Philco 55E

Following on from my success in getting help on a Pye radio, I have dug out an old Philco 55E radio which I picked up a few years ago in a terrible state.

Interestingly, I logged it in my collection under Philco GB as a 55E only because this was already in the Museum. However I notice that there are Geradeaus Var 1 and Var 2 logged under Philco USA. The radio is made by Philco USA and I think the variants would be a 55A for the USA market and a 55E for the European. Difference probably is the mains transformers primary.. either 115V or 240V.

I am starting to restore this set but would like to log it correctly so I would propose that the Var 1 and Var 2 names are changed and that the Philco GB entry is removed.

Any suggestions on this and am I correct in what I think.

Mark

• Rear Label 55E Web (113 KB)

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Hi Mark,

Have you looked at the site www.radiomanuals.info, recently suggested by Roy Johnson?  It would help in your restoration of the 55E.

There are service details of both 55A and 55E, dated April 7th. 1945.  I would think that both of these sets were built in the USA, as at that time radio manufacturers in Britain were still not back into peacetime construction.

Regards John C

Sorry to all.  "Typo" corrected. I will try not to do it again!!!!

Regards John C

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Hi John,

Thank's for the reply. I had a quick look at the site and found the service sheet for the 55E which will certainly help. The set is from the early 1930's and definately from USA. What I don't understand is why is this set listed under Philco GB in the museum??! This is I am sure is a mistake as Philco GB never made this set. I would like to relist my set under the USA Philco but I don't know what this Geradeaus is nor why there is Var 1 and Var2. Maybe some of our USA collectors could help here.

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Dear Mark
Every member should do his best that RMorg is independent. Otherwise in a later future we have a big grave of links ...
Every member can and should enhance models if he has facts to do so - himself - please act independently.

In this case I have corrected the two models Philco 55 (USA) because "Geradeaus" is really a german word for TRF and since we entered the model on the basis of schematics done in Switzerland (Thali) this name was used. I changed now the (var1) and (var2) to 55A and 55B and I believe that there were at least also two export models.

I understand Peter Hoddow who brought in two GB models because he probably found out that the models were common in GB.
I can imagine that majority of collectors in GB, having a 55E would also look first for GB ... And there we have to provide correct information.

Can you pleas now change the years to 1931/32 and upload your nice photo of the sticker? Then please ask a moderator to move this thread to the GB model.

At last: Would somebody be so kind and upload the schematics to the models?

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The Philco 55A and 55E are both described in "Trader" Service Sheet #717, which is a British Paper. And there are neither service data nor a schematic in Rider's or Beitman or Sam's or RCC.
Consequently the assumption of being British models is not too farfetched.

But there are US models similar to the 55's: The Philco 50 and 50-A (for 25 cycle mains) use identical cabinets and employ the same tube complement for the 3 TRF circuitry.
The 50 models are well documented in Riders vol 1, and depicted in  "Machine Age to Jet Age" vol.2, p.210, as well as here. and in"Philco" by Ron Ramirez, p.27.
But in Ramirez' book there is no 55 listed either !

Considering all available information I came to the conclusion that the 55's would be "British" models, derived from the 50.

Maybe it was an import from USA, renamed and sold as a domestic product to benefit from the "Buy British" campaign ? But there is the label: "made in USA". On the other hand: Long Wave is not an american feature. It points at least to Export to Europe.

Our problem now is to maintain the British models, since they are found in Trader, and to make cross reference to appropriate US "twins".

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Thanks' for the info.

I agree that the set is probably an export model from USA as looking at the schematics shows two variants. The 55A is supplied with a transformer that has a 115V primary and for 60Hz so this is a US model (?). The 55E, which I have, was supplied with a 240V 50Hz transformer so GB or European. I don't know about the 55B, could this be  a different cabinet?

As the label suggests, it came from the US so my guess is that it should be logged as a US radio but a note given that it was an export model. I would willing do this but there is still no model listed unless I create one. As far as the Philco GB listings are concerned, I'm not sure. Were Philco GB and Philco US linked in any way or are they two separate companies?

Another clue that this set came from the US is that the valves or tubes are all made is USA. There is a sticker inside which also looks US. See photo.

• Internal label (119 KB)

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Hi Mark, hi John,

I had some business this afternoon, so I couldn't finish the project, sorry.
Now the models are available. That may be the best way to cope with any approach to the models. It is necessary if the RMorg shall serve as a reference pool.

The 55B, as far as I understand, is a typo made by John Carter, whom I kindly ask to edit a correction. Should read 55E.

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Hi Konrad,

Many thanks for changing the descriptions. I think the models now look good however I would like to change my collections page as originally I uploaded photos onto the GB Philco 55E. What I would like to do now is delete these and reload them under the USA Philco 55E instead. How do I do this? If I simply load more pictures up then I will end up with duplicate models in my collection.

Thanks

Mark

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Dear Mark
I moved now your thread to the model in GB.
It is better to have the front pictures on all lowboys 55 since they look the same. Therefore I beg you to upload a picture also to the US model - but using code 2 = "picture from other source". You then have no duplicates in your collection.

The partlist under schematics covers the models for 25-60 cycles (transformer and condenser 10 Mfd, probably 115 volts) and for 50-60 cycles, 230 volts, condenser 6 Mfd) which shows that the set must also have been sold to countries with 115 volt mains grid. Condenser 18 is also different for 55-A (0.5) and 55-E (1 Mfd)

Please don't forget the sticker ;-)
We might have to duplicate also the schematics.
I hope Konrad had good reasons for bringing in 4 models for GB plus 4 for US..
I think we should carry 1931/32 on all sets - now we show 1931, 1931/32 and 1932 with ?

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Hello Ernst

Thank's for your help. I have uploaded pictures to both USA and GB models and used the option as you say. More photos will appear once the restoration is complete.

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