Philco 1940's model 46-1203 radio record player Changer

The Philco changer is now repaired, cleaned, oiled, and runs very smooth and quiet. It was a little gummed up and also had a bad spring, which was the cause of the continuous cycling. The spring was time consuming as it had to be a certain type with just the right amount of tension, which was next to nothing. If it was too tight it wouldn't trip properly, too loose and it would constantly cycle. This is my first experience with an old 78 changer that only trips on records with the lead out grooves at the end of the record that move the tonearm in and out. Just moving the tonearm inward will not trip the mechanism it has to have that slight back movement to trip, which later model changers didn't. You can also hear the trip lever arm sliding over the little grooves in the trip mechanism gear when I move the tonearm inward. Now all I need is a cartridge The changer looks like it is sitting in the cabinet backwards compared to other record players.

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• philco
• 1946
• radio
• record
• player
• vintage-record-player
• vintage-philco
• antique-philco
• antique-record
• player-radio
• record-player

[kraftpr]

Are you able to get sound from this? Would be great to hear it play again.

[maynardcat]

@kraftpr I have just recently been thinking of trying to find a substitute cartridge for it. The radio & amplifier work fine it is just the cartridge that has failed due to age, and 78 cartridges of this type are hard to find that still work. I did buy a couple of new old stock cartridges, but neither worked due to age. If I can locate a cartridge and make a video of it playing records I will send it to you.

[chagall56]

I just bought a Philco 46-1209, which has a phono very similar to yours. Unfortunately, someone in the past replaced the original phono with a modern four-speed phono. My radio only has AM and SW, not FM.  Does anyone have a 46-47 Philco phono for me to complete my 46-1209? Marc.

[maynardcat]

@chagall56  The only thing I can suggest is to check ebay off and on. I think that would be your best bet .for finding a 1941thru 1946 Philco changer.

[dewey70]

Its so delicate too. I was surprised how nice and slow the tone arm moves. Does it repeat over and over until you shut it off?

[maynardcat]

It does play over and over and has no automatic shut off. It does have a manual switch that completely shuts off the automatic mechanism including rejecting at the end of the record.

[grassulo]

@maynardcat Contact Gib at west tech services (google their website) and see about having your cartridge rebuilt. I'm going to have him rebuild a few old oddball crystal carts for things in the future and I'll let you know how they work out. Alternatively you could try installing a Phanstiehl P-51 cart, garage a records has them for 78 only and also a LP version, but if the mount is different than 2 screws in the arm having it rebuilt is your best bet.

[calvertsch]

What a smooth tone arm movement!

[born2conga]

I have the same player through my research found that it was made in 1946 philco numbered all the productions with model numbers with the year as a prefix 43 44 45 46 and so on this model is 46

[sideshowtink]

That is one beautiful piece of machinery!!