View Full Version : Freshly restored 1933 Silvertone 1660


decojoe67
11-19-2021, 06:18 PM
This was a tired old set that needed cabinet repairs and a complete refinish. I spent many hours getting it back in shape. A nice mid-level, mid-size cathedral radio with hearty chassis and good size Magnavox speaker. It plays well.

old_coot88
11-19-2021, 07:57 PM
Wow! Verry nice.:yes: Did the original finish have that lovely dark-to-lite transition?

decojoe67
11-19-2021, 10:31 PM
Wow! Verry nice.:yes: Did the original finish have that lovely dark-to-lite transition?
Thank you. It's one of those sets where every example you find has slightly different toning. I've seen these sets with a solid medium brown tone and the two-tone effect. I had to do the toning because I did some grille fret-work repair, and that needed to get heavily toned. i actually wanted the light and dark a little more distinct, but it ended-up more of a "sunburst" effect. Toning is not easy. You have to be precise.

vortalexfan
12-15-2021, 08:53 PM
Is it AM only or does it have a shortwave band in addition to the AM band like the Philco 60?

Titan1a
12-16-2021, 12:27 AM
AM only with RF amplifier stage.

old_coot88
12-16-2021, 01:33 AM
AM only with RF amplifier stage.
But no IF amplifier stage. It's a very interesting minimalist superhet with the mixer stage called the "oscillating translator", with IF being 175 khz.

dieseljeep
12-16-2021, 01:29 PM
But no IF amplifier stage. It's a very interesting minimalist superhet with the mixer stage called the "oscillating translator", with IF being 175 khz.
Colonial Radio always referred to the convertor as a "translator".
It's a late addition to Rider's VI. It's more like an early 30's entry!
They used the early 6 volt car radio tubes. Anything to get around RCA patents. :scratch2:

Tube TV
12-16-2021, 02:31 PM
Wow that looks great. I like how the finish turned out .

Do you have any before pictures?

old_coot88
12-16-2021, 02:37 PM
Wasn't the car battery the reason for tube heater voltage finally being standardized to 6.3V ?