pin testing shows it should work on a Philly - but it is a 12 in and no Philly style tweeter connection either. But tagged Scott...I have two of these BTW...the other one has an AW23 style plug on it and tested it with an AW23 and it works great. Any thoughts…

He will be missed. This is a wonderful tribute:

https://www.normantranscript.com/region/godfather-of-twin-cities-bluegrass-scene-alan-jesperson-dies-at-74/article_e4260cc8-7734-5e3c-867e-1d6670a06d6f.html