Classic Hifi Care

If there are just a few things I can name that make Philco radios (1928-1948) worthy of restoration, it may be robust coils and transformers, gorgeous sepia-toned tube maps, awesome built-in antennas, thorough service information or the great websites.

I recently bought this 48-482 with a table, was in same house since new according to great niece of original owner.
Having put this next to a 42-345, which is an earlier version of a similar transformer P.S. radio, I noted some differences in SW band.

Notice that Australia was dropped in favor of adding Japan. No longer is there the lower SW band, Havana, Ship and Amateur removed. SW would be found on fewer radios and no consoles after 1948, reserved for multi-band, such as German and Trans-oceanics.

Now the 1942 model, 42-345.
BTW WGAL was an AM station, now its a TV station, sports talk killed the only two AM in our town, now they are both silent

There isn't anything on radio that is much more obnoxious than sports talk. Philco sure liked using the FM1000 tube. I don't know if anyone else used it or not. The only downside I ever saw to Philco radios of about any vintage is their use of those infernal Loktal tubes. I don't understand why octals weren't good enough. Philco radios perform well once you get them sorted.

Those are both beautiful radios, Dave. I see a lot more floor Philco's around here then deluxe table radios. I think the chassis were interchangeable, you just had to decide on how much real estate you wanted.

Bill

They really are nice looking radios. Do you know what kind of wood they're made out of?

Philco did not use octal tubes so they wouldn't have to pay RCA for the patent rights.

The FM1000 tube and it circuit was Philco's way of getting around the patent for Armstrong's limiter/discriminator circuit.