Philco 46-1203

[1922VV111]

Got this beautiful Philco 46-1203 from my mom! She found it at the same place I found the floor model Philco last month. It will need a new power cord, caps, ect, as these always do. Thanks mom!

[William]

I have seen that model, or at least one that looks like yours, at estate stales, antique stores, or auctions. I always thought they were nice looking and if the radio plays like most Philco's it should work great.

Bill

[1922VV111]

I have seen that model, or at least one that looks like yours, at estate stales, antique stores, or auctions. I always thought they were nice looking and if the radio plays like most Philco's it should work great.

Bill

This also could be a Philco 48-1256, I need to check again.

[electra225]

I had two 1203's. They are good performers as far as the radio goes. They use the D-10 changer, not one of Philco's best, IMHO. Easy to work on. Good luck with yours!

[TC Chris]

I've got a 46-1203. It was in my grandparents' house, parked next to a bed in the guest room where I'd sleep when visiting. I'd turn it on at night, enjoy the warm dial glow, and experience the miracle of hearing sounds coming through the air. Then it started humming. I did rescue it when we closed the house out. I should recap it. I see it has an RF amp but otherwise is unremarkable. One of those switched hi-filter tone controls.... Yeah, that changer looks like nothing special at all.

Chris Campbell

[1922VV111]

I've got a 46-1203. It was in my grandparents' house, parked next to a bed in the guest room where I'd sleep when visiting. I'd turn it on at night, enjoy the warm dial glow, and experience the miracle of hearing sounds coming through the air. Then it started humming. I did rescue it when we closed the house out. I should recap it. I see it has an RF amp but otherwise is unremarkable. One of those switched hi-filter tone controls.... Yeah, that changer looks like nothing special at all.

Chris Campbell

Well it’s a good thing 78s are my favorite type of record to collect!

[TC Chris]

I've got 78s too, and the really old ones are beat-up enough not to worry. The better, newer ones are capable of much better fidelity than that Philco would deliver, and it would be grinding them up the way the old Sonora acoustic device does.

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

The Magnavox TP 241 I redid plays 78 very nicely. It has a ceramic cartridge, diamond needle, tracks at five grams, feather-weight for playing 78's. The fidelity of the later 78's that were recorded on tape is every bit as good as the later LP's that replaced them.....

I have long maintained that the fidelity of 78's in good condition was better than that of 45's in similar condition. I've never played a 78 on a "modern" turntable with a super-light magnetic cartridge. I've always want to try it....

[1922VV111]

Well this certainly has taken an unexpected twist! I went to my mom’s house to check to model No. And it turns out I have a 48-1256!

[William]

I think that means you have a 1948 instead of a 1946. The tubes appear to be the same so I am not sure what the actual difference would be other than model number.

Bill

[TC Chris]

The Magnavox TP 241 I redid plays 78 very nicely. It has a ceramic cartridge, diamond needle, tracks at five grams, feather-weight for playing 78's. The fidelity of the later 78's that were recorded on tape is every bit as good as the later LP's that replaced them.....

I have long maintained that the fidelity of 78's in good condition was better than that of 45's in similar condition. I've never played a 78 on a "modern" turntable with a super-light magnetic cartridge. I've always want to try it....

In theory, faster speeds are capable of higher fidelity, especially at higher frequencies. In practice, 78s were typically pressed on shellac with noisy filler, and recorded on the assumption that none of the playback equipment was capable of reproducing high frequencies anyway.

Another twist on it is that 78s were recorded with different equalization standards, and most modern equipment with magnetic cart preamps uses the RIAA curve. Some older tube equipment had other equalization choices. My Maggie Provincial Serenade and my Bogen DB-115 have a "78" setting on the preamp. I think both have "Col" (Columbia), for those early LPS and "Eur" or European.

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

I think Bill hit this one out of the park. My two 1203's were 1946 models. The tubes in yours are the same as in the 1203.

[William]

My Magnavox Berkshire has all of the equalization settings. RIAA, LP, 78, and EUR. Playing a 33 (LP) record and selecting the different equalization setting you can hear the frequencies change, mostly adjusting the mid to upper range.

Bill