1948 Philco Transitone model 48-250
Posts: 1,530
Threads: 242
Joined: Sep 2012
City: West Bend, Wisconsin
Completed restoration last month... and I will freely admit it's not totally authentic...
I cheated a little bit. I know, shame on me... the red cabinet wasn't available until the following year, with the 1949 models. But I didn't care for the all white color scheme. Before I restored it, this was obviously a radio that was kept on the kitchen counter top, judging by the 50 years of dried food droppings schlobbered all over the cabinet. It needed to be repainted, so I opted for red instead of white. Personally, I think it's an improvement over white, so my apologies to the purists who know these Transitones only came in all white or the molded dark brown marble look in '48  .
Greg V.
West Bend, WI
Member WARCI.org
Posts: 157
Threads: 7
Joined: Feb 2013
City: Osceola, IN
I don't think you should ever have to apologize for making your radio what you want. If a purist buys it from you and wants to return it to the original color, that's their prerogative. I like the red look myself!
Posts: 4,804
Threads: 54
Joined: Sep 2008
City: Sandwick, BC, CA
It's a very common model anyhow so no harm done. Now if you had painted a Philco 201X or a 509X red some here might be upset.
Regards
Arran
Posts: 13,776
Threads: 580
Joined: Sep 2005
City: Ferdinand
State, Province, Country: Indiana
Um, according to my records, that model was only available in brown and ivory in 1949 as well - not red.
--
Ron Ramirez
Ferdinand IN
Posts: 1,530
Threads: 242
Joined: Sep 2012
City: West Bend, Wisconsin
I'll be darned... I just saw a red 1949 on eBay that appeared to have the original finish. The decal was appropriately worn, and the label was mostly intact underneath... where there was a chip in the label, red shown through, indicating the label was put on after it was painted, and apparentely not masked over.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Philco-Transiton...7675.l2557#
Greg V.
West Bend, WI
Member WARCI.org
Posts: 4,804
Threads: 54
Joined: Sep 2008
City: Sandwick, BC, CA
The usual sources of antique radio supplies have been selling Philco Transitone decals for years. So the ability to repaint one of these in any colour, and add an original style decal afterword, isn't exactly a new phenomenon. I used to repaint Bakelite cabinets in assorted colours, but I usually tried to find ones that were more subdued and in keeping with the period of the set. Now if I repaint a Bakelite I usually respray them in an off white or pure white colour.
Regards
Arran
Posts: 13,776
Threads: 580
Joined: Sep 2005
City: Ferdinand
State, Province, Country: Indiana
From the ad:
Quote:The radio has many coats professionally applied red lacquer, hand rubbed to a smooth shine.
Red paint usually = $$$ in the eBay alternate universe.
Why? I don't know.
But anyway...either the seller did an amazing job of masking off the sticker on the underside, or managed to remove it before painting, and glued it back on afterwards.
The "Philco Transitone" decal is obviously new.
--
Ron Ramirez
Ferdinand IN
Posts: 1,530
Threads: 242
Joined: Sep 2012
City: West Bend, Wisconsin
Maybe it was just the bad lighting on the photo that made the decal in front look darker than it should. The sticker on the bottom was what threw me. Don't know how he salvaged it. I tried removing mine, but it was far too brittle. Then I tried masking it off, but doing so would only damage it from the tape. So I finally wound up scanning the label and printing out a new one, which was reglued onto the bottom after painting. I scraped the old one off and sanded it smooth prior. Despite it not being an authentic color, I still like red better than white And, as Arran pointed out, it's a common set. Far from rare, so one painted not to factory specs isn't the end of the world. I was actually restoring this for a friend, who wanted one of those colorful bakelite sets as his first venture into the wonderful world of antique radios. But after I finished it, I liked it so much that I decided to keep it for myself! I restored and gave him one in the original marble finish cabinet instead.
Greg V.
West Bend, WI
Member WARCI.org
Posts: 2,353
Threads: 92
Joined: May 2010
City: Clayton, NC
All my dud tubes are drying a fresh coat of red paint as I type this.
Gonna make a bundle selling 'em on eBay!
 
Posts: 1,407
Threads: 72
Joined: Oct 2007
City: Linn Creek, MO
Quote:All my dud tubes are drying a fresh coat of red paint as I type this.
Gonna make a bundle selling 'em on eBay!
Oh no, Tom, you want to paint your tubes blue 
Steve
M R Radios C M Tubes
Posts: 1,530
Threads: 242
Joined: Sep 2012
City: West Bend, Wisconsin
Haha! Well this guy with the red 1949 on eBay got it bid up to $130, but it still didn't meet his reserve price!
Greg V.
West Bend, WI
Member WARCI.org
Posts: 2,353
Threads: 92
Joined: May 2010
City: Clayton, NC
Greg, the only thing I would change with your set is to paint the knobs to match the cabinet. It looks good and will add color.
My friend Henry Harmony, a Great American, collects "plastic sets." Over the years I have tried to pick up red or orange sets for him for that reason! Most of them were either brown or white!!
Posts: 5,124
Threads: 271
Joined: Nov 2012
City: Wilsonville
State, Province, Country: OR
Here's a red 46-200 by the same seller. This time he has two bids by the same person to get the price up to $160 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Philco-Transiton...4170f30541
Posts: 1,530
Threads: 242
Joined: Sep 2012
City: West Bend, Wisconsin
Hmm, Do I smell a shill?
Greg V.
West Bend, WI
Member WARCI.org
Posts: 2,353
Threads: 92
Joined: May 2010
City: Clayton, NC
SHILL !!! SHILL !!! SHILL !!!!! 
Users browsing this thread: 2 Guest(s)
|
|
Recent Posts
|
|
1930s Stewart-Warner Tombstone Radio need help identifying model number
|
| UPDATE: I was able to pick up a signal generator on the cheap (amazingly enough) on feebay and I did an IF alignment fol...captainclock1988 — 09:53 AM |
|
Philco 91 Schematic
|
| Hi Rod,
The resistor connects to pin 4 and the ungrounded side of block 9. From pin 9 of the RF tube to one side of ...dconant — 09:34 AM |
|
Just got a 49-1613 need to know...everything!
|
| I just found your post. I have this exact same model, and have had it since 1985 when I was 15 years old! I performed a ...MuzzcoVW — 09:11 AM |
|
B&K 1077B no video
|
| Hello Tim,
I would if it's a leaky Capacitor So are all 3 of those B- voltages low then ?
Sincerely Richardradiorich — 01:55 AM |
|
B&K 1077B no video
|
| I found a schematic and think I have the problem traced down to the minus power supply. I have very low voltages that go...TV MAN — 12:41 AM |
|
RCA 15X
|
| I'd try replacing the bulb first and if that doesn't do it, then change the 35Z5 and see if the problem goes away.NostalgiaRadioTime — 12:28 AM |
|
B&K 1077B no video
|
| Hello Tim,
I have that exact unit in my shop too plus a Sencore unit there are times I like one or other !!.
Sincerely...radiorich — 11:07 PM |
|
RCA 15X
|
| Everthing goes at once, maybe it's the cold weather, I have had 2 dial strings break and no my little RCA is having dial...Paul Philco322 — 10:26 PM |
|
Philco 91 Schematic
|
| Hi Dan,
I can't explain this specific resistor but I have seen the use of a switch to apply B+ voltage to screen gri...RodB — 09:36 PM |
|
6TPZ and 5TPO Radio Help
|
| I suspect it's been repaired before.
And I suspect whoever repaired it, wanted to re-use old transistors' pin stubs in o...morzh — 09:24 PM |
|
Who's Online
|
There are currently 4834 online users. [Complete List]
» 2 Member(s) | 4832 Guest(s)
|
|
|
|
 
|
![[-]](https://philcoradio.com/phorum/images/bootbb/collapse.png "[-]")
