PHILIPS 580A

Front View [34K]

NOTES	By 1934 most manufacturers had made the switch from TRF to superhet designs - but not Philips. Instead Philips battled on with their "Superindcuctance" ranges (such as the models 634 and 838) but the writing was on the wall and in late 1934 they too released a superhet design. This design appeared as a normal table-top receiver and radio-gramaphone versions and later adapted into what can probably best be called a "midget" set, the model 580A. Just as they had disguised their TRF sets under the name "Super Inductance" they released their new superhet under the name "Octode Super", presumably to hide the fact that they had admitted defeat with the TRF. Unusually for a set of this period it only has a little tuning scale, viewed through a small window instead of the more usual large tuning scales with moving pointer. As Philips sets go the circuitry is fairly standard, if a bit basic with its 115KHz I.F. and non-delayed AGC.
SERVICE DATA	The model is covered by the Trader service sheets #36 and #540.
CURRENT STATE	Tired woodwork but the veneer is sound and there is no trace of any of the dreaded worm. When I bought it I assumed that the front knobs wern't original, but a picture in the book "Radio! Radio!" confirms their originality.
WHERE FOUND	January 2004 Radiophile auction at Wetwood for £30. Probably a bit too much for a set in this condition but I particularly liked this set.

Under chassis view [33K]
See ? You can have wiring more chaotic than a Philips V5/V7 !

Upper chassis view [29K]

Last updated
1st February 2004