What is a Rider CD? I didn't get one. Is it offered at Antique Electronics? I'll look for it. My radio does have all the bands I talked about. What I meant about the schematic was that my understanding the radio detectors and tuning circuits is limited. Thanks for the tips on where to get more info. I'll try to get a picture of my radio posted. When I have more time I want to take a longer look at some of your cool radios...

Thanks,
Tom

There are lots of good books, so this isn't the only thing out there - That's for sure. I have the Rider collection Volumes 1-16, so I'm familar with them. They've been helpful, especially when buying new radios since I usually already have service information on hand. But there are lots of other good books out there, and you can really spend a lot of time going over them all. It's very enjoyable, and easy to get caught up in. I especially like to look at the parts lists, particularly when prices are shown. You'll find things like a replacement cabinet made of hand-crafted real walnut for an RCA Victor at $3.25 each.

I don't know the year of my radio. I know the Philco model nbr and I have the schematic, but no dates anywhere. Does using a field-coil speaker put it in a year range? How about the tubes. It uses 2 XXL's, 2 41's, a three 7?7's where ? is an 'A', 'B' or 'C' I think. I'm at work. I'll check again when I get home. I replaced all the wax and paper caps and the electrolitics in the PS. There was no SS rectifier, only the rectifier tube. And I replaced the power cord. Tubes all seem good. that's it. Amazing. Cabinet is in OK condition too.

See ya,
Tom

I almost always swap all the capacitors in old tube radios. Seems those old capacitors are usually bad or at least weak. Wires with cloth insulation are usually still good but those with plastic should probably be replaced. The plastic becomes brittle and cracks off, exposing the conductor. It's a pain but worth it to get a spool of cloth-insulated wire and replace all the wiring, one section at a time. Same thing on the power cord, replace it if frayed. I've fixed a bunch of old tube radios, and sometimes every tube is good, it just needs capacitors and TLC.

Thanks again for your help,
Tom

By the way, I have a NOS 7C6 tube if you need it. I bought a bunch of NOS tubes and I've kept many for my own personal stash and I'm selling the rest on eBay. Every one that I've put on the tube tester checked out 100%, so I got very lucky with this purchase.

My schematic covers 41-280, 41-285, 41-287, and 41-290(121). Are any of those other models in your book?

I called Dave Miller. He's in Tulsa, OK. He wants $55 to recone.
My current one sounds very good on voices and not that bad on everthing else. I think I'll save his number and wait 'till my new scratch Foreplay project is complete.

Thanks again,
Tom

Thanks again for all your trouble. I just noticed that on my schematic that I got from Antique Electronics, it says it's a RIDER document. So they must have found it on one of the Rider CD's and copied it for me. Maybe I should just ask them.
Thanks for Paramour vs. Zen comments. I've got a Parabee built now and my brother has my Paramours on indefinite loan. He loves 'em.
But when I first put in the Parabee's, I heard more definition in the mid-range too. I had no desire to put my Paramours back in.
Due to some unfortunate family circumstances (my wife has become alergic to wood dust - amoung other things) I didn't think I could build the Pi sub-woofer plans you sent me. But I was talking to a very generous friend down the street and he is willing to let me use the table saw in his basement! So... when my new Foreplay is done I'll start work on that. I think I'll use the Omega Pro 18. The other ones seem to be for more power than I will ever need, so why pay for the extra-strength.

I've got some wire on order for a 100' antenna for the radio. I'll let you know what the results are. I was hopong to just string it up around the basement where I have the radio, but maybe higher would be better?

Thanks again for all your help and interest...
Tom

One of these times, I'm going to check out those Parabee's - There's a guy name Greg that lives nearby and who has a pair. We'll have to get him over at one of our local audio club meetings and compare his with the stock Paramours and the Zen.