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PHILCO PHORUM

Philcoradio.com < Gallery Index

Philco for 1930 (introduced June 1930)

ALL FALL 1929 MODELS WERE DISCONTINUED.

Click on a thumbnail to see a larger photo below:

Take a Model 76 and a Model 95, remove the local-distance switch from each, put the volume control where the local-distance switch was, add a four-point tone control switch where the volume control was, and VOILA - you have the 1930 Models 77 and 96!

These were the only changes made to the chassis. However, they received new cabinets for 1930; the exception being the table models and the console.

Model 40 also became a Model 41 with the addition of a tone control instead of a local-distance switch.

Philco had been a battery manufacturer for many years before they began to make radios. However, up to this point they had not built a radio that operated on batteries. That now changed with Model 30, a set designed for use where no electricity was available. It was essentially a battery-operated version of Model 96, as it also featured Automatic Volume Control (AVC).

Philco put a radio-phonograph model into production for the first time. Model 296 had a single play 78 rpm phonograph coupled with a Screen Grid Plus 96 chassis.

All of the new models now used translucent, backlit dials. Early versions had pointers on either side of the dial; these soon gave way to a "glowing pointer" mounted behind the dial.

TABLE MODEL

MODELS 77 & 96
Illustration is representative of both Models 77 and 96 table sets, as both are identical in appearance.

The Table Models continued, unchanged in appearance from Fall 1929. As mentioned above, they now featured a four-point tone control instead of a local-distance switch.

Original selling price: $55 (77), $85 (96)
Separate F-10 speaker: $25
Number made: 17,700 (NOTE: This figure includes June 1929 Model 65 table model as well as Fall 1929 Models 76 and 95 table models)

CONSOLES

THE CONSOLE (MODELS 30, 41 & 77)
Model 77 Console shown; Models 30 & 41 Consoles are identical.
Photo courtesy William Johnson

Another set which continued unchanged in appearance was the Console. It could now be purchased as a battery set as well as a DC-only or AC-only model.

Original selling price: Not available (30), $95 (41 & 77)
Number made: 45,000 (NOTE: This figure includes June 1929 Model 65 consoles as well as Fall 1929 Models 40 & 76 consoles)

THE LOWBOY (MODELS 30, 41, 77 & 96)
Model 96 lowboy shown; Models 30, 41 and 77 lowboy cabinets are identical.
Photo courtesy Nigel Featherston

The new 1930 Philco Lowboy was not quite a big seller as was its predecessor, but examples are still easy to find today.

Original selling price: Not available (30), $119.50 (41), $110 (77), $127.50 (96)
Number made: 130,904 (NOTE: This figure includes January 1931 Model 111 lowboys)

THE HIGHBOY (MODELS 30, 41 & 96)
Model 96 highboy shown; Models 30 & 41 highboy cabinets are identical.

No doors or fleur-de-lis, but nevertheless, the 1930 Philco Highboy was (and is) a fine-looking cabinet.

Original selling price: Not available (30), $149.50 (41), $145 (96)
Number made: 43,098

RADIO-PHONOGRAPH COMBINATION

MODEL 296
Photo credit: Bob Timms

This large and heavy set has a single play 78 rpm phonograph under the top lid, and record storage at the bottom of the cabinet, concealed by a drop-down door at lower front.

Original selling price: $198
Number made: 14,052

© 1997-2010, Ron Ramirez. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.