Philco H1916 - 3 channel with satellite electrostatics

[Motorola minion]

From Hudson Valley above NYC, came this Christmas present from my two best customers of restorations, electronic that is!

I know that someone on this forum has one.

I can now sell this one 1960 H1814, as its so compact a home is easier to find!
The design of these reminds me of McIntosh products

[electra225]

Very nice, Dave. Was Philco still making their own changers when this was built?

[TC Chris]

Looks more like a Glaser-Steers....

Chris Campbell

[hermitcrab]

seems weird that the radio dial would be sideways ... maybe they used the same chassis in other sets?

[TC Chris]

Philco always did that. I have a '46 console with a chassis mounted vertically and, because the dial mounts were slanted from its original use horizontally, they built an angle mount into the cabinet so the dial glass laid flat against the front panel.

Chris Campbell

[William]

I keep thinking I know about a Philco H-1916 console, and it finally dawned on me. Mark (macgolf) has one and he has shared it with us here on the forum. I think I will go back here in "other consoles" and refresh my memory.

Bill

[Motorola minion]

Very nice, Dave. Was Philco still making their own changers when this was built?

No, by the stereo era, Philco was using V-M changers. I have a Philco 53-1733 that uses a Philco M-series changer. Not exactly sure when they stopped but it was around 1955.

This particular model that MacGolf also has uses a Glaser-Steers GS77 AK thread here https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php ... 77.306514/

[Ken Doyle]

Philco also used some stereo Webcor changers before going to Glaser Steers.

[Motorola minion]

This Philco is currently in my living room, both doors to rest of house are closed as this is a parlor-type setup. I move consoles in and out of this room, largely unnoticed until I play them.

I have recapped the tuner, one-tube preamp and the three channel amplifier. Also replaced were NP capacitors in the two satellite speakers. As you can see from the pictures, it is a very involved affair to work on.

I am ready to put it all back together and hoping the first power-up doesn't require repeated disassembly. Unlike most other amps I work on, this one was not "jiggable", that is to say: Jig means to lay it out on my bench using test speakers, it was too much to imagine.

I have been reading posts on AK about this model and wondered how this one might turn out. Other than the elusive 1961 Philco model J1930, my G1906 two-piece and this H1916, I know of no other Philco top-of-line models. The better solid state models having the pushbutton selector (not rotary) are seen on Etsy and other sites featuring MCM knockouts.

[Motorola minion]

The preamp has a standing pcb behind the volume control for the 7025's tube socket, solder joints were awful and look at all those suspected bad paper caps

No wonder I never, ever try to power anything up for evaluation that has these awful caps. If I did and it played nice, I would still change all those caps. But, if it sounded not much better after all that work, I would be very discouraged.

These speakers are not suitable for use on any amp but this one, yet I see posts about folks trying to use these on something else!

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

The preamp has a standing pcb behind the volume control for the 7025's tube socket, solder joints were awful and look at all those suspected bad paper caps

No wonder I never, ever try to power anything up for evaluation that has these awful caps. If I did and it played nice, I would still change all those caps. But, if it sounded not much better after all that work, I would be very discouraged.

Yes, I see those bumblebee caps down in there, too.
They are off to the dentist for pulling, I'm sure.

[macgolf]

Wow, nice friends! I like the squared off styling of the burgundy models. The burgundy models are also the only ones I've seen featured in sales adds. I don't know where $675 fits in 1960 prices with some of the other manufacturers TOTL like VM, Motorola or RCA. I'm guessing that price would be w/o tuner. I think the pinwheel knobs are some of the coolest I've come across. Thanks for posting photos of your journey with the H-1916.

When you get time could you post photos of the speaker wells on yours. Mine just seem very unfinished and wasn't sure if that was standard or not. I've also come across those who eventually give up trying the sats on other equipment but manage to get the mid to work.

Mark

[Motorola minion]

This back looks equally unfinished, I agree!

This set layout is about as involved as any Television, not an easy one at all.
You have to be committed to work on a console with this level of complexity.

[Motorola minion]

I was able to get some time to place all the chassis into the cabinet, minus all the screws. The wiring between the OPT's and the woofers alone has me buffaloed, not to mention the contour control which is part of the bass channel's elaborate feedback circuit.

The first power up was very interesting - I heard crackles and snaps as the 6AL5 warmed up, supplying about 600 volts to the electrostatic tweeters I plugged into the cabinet receptacles. Th long satellite cords are coiled up and waiting for remote deployment once issues are dealt with. I noted an inspection tag signed, advising customer to contact them at Philco regarding service.

The lighting alone with those metal knobs and indicators was stunning! The amp and preamp sound equally good on both channels, using the tuner which I had tested on the bench. One of the satellite speakers has a buzz or rattle, though I did not get to try my other satellites or just swap them. Also is needed a trial run of a CD via tape input, when the house is empty of course

Philco could not have made much profit on this model, considering the assembly required and such a robust, heavy cabinet. As expected, all the OEM capacitors used in this beast were just as crummy as what Philco assembled their TV sets with. This is why I never bother powering up until all are replaced. Resistors were not an issue, all within tolerance and somewhat matched on opposing channels

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

It is a very nice cabinet, and the control panel is
reminiscent of the Zenith controls which are
appealing to me.

I think its important to showcase these very
involved projects so others may benefit from
what it takes to do it well.

I think most of us know that the satisfaction of
hearing and seeing a restored hi-fi is much greater
than the difficulties encountered along the way.

Nice work, as is your usual.

[William]

Yes, nice work Dave and that is a very impressive Philco. I wish you or Mark lived closer I would love to hear it. The woofers have very large magnets which is something you do not usually see on a console stereo.

Bill

[Motorola minion]

Thanks for some nice words on this model.
The buzz in the one speaker was fixed by spraying tube sockets with DeOxit and rocking tubes to clean pin connections.

I have noticed so far that bass has incredible headroom like a Motorola,
yet the contour control (feedback in bass circuit) seems to do very little.

The sound is not perfect out either satellite speaker using CD to tape input,
so Ill continue trying different sources.

The tuner sounds best of all for now, until the phono wheel shows up,
so we'll see how the changer sounds.

Happy New Year!