I just purchased an RCA HF-4 radio console. Sort of a Duncan Phyfe half-round/drum style with two doors. Beautiful wood. Four reeded legs. My questions:

Looking for data about this radio other than what is on the Radio Museum web site. No solid data on the WWW otherwise.

The sound when playing, good/bad, better than Zenith comparible 12 tube chassis?

Number manufactured?

Original cost?

Cautions ... Goods/Bads?

Anything at all?

Thanks all.

Frank

This might help,looks like 11 tubes?
Can't hardly go wrong!
http://www.nostalgiaair.org/PagesByMode ... 015499.pdf

I have the HF-4 and really like it.
Phil

Edit-mine is a hf-4 though I haven't seen it in a coupla years,it's at my old house,currently occupied by my oldest son and his family.
Phil

Interesting ... The HF-4 chassis is the same as my HF-2. With eye tube, 12 tubes. The two differences: HF-4 has a flat dial bezel and dial assembly, and custom grille cloth; HF-2 has a curved (5 flat rectangular glass pieces) dial and bezel,and a more standard grillc cloth.

Almost no data about the HF-4 on the www though (and little about the HF-2).

Someone in the ARF must have a HF-4 ... let's hear some details and inside information.

philcofan has one that they went through a few years ago.. reckon they would be ready to help you by now?

I don't know what I could add!
Mine was a huge mouse house,stored in an outbuilding for years.
It was delammed big time,mice had eaten the entire speaker cone and the grill cloth.
After pulling the chassis in the driveway I immediately took the garden hose to it,it was so full of mouse crap and nesting material I was afraid of the Hunta Virus killing me!
Let it dry out for a week before I would touch it,spent that time fixing the cabinet.
The top veneer was pretty much gone so I replaced it and used tung oil for the finish,matched the remaining [good] cabinet.
The chassis shelf was completely delammed so I poored mucho Elmer's Glue in between the plywood layers,used a 2X4 to push it back up level and clamped the hell out of it,straightened right up.
I re-coned the speaker but failed to replace the grill cloth and now with no cloth available it looks like I never will.
Chassis was a nightmare,especially all the damaged/eaten coils but managed to repair/rewind them and did the usual chassis recap and resistor replacement and got it working.
Next was the motor tuning,lots of switch corrosion to deal with,then found an open motor winding.
I managed to find the open and repair that and it worked.
The "film spool" that shows what band the radio is on was rusted/frozen so that was a pain but fixed that finally.
Not sure all that work was worth it but back then I had the time AND energy,not so any more!
Phil

Whoops!!!! Wasn't readlng the post names, just the posts.

... although it was probably the post after yours that did it...

I bought an RCA "HF" chassis years ago, hoping that I could find a cabinet for it, but haven't as yet. If I had one of these sets, re-capped, I could never imagine any Zenith (yeah, even the "atmosphere" ) sounding anywhere as good. I've come to regard Zenith radios of the thirties as wash machines in cheap cabinets with speakers The Walton family should have had a Philco.

RCA loved 6F6 pentodes for power amps, with very few exceptions. I do have the RCA red book with the "HF" sets in them. I'll try to find them. I sort of remember the schematic being a foldout, though possibly not. The set will be reasonably uncommon ("rare" is strictly an eBay word)



Now, duck for the torpedos!

If I can never divine how to post photgraphs, I'll post several photographs of the radio. Cannot locate the ARF section on this.

The radio is super clean with only a bit of top edge wear, possible from people leaning over the cabinet. Complete. Almost looks unused. The finish is near-new, not refinished.

Now to search again for photograph posting instructions ...

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=167677

Lots of info here.
Easiest way I know-upload to photobucket,move mouse over the pic in your album,copy the [img] tag and paste in your post.
Phil

Let's see if this works ...

Wow!

Thanks for the PIX.

Really awesome looking radio.

Corby

Let's again try to get some photos for you fans ... Enjoy!!!

That is such a sweet looking radio . Nice find!!!!!

Have an RCA 911K in the queue here with almost identical cabinet
except for the door pulls. My cabinet has taken somewhat more of
a beating, but yours is sure an incentive to get at 'er. It's beautiful!
Nelson

Frank,
got HF-4 chassis from a junk store,haven't tested out yet...its missing the cabinet of course
speaker and dail,...do need it for parts?..Jody

Jody -- PM sent. Thanks and regards, Frank

Frank, that is absolutely lovely. RCA did some very nice cabinet work and electronics. I would take that in a heart beat (I have few left). Philco and RCA, two of my favorites. Zenith, over priced for what you get..

Jerry

I confess to a fine attraction for Philco and RCA 1930~early 1950 products. Love the clear, natural sound when contrasted to the most often touted Big Bass sound. I give the edge my RCA HF-2, et al and even the GE H-116, a very underrated radio. Zenith has the overall edge with their console designs, however. I'll report on the RCA HF-4 when I get it running.

I'm pleased that you guys appreciate fine products ...