Mods to Phillys

[Joe Miller]

Were Philly's modified in later production runs without updating the schematic?

I found the IF AGC tube's cathode grounded rather than connected to ground through a 600 ohm resistor with a bypass cap as shown on the Rider's schematic.

Was this a factory change or the result of some one before me making changes?

Thanks,

Joe

[Joe Miller]

I powered it up today using my modified organ 15 inch pedestal speaker and it plays on AM nicely. 

My B+ voltages are a bit low per the spec(using line voltage) but I think they are just fine as is:

250V is 240V

375V is 362V

410V is 381V

430V is 390V

I have some loose ends to address before I get ready for the alignment:

1.  My dial lights are messed up.  One dims when I turn the band switch so I suspect dirty connections on the switch.  (or maybe I have a short?)

2.  Didn't get any SW reception, but I am not sure which band is which (I have the dial plate off the set right now as I am going to replace it.  The BS escutcheon is labeled A, B, C, D, E P.  Do these letters correspond to UHF, LW, Police, AM, SW1, SW2?  I think I am getting AM on Position D if I remember correctly.

3.  BTW, I am missing the cover for one of the edge lamps.  Anyone know where I can find one?  (This is the lamp that dims on one of the BS positions.)

Will keep you posted on progress.

Joe

[Joe Miller]

She is playing on all bands. Couple of questions:
1. What is the best way to test the volume range expander? I get some eye tube movement but not sure I can tell any difference in the audio.
2. Should the sensitivity control smoothly increase gain throughout its range? Mine has a high gain spot just as I turn it off it's stop in the CW direction.
Once I get these features tested, I will be moving on to the alignment. Should I expect a significant improvement after the alignment given its had a complete recap?
Thanks, Joe

[Y2K Bruce]

Bill L was restoring a 30 tube Philly for me and it arrived today and I have it all hooked up and playing for the past 5 hours. It sounds wonderful playing OTR Sherlock Holmes shows. I have a Tauscher sound board covering the speaker to tone it down a bit.

The set sounds wonderful and all the 9 controls work as if original. Bill's workmanship was 1st rate too under the hood. This was the set sold by Habitat for Humanity in Aspen Co. Norman B advised them on a value and I purchased the set as soon as I heard about it. It was installed in a 1933 Capehart 300 cabinet and was filthy with 40 years of dust and dirt. The speaker was set up for a 2nd remote speaker with a variable volume control which I removed today and reset the speaker to original 38 ohm settings. Once cleaned up the chrome is stunning and the original speaker is A-OK too and sounds great

[Y2K Bruce]

After Photo

[Bill Liers]

Glad you're happy with it Bruce. I'd like a full report once you run it through it's paces.

[Joe Miller]

Bruce,

Looks super.  I'm sure Bill did a great job for you.  He's been helping me with mine.  Should have mine done tomorrow or Monday.  So far it sounds good.

BTW what do the extra 2 knobs do?  (Mine only has 7 knobs.)

Joe

[Scott Seickel]

The one on the upper right is a switch to turn the scratch suppressor on/off.  Really just a relocation of the pull out switch that is under the tuning knob on the 7 knob version.  The control on the upper left is what Scott called the Fidelity control- really just a treble control. 

[David C. Poland]

Bruce - Really nice nice looking late AM Philharmonic. If I ever get a 2nd, Philly, that is the one of interest - 9 knob, red band and the logging vernier at the top of the dial. NICE.
You are to first I know of to comment on actual use of the Tauscher Sound Board. I gather it was playing but not in a cabinet.
Anyone have one a Tauscher installed on a restored Scott in a cabinet? I would expect it to muffle the midrange somewhat.
Comment?

[Y2K Bruce]

My work bench test drive station is the coffee table in my living room. The Philly was so powerful the speaker was too loud for my tastes so I put on the Tauscher board to tone it down  a bit and I may be in the minority but it sounded fine to my ears on OTR shows.

I thought it reduced the higher treble tones some and sounded more realistic plus it prevented me accidentally poking any holes in the cone. Usually I have it hung on the wall as a display piece. This one has 3 separate wood rings in it on the back that fit into the speaker cone.