I need a little help getting some more info on this radio that I have. It was my Great Grand fathers radio and it has been in my cupboard as long as I can remember.

The plan was to cut all the cords off and just use it as a show piece on a shelf somewhere in the house that I will be building. Today I went to dust it off and clean it up a bit and thought I'd plug it in and see if it still worked and to my surprise it did. I've been listening to it for the last 2 hours. Now I'm torn on what to do with it. Do I sell it to a collector or do I keep it and do what I originally wanted to do? I'd hate to just wreck it just so that I could show it off.

Anyway here are some pictures that I took. (There about 1.5MB each)

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/2218/dscn1963pb.jpg
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/7899/dscn1964o.jpg
http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/5913/dscn1965t.jpg
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/1700/dscn1966m.jpg
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/6540/dscn1970l.jpg
http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/6785/dscn1971d.jpg
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/2136/dscn1972w.jpg
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/2917/dscn1973p.jpg
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/9460/dscn1974n.jpg

If anyone could give me a little information on it it would be really appreciated. I can't seem to find any.

Hi there

I would stop using it because there could be a fault waiting to happen and it may burn things if you are not lucky.

Since you know the original owner of the radio and it is in a ok state, Get someone to look over it for you. They will be able to tell you how much to fix it up again.

You Don't have to wreck it. Just don't plug it back in until you have had someone who knows what they are doing look at it.

It should clean up well with a bit of time put into it. Once the internals have been takes out you can wash the plastic case and polish up the brass work on the case and knobs. There is no reason not to have it working and look good.

The plan wasn't to have it running at all just as a display piece. I think it would look good up on a shelf all cleaned up. I was just going to snip the cord off completely while it's on display but when I found out that it still worked I thought about selling it to someone who may have wanted a working unit. I'm leaning towards keeping it though.

Any idea when it was built? 50's? 60's? Earlier or later?

This does not appear in AORSM's.

The model series appears around 1955, so it is possible that it was then or slightly after. There was no guarantee that manufactures released in order and a perusal of the AORSM's will confirm this.

Remove tha back and check for date stamps on the tuning gang and speaker transformer.

I note you were not going to turn this on. Should there be a change of mind, it needs to be thourougly checked before hand, especially the transformer as I have had several of that manufacture, of that era have the transformer windings come out of the side of the wrap. If not dealt with the transformer can short.

Marc

Hi there

Its up to you what you want to do with it, but it could be fixed up with out too much trouble, that is what I tend to do with sets like this.

If you want to keep it in original condition then just give the cabinet a good clean with a mild soap and water. Just make sure that you don't wet the back or any of the stickers that are attached.

Use Brasso on the brass parts and then it should look like new.

The best way to go about cleaning the set is to take the knobs off, Unscrew the dial window, take the back off and undo the chassis and slide it out. This way you don't have to worry about damaging anything.

Don't clean the dial glass back. this is where the writing is and will come off in water.

If you aren't worried about making the set work then don't touch the chassis. The writing on the valves can rub off with your fingers if you aren't careful.

Its sounds a bit hard but take more photos as you are pulling the set apart so you can see how it goes together.

EDIT: I have now found the diagram when I was looking for one of my other Philips sets. I don't know what year but I can help with a diagram if you are going to get someone to restore it for you.

Have fun

I also have one very like these, I think mine is actually model 167, like this: http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/philipsaus_167.html

Mines had a pretty hard life, but I would be interested in getting it back on its feet. Dan if you found the diagram I'd love to see it.

Robert

Does anyone have a schematic for the Philips Model 166 please?

Brad

I can have a look when I get home. Send me a email (Using the form when you click on my user name) and I will send it if I can find it.