Thanks Phil for greeting me in another thread. Unfortunately I was practicing my necromancy and thought I would add to a 2 year old thread. That said, lets start fresh...

Again, I have been looking for an old cathedral style radio to do some work on. However I don't want to do anything drastic to a chasis until I know that it is not repairable.

I have came across and purchased a model 2171 SuperHetrodyne Grimes Batteryless Phonola Radio. I have no idea if there is another popular name for that radio, but its what is transcribed on the working of the electronics. I am new at this obviously and appreciate any and all words of wisdom. The radio when powered has a very quiet hiss and all but one tube heats up or lights.

I took Phil's advice and looked at the tubes on the radio. (7 in total)

All Westinghouse RADIOTRON or RADIOTUBE:
[*]5 Prong Socket 35 (Thermionics Ltd)
[*]5 Prong Socket 24A (Thermionics Ltd) - two
[*]5 Prong Socket 235-A
[*]5 Prong Socket 27 c2R
[*]5 Prong Socket 47 2B (This tube has broken elements)
[*]4 Prong Socket 80


I have some images to share:







This is the tube I need to replace...

Grimes began manufacturing their radios on Victoria Street in Kitchener Ontario in June 1925.
In September 1925 they changed their name to Phonola. In November 1928 they moved to Breithaupt St in Kitchener and again changed their name to Dominion Electrohome later known as just Electrohome.

While I don't see your particular model listed in RCC (Royal College of Canada) schematics there is a Series 10 that has the following tube complement 24, 24, 35,35, 27, 47 and 80.
The chassis layout is different but electronically might match your schematic.
That schematic is on Nostalgia Air . You can check it out for comparison. There might be another similiar schematic that I may of overlooked .
That link

http://www.nostalgiaair.org/PagesByMode ... 030297.pdf

One of the other Forum members might have some actual service lit for the company. And since you do need a 47 tube maybe this will be addressed in this thread . If not you can also try the Radio Classifieds at the bottom of the Forum index page.

Beautiful radio. Really like the grill work.

Best from the Cape
Ken

Thanks Ken,
that website is something else, fantastic collection of old wire diagrams.
Unfortunately the Tube Substitute page is not working.

I dont know how much one of those tubes costs to replace or even where to begin to search for one.
Is there a particular name I should be searching for to find this tube?

5 Prong Socket 47 2B

Thanks.

Just post in the classified forum at the bottom of the forum list as "Want to Buy 47 tube". You will have a response in less than one hour. They are not expensive and I enjoy working with forum members other than websites. Also, I love the styling of that radio. Nice find.
Jerry

Thanks Jerry.

If this doesn't work, Ill be looking to sell this chasis and keep the case for some other retro fit project.

You're kidding right? That is a gorgeous radio, and it would be a shame to destroy it. There are lots of modern repros that would fit the bill for retrofitting or re-purposing, but not something like this.

BTW, don't be so quick to blame the tube without testing it. There could be a power supply issue instead.

I hope to restore it. You have a very good point about finding a reproduction model to use for a retro fit.

This is why this place is great. Im glad I found this place. Ill try out this tube that genoo is offering in the classified section. Then post how it worked out.

What else I could check in the meanwhile?

Ledsoul, what you can do mean time is to pull the rectifier out of its socket and check with a volt meter from each plate to ground while plugged in and turned on. Should get some high voltage so set the meter "high" 300V plus on A/C. Each plate to ground should measure about the same. Then change to a lower voltage setting to measure the 5 Volts A/C for the filaments. This should indicate a good power transformer. Might leave it running with the rectifier tube out for some time and the transformer shouldn't get hot. Your get to go then when you get the tube AND replace the electrolytic caps in the power supply. See what you have and then slowly replace the wax caps and check the resistor values. Do a little bit of changing at a time and retest. If things get worse, back up and check your work. That is a very attractive radio and should find a nice place in your abode.

Jerry

Well thanks to the 47 tube that Genoo (Gene) sent. Thank you sir. The radio tunes nicely.
The volume dial works with only a minor volume change.
However I am curious about the tone (assuming its tone) dial. It only works when I have it completely turned to the right. Slightly off and the sound is lost. Is it a possible dirty potentiometer?

Any ideas?
Thanks

Probably time to attack some of the capacitors if you have not yet. Certainly the electrolytics which won't fix your current problems but which may save the radio from other more costly repairs. Then the wax caps which will probably fix you current problems. Check resistors along the way. Just a few at a time to change out then test the radio again to seen if perhaps you didn't get something right. Have fun, a lot of joy in getting an old radio up and running again. Once right, you will be looking for another. Enjoy and ask questions.
Jerry