Chaps, I have 6 of these NZ Philco Alabamas, in brown-powder blue-grey-brick red-cream-and green,and I'm wondering and/or still looking for any other colours that might exist, can anyone be of assistance? I have tried the internet and no luck.

Regards,

Ron.

Photo added: 28/12/12.

I can find only one mention of that model in my various reference books, and it's just a photo saying 1958 5 valve model -- no other details about it at all.

Not much info on the Radiomuseum site either:

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/philco_alabama_401.html.

Have you tried contacting the New Zealand Vintage Radio Society?

http://www.nzvrs.pl.net/.

Never seen one myself. Have you got some photos of these radios Ron?

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A valve a day keeps the transistor away...

Here's mine, currently located on the other side of the planet (New Jersey, near New York City). Right click the picture, select "view Image" to see it bigger. I recapped it, it works pretty well. But I'd like to get a schematic diagram for it if anyone has it, thanks.

Ahhh yes, seen plenty of those. I wasn't aware of the model name though. I've seen these in walnut, white and pale blue though I do not own any.

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A valve a day keeps the transistor away...

But I'd like to get a schematic diagram for it if anyone has it, thanks.

Tried the NZVRS?

I went to the NZVRS web site, found other schematics, but they didn't have one for this Philco. I recapped mine, and found what I think was a rewiring error in the diode detector circuit done by a previous owner. I modified it and now it works pretty well, but I'd like to see what the circuit was intended to be.

I am wondering if the chassis was by Airzone, as per many Australian Philco models. If so the circuit may be similar to the Airzone Cubs made around the same time.

I just uploaded a photo of Ron's collection, sent via e-mail.

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A valve a day keeps the transistor away...

I went to the NZVRS web site, found other schematics, but they didn't have one for this Philco.

Suggest emailing their bulletin editor. I'd reckon he'd be willing to put a "circuit wanted" ad in the bulletin which will reach the wider membership. Going further, I'd also wager he'd love to accept a short article from the USA about the restoration of your set.

http://www.nzvrs.pl.net/aaa/bulletin_editor.htm.

I just uploaded a photo of Ron's collection

Fine looking collection. So, comparing the two photos I note there's a 2 knob and a 3 knob model.

As Philco is, I believe American Philips, it may be an idea to have a look at "Rider" via Nostalgiaair and see if you can spot it there?

Marc

Philco had a few owners early on though ended up being owned by Ford. It is now a subsidiary of Electrolux, like the Australian appliance divisions of EMAIL and Southcorp.

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A valve a day keeps the transistor away...

Hi there Ron,

You will likely find that there was a Fire Engine Red, a Tamarello (or Ox Blood as some people descibe it), and Burgundy. Otherwise....you pretty well have them all! There may also be shortwave version (usually in brown) that had the tone knob moved to the back of the chassis and the tone knob in the centre at the front became the BC/SW switch! Hope this helps.......cheers

Just an update, I have it on good authority from a New Zealand collector that the 6 radios pictured are the complete set, so mystery solved.

Regards, Ron.

I thought I would register from across the ditch and post the circuit that I reverse-engineered from my set. I couldn't find the circuit anywhere and had a dead set that I found in my Dads things after he passed away. To get it going I needed to recap it and replace an open circuit output transformer - other than that it was fine.

The circuit might differ in some sets - I have seen another chassis layout in one radio that was for sale here a while back, but it shouldn't be too far off.

http://essentialtech.co.nz/content/philco_401_alabama_nz_model

In restoring the chassis, the main smoothing can got opened and gutted as an experiment to see if I could - so this looks nice and original. It took a while, carefully working around the lip with two different sized flat-blade screw drivers, then when I was done rolling it back down carefully on a bench - and finally gently tapping it down flat with a small hammer. I replaced the 40uF's with 47uF's and the 20 with a 22μF - both 450V. I drilled small holes beside each lug and passed the wires through to be soldered to the outside (the insides are ali).

Anyway, its working pretty well now - aside from horrible frequency drift after warm-up - it actually drifts so far the station can be completely lost between switch on and warm up... I'd love to stabilise this at some point but the whole radio seems to be pretty shoddily put together - I suspect if it weren't for the great cabinet and colour range they wouldn't be very collectable at all.

Anyway, hope that helps someone.

Philco Alabama 401 Circuit Diagram.

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-- There are no personal problems that can't be overcome with the liberal application of high explosives --