Arvin 444 AM Tube Radio Seviced Works Excellent. 1946 Repaired Safe Rewired

Description: Arvin 444 AM Tube Radio Serviced. Works Excellent. 1946 Repaired Safe Rewired New Tubes Arvin 444 (1946) Ch= RE-200 Schematics: Rider's: Noblitt-Sparks Arvin15-2 PDF pg. # 935 & 936 Beitmans: 1946 pg. # 87 Tube Layout: 4-Tube AA5: Rectifier: 35Z5-GT Philco. Tested @ 67 Mixer/Osc: 12SA7 GE. Tested @ 73,77 (NOS) 1st IF: 12SQ7 RCA. Tested @ 88,84,86 (NOS) Amp: 50L6-GT Tung-Sol. Tested @ 70 (for my tester, 80+ = NOS. 58 is the beginning of "Good".) Cabinet: Material: Metal. Painted. Condition: Excellent. Original. No chips or scratches. Dial: Brass foil. Excellent. Dial Light: N/A Knobs: Not original. Mounting: Original screws. Back: Original. Not original screws. Tube Diagram: Not perfect, but intact. Chassis: No rust. Wiring: Power cord: Replaced with bulk cord. Old plug end reused. Internal Wiring: Original rubber replaced with modern solid core poly. Speaker: Permanent magnet. Condition: Excellent condition. No Rattles. No signs of repair. Perfect. Sound Quality: Excellent. Issues: Arrived with original power cord badly degraded and could not be powered up. Internal rubber wire was just as degraded and falling apart. Inside there were all the original paper/wax capacitors and a very old replacement Sprage Atom filter. The radio was clean inside and out. Shiny original paint in excellent condition. 1. Replaced power cord and reused the old end plug. Looks OEM. 2. Replaced all the capacitors. 3. Replaced three resistors that were out of tolerance as per schematic specifications. 4. Found that when this radio was last serviced, (probably in the late 50s or early 60s, because of the presence of the Sprage Atom), whomever installed the replacement filter used a 2-section filter. Specifications call for a 3-section filter. There are some schematic deviations because Norbilt-Sparks used this chassis in several models. I could see the location where the missing 3rd section was once connected. Someone did that deliberately! The missing section works as the regeneration by-pass for the Audio AVC circuit. Leaving that by-pass out will cause weak volume. When I tested the difference, I estimate that the missing bypass caused about a 30% degradation of volume. 5. Replaced all the rubber coated wire with modern poly solid core. I followed the original wire colors as best I could determine, and dressed the replacement wiring. 6. I checked the resistors and replaced two that were out of tolerance. 7. With the above completed, I could power-up the radio and it worked. (I knew it would) I checked the voltages at schematic specified locations. All voltages are correct. 8. The installed 12SQ7 and 12SA7 tubes tested unacceptably weak, while the other two tested strong. On initial power-up with the original tubes installed, the radio did work surprisingly well. Regardless, I replaced the weak tubes with NOS replacements so the next owner will have a good working radio that will work flawlessly for many years. 9. Adjusted the alignment as per schematic instructions. Alignment was slightly off. Dial scale is now correct. Performance: This is a single I.F. stage 4-tube radio which was designed to be small and inexpensive. As with all single stage radios, the tuner is not as sensitive as the more traditional dual I.F. design. However, performance is surprisingly good. It produces a very nice warm sound. The radio's schematics indicates the presence of a bar antenna, but none of the Arvin 444s came with one. An external long wire antenna is required. This is the only original wire in the radio. It tunes my favorite weak test station as well as the local stations. The speaker is in perfect condition so sound quality is excellent. Volume goes from quiet with zero hum to overload blazing loud. For its small size, the tone is rather “bassy” and it really does sound good. Note: Radios produced around 1946 often times used rubber coated solid core copper wire. This wire; the coating always dries out, turns to brittle dust, and falls off. I’ve had several radios come by that have had this condition. Dangerous, IT MUST BE REPLACED to safely operate. Also, it can’t be replaced “Willy Nilly”. Internal wiring must be “Dressed” meaning it must laid out in their original locations and proximity to other components. An undress wire can cause Howling and/or Motor Boating. It’s also important for best performance to use Solid Core wire as was originally installed. For the buyer: I test all the radios I sell for 48 hours so I can assume they will work for the buyer as I've reported. Schematics will be shipped along with this report. I ship USPS Flat Rate. A tracking number will be provided the following business day after purchase. I combine shipping when applicable so please have a look at the other cool old radios I have for sale in my store. -karl : )_

Price: 100 USD

Location: Portland, Oregon

End Time: 2024-09-12T18:45:29.000Z

Shipping Cost: 18.4 USD