The British Philco 444, nicknamed the “People’s Set,” is a tabletop radio introduced in 1936. Its distinctive black moulded Bakelite cabinet was designed to help keep the price down. It receives medium wave and long wave, with no shortwave band.
It’s a four-valve superhet: 80, 6A7, 78E and PENDD61. The PENDD61 combines several circuit functions, which helped reduce the valve count. Some later production runs differ in details, so check the service data for your set before servicing it.
SERVICE MANUAL PREVIEW
The Trader service sheet for the Philco 269 and 444, which also covers the 269 radiogramophone, is available to members. Here's a taste of what's inside.
These pictures are faded on purpose, just for this preview. Members get the complete service sheet, unfaded, to view and download.
The service sheet includes:
- The full circuit diagram
- Capacitor and resistor values
- Valve analysis, with the voltages and currents
- A diagram of the switch unit
- How to dismantle the set
- Notes on the radiogramophone version
- Step by step circuit alignment
- Photos of the top and underneath of the chassis
