Philco electrostatic console

A27 · Sep 9, 2011

No, really I do have one. It's like a sub sat set up. 3 channel amp. Left and right electrostatics with a 15" bass speaker. I have wanted to restore it for awhile now. It needs recapped for sure. I will post pis when I dig it out of the garage tomorrow. Promise:yes: It's cool how they positioned the speakers.

Anyone else come across electrostatics in a console? I've seen electro's in a Grundig for tweeters before.

dshoaf · Sep 9, 2011

My Dad had a Philco with the common woofer on a separate channel and dual tweeters on their own separate amplifiers. Single ended at that.

Glad his didn't have electrostatic tweeters, though, as I had my hands all in that thing learning electronics by destroying. That high voltage would have really helped me learn about high voltage for sure.

If you do fire it up, I'd strongly recommend a variac or the light bulb trick for it. Somewhere in there, there's a very high voltage circuit to power the plates on the tweeters. I'm willing to bet it will be in bad shape from aged parts. Then there's all the normal issues with electrolytic caps in the power supply of the main unit, too.

Cheers,

David

RogerKulp · Sep 9, 2011

Model number?

A27 · Sep 9, 2011

Hmm.. Ya model number was a sticker that is gone. I'll find the chassis # when I pull the back tomorrow. It works but there is a hum, so the usual suspects of course. Been a couple of years since I've powered it though. With the chassis # hopefully I can find the schematic.

Oh ya B+ aplenty I'm sure. I'm in school for electronics and the teacher yells at the students who "just have to touch" the microcontoller chips. He's mad that last years students blew up pin 14. No pin 14, Do not use! A hefty B+ would stop that chip touching!

gadget73 · Sep 10, 2011

I seem to vaguely remember someone on here posting about such an animal a couple months back. I kind of remember it having an odd curved reflector sort of thing around the speakers.

orthophonic · Sep 10, 2011

Zenith also made a few consoles in the 50's using electrostatic tweeters.

A27 · Sep 12, 2011

Some pics

Here are some pics of the electrostatics. I was looking for the schematic but haven't been able to look at tech preservation to see if they have it. Site is always unavailable seems like. 6L6's on the amp. 15" bass speaker. Now if I had some time to work on it.

cubby01 · Sep 12, 2011

I have a pair of those philco electrostatics in my garage collecting dust. (the rectangular concave parts which look like a piece of plastic sandwiched between two perforated metal skins.) I have no idea how to hook them up to anything. Each one (I assume mid-tweeter) has 3 wires coming off of it. Any clue on how to use them is appreciated.

Mine probably need to be cleaned. A how-to on taking them apart for refurb would be welcome as well

.

A27, glad you posted this to remind me about them.

BinaryMike · Sep 12, 2011

cubby01 said:
I have a pair of those philco electrostatics in my garage collecting dust. (the rectangular concave parts which look like a piece of plastic sandwiched between two perforated metal skins.) I have no idea how to hook them up to anything. Each one (I assume mid-tweeter) has 3 wires coming off of it. Any clue on how to use them is appreciated.

It's been a very long time since I saw one of these, but I think the outer plates are connected across the OPT primary and the inner diaphragm goes to the center-tap. There should also be series resistors to limit fault current in case of contact by man or beast.

A27 · Sep 12, 2011

Schem site still unavailable. Hmm...Well, chassis # is a G1906. Model number is gone from the back. I could always test voltages and trace things back. But schematics are so darn handy.

cubby01 · Sep 12, 2011

Model G1906S "Phonorama V"

This Phonorama uses a six tube amplifier and a four speed automatic record changer.

A 15 inch woofer and two electrostatic speakers are used in the cabinet. A separate SA-3000 speaker (shown below) is required for stereo reproduction.

The cabinet was available with a blonde, fruitwood, or mahogany finish.

Radiomuseum.org has a schematic but you've got to be a paying member to get it.

RogerKulp · Sep 12, 2011

A27 said:
Schem site still unavailable. Hmm...Well, chassis # is a G1906. Model number is gone from the back. I could always test voltages and trace things back. But schematics are so darn handy.

It should be stamped on the chassis,or amp.It is on my '51 Philco console. This is a great resource for identifying Philcos,but it can be a little confusing,because a lot of the Philco models look almost the same.In doing a search there,I see the models with electrostatic speakers date from 1955-1960.

markn2wae · Sep 14, 2011

Maybe no bias Viltage, just audio AC?

I seem to recall some similar round "tweeters" built like that, and they where driven through a capacitor attached to the primary side of the output transformer.:scratch2:

Mark T. :music:

gadget73 · Sep 14, 2011

most electrostats have high voltage of some level across them. Might not be full plate voltage, but its definitely enough to make you regret getting across it should you stick your fingers in the wrong place.

JBStemp · Sep 15, 2011

Heres my set, I got these at an auction earler in the year... I hope to find an amp to drive them one day :yes:

Right now just collecting dust on the shelf :no:

audiodon · Sep 15, 2011

I found a console by the side of the road with a similar set of speakers, but not the brass covered one in the pictures. Gone now. I think AK'er analog addict might know something more about these.

Stereo_type · Sep 15, 2011

JB:

Heres my set, I got these at an auction earler in the year... I hope to find an amp to drive them one day...

Danger, Will Robinson...Way wild, '50s-'60s wacky space-age style and spacey cool with that 'crossover' style that seems like it might also be right at home on a Star Trek set as just another alien life form detector...
Moving briefly forward to the '70s, and sung to the 'Partridge' tune, "I think I love... (them)" :thmbsp:

chinacave · Sep 15, 2011

A27 said:
Here are some pics of the electrostatics. I was looking for the schematic but haven't been able to look at tech preservation to see if they have it. Site is always unavailable seems like. 6L6's on the amp. 15" bass speaker. Now if I had some time to work on it.

Nice!

Tagged as I MIGHT be picking up a free pair of these free-standing ones this weekend.

Are those ESL panels in your pictures fixed in that position, in a cabinet? Seems like not optimal for dispersion etc.......

BinaryMike · Sep 15, 2011

The Wikipedia page on this topic actually shows how to hook 'em up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostatic_loudspeaker

gerryu21220 · Jan 9, 2012

JBStemp said:
Heres my set, I got these at an auction earler in the year... I hope to find an amp to drive them one day :yes:

Right now just collecting dust on the shelf

I actually just acquired the amp, pre-amp, tuner, record changer, and bass speaker that goes with these speakers. Pretty much everything but the cabinet and these electrostatic remote speakers that you have. It appears to be from Philco H-1814, a nine-tube 40-watt amp. Kinda bummed that it uses electrostatic speakers, because now I can't use it. :tears:

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