I read cool stories here every day about amazing finds and lucky stops at the thrift store. Well yesterday was my turn. I went to a very nice gentleman's house to look at a few radios and came home with a Philco 40-158, a Triplett 3444 tester, and a Philco 38-690XX! I don't want to say how much I paid but suffice to say this guy knew what he was selling and it's value but still gave me the deal of the century. The 690 is 100% complete, original to the best of my knowledge, and a complete mess. Thats not meant to be bad. Its just in dire need of attention in all respects. Both chassis need the usual resto work along with some rust abatement and the cabinet's finish is unfortunately too far gone to save although 99% of the veneer is intact. This will be a long term project. It will be done right with all caps being re-stuffed, resistors replaced with period correct units, all necessary wire replacements done with the proper cloth covered wire, etc etc. I know the significance of this console and I can assure everyone it will be treated with care and respect. The little 40-158 is already re-capped and playing as I type this. Any advice, tips, tricks, or assistance is greatly appreciated. I will be updating this thread as I go. The moderators may move it to the "restoration" section though. I figured that since it was'nt being restored right this minute that posting here would be ok Thanks!

PICTURES?
Wait never mind, you'll make me more jealous

You dont want to see what the 690 looks like right now. But I am photo-documenting everything and will post before/after shots as I go.

Sure leave us hanging! Buy the way Congrats!!!

Lynn

The 38-690 XX has 20 tubes, . Definitely looking forward to that restoration

What a great find!

Is that the Philco 38-690XX that was in Waynesboro, VA?

BR,

Terry

Its now in Sterling,Va. The tuning chassis is on my workbench. Those tubes are a pain to get out. You can only get ahold of a tiny bit of the base. Two of the sheild bases have been altered in the past to allow for newer, metal base tubes and a few of the lytic cans on the amp chassis have been mushed a little. Will have to straighten them out or find replacements to re-stuff. I hope to have some pics posted soon.

So that is the one that was in Waynesboro?

GL,

Terry

Yep thats the one.

I have some pics posted in the Philco Phorum. I still have'nt quite gotten the hang of posting pics here. Sorry!

Is it a 37-690? Or a 38-690.
Philco forum says 37.
Either way, Good catch ! ! !
Peter

This set is a 38-690. I may have a typo on my other posts. Sorry. I will see about fixing that.

Maybe it was someone else who got a 37-690 over there,
If you go to your Philco forum and click your link, You can cut the top header on your browser page and past it in your post here so we can click it open from here.
There are nice sets and have a certain collect ability and have wonderful sound!
Does it have two doors covering the entire front or a single tambor "Roll up wood" door?
And can you send it to me here in Phila Pa ?
Peter

Mine has the tambour door. Definitely the 38-690. I like the swing doors of the 37-690 but this one was made available so I snagged it. I'm afraid that this one is a keeper so I cant send it to you, sorry. It will be a long restoration project. Lots to do on it electronically and the cabinet is going to the custom shop for a refinish in the original colors.

Great find on the 690,Im sure it will be nice when its done.

I also own an unrestored Philco 38-690 - the console with the pull-down roll-top-desk style front panel cover. Mine's not in as bad condition as badwaxcaps says his is - I've even powered it up and it works, but only just barely - so obviously it needs a complete overhaul. Its cabinet has some delaminating veneer and the speaker grill cloth is "grubby-looking," to say the least.

Has anyone here seen / heard how a fully restored Philco 38-690 performs? I would think that, with a roster of twenty tubes spread over two chassis, this set's performance under good reception conditions would be awesome.

Dont get me wrong. Mine is in decent shape but its gonna need more than a dusting and a recap to be right again. I have heard that these consoles produce sound in the range of top end Scotts, Silvers, and Stratospheres. The high frequency drivers will need to be rewired to improve their output. I believe they were wired from the factory out-of-phase and thus cancel each other. A simple rewire will greatly improve their response.