Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Hi Everyone,
I have new replacement radio push buttons for my 47 Custom Super Clipper. My mechanic is trying to figure out how to remove the chrome plate covering the buttons. I've gone through the service manual section on the site and downloaded the Packard Custom Radio owner's manual but they don't explain or show an exploded view. I also purchased the Philco manual on Ebay but it is more focused on a radio technician tuning and type of vacuum tubes used to repair one of these units.
Can anyone give me guidance on how to remove the chrome plate and the correct procedure in removing the old push buttons and installing the new ones?
Thanks in advance for any help you can supply.
Dave Siewe

Radio needs to be out of the car. I found it easier to work with it on a workbench laying on its back

The front cover containing the speaker is held by a series of screws on the sides and across the bottom front. The front bottom 4 pass thru the chrome plate. All those screws need to come out so the front cover and speaker can be moved out of the way. Note that the speaker has 3 wires soldered to it and if the wires are not long enough to raise the speaker off the chassis and securely support it on something very close by --maybe some folded towels to cushion and protect the components at the top -- while working on the chrome piece and buttons, the wires will need to be unsoldered so the assy can be completely removed and set aside. To access the wires and terminals on the speaker the back side of the radio chassis will need to be removed. Be sure to mark both the wire and the terminal it was removed from before disconnecting so they can go back correctly.




The chrome piece has additional screws on each side and 2 on the bottom. Once those are removed and the center manual tuning knob assy is removed the chrome piece will pull straight off. It would be a good idea to clean the plastic color wheel on the tone control and the purple filter in the chrome piece that is over the lucite dial scale illumination pickup while everything is open. If you have a long and small tip applicator such as a needle bottle a drop of light machine oil on the pivot points or slide surfaces of the tuning mechanism wouldn't hurt either.






The buttons are a press fit and will just pull straight off although there may be a bit of resistance. When installing the new buttons they just push back on but be careful to align the tuning shaft which is the item circled in this very blurry photo of an empty spot. The shaft has a shape that must match positions to be able to slide into the receiving end of the serrated tuning wheel at the end of the button. If you try to push and the button doesn't want to go very far you need to pull back slightly and keep turning the wheel in small increments until the shapes match. Be as gentle as possible when pushing on the button as too hard a push without the shaft going into the wheel receiving socket will cause damage to the new button. When the buttons are properly positioned the metal part of the button that is visible on the bottom of the button and will be fully in the notch and touching the plastic.

Howard - You are a life saver! Thanks for the detailed information on how the Philco operates and the excellent photo guides to get the new buttons in place!
Dave