Philco 40-180
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Make: Philco Bands: BC/Police/SW Tubes:
Complete schematics are available free from Nostalgia Air
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Some say the model 40-180 is one of the most attractive console radios Philco ever produced. This three band 7 tube model was introduced in June 1939. The radio pictured above was found advertised on Craig's list as "from grandma's house". It wasn't fresh from the parlor by any means, Lightly scratched from being stored in a garage, it does retain it's original finish.The glass dial had been damp and was ruined, reproductions are available however I was fortunate enough to find a perfect original. Being a early 40s Philco, all of the rubber wires required replacement along with all capacitors, most of the resistors and an audio output transformer. The radio now plays clear and undistorted. All schematics I've found for this model show the converter (det-osc) as an 7J7. Beginning with production run 4, the 7J7 was replaced with a 6J8G as the converter so if you find one wth a 6J8G it's probably correct. |
The Philco 40-180 utilizes preset station selector buttons as well as the manual tuning knob. The knobs were in terrible shape and required replacement. They are available from various parts dealers, I ordered my from Old Radio Parts.net. My radio was from central Arkansas and fortunately still had it's original call tabs mostly intact. I wanted to renew the call tabs but retain the original station selections even though at least two of the stations were no longer heard on air.. Replacement call tabs are not available so my only option was to create my own. I began by downloading scans of original call tab sheets from PhilcoRadio.com. Using a simple graphics program, I cropped the desired station call tabs, magnified each tab, performed some basic color fill to sharpen the letters from the scan and resized them to 144 X 80 pixels. I then printed each as a separate image on an old manilla folder on my black and while laser printer. Finally I sandwiched each call tab between pieces of clear gloss tape, cut to size and placed into the escutcheon with a speck of white glue. I believe the end result is as good as original.
