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PHILCO PHORUM

 

Philco for 1936 (introduced June 1935)

THE FOLLOWING MODELS REMAINED IN THE PHILCO LINEUP: 38B, 54C, 59C, 60B, 89B. ALL OTHER 1935 MODEL PHILCOS WERE DISCONTINUED.

MODEL 32B

The six-tube, 32-volt DC Model 32 continued on with a new Baby Grand cabinet.

Original selling price: $65
Number made: 24,750 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 640B, 641B, 643B & 650B)


MODEL 32F

The Model 32 also received a new console cabinet for the 1936 season.

Original selling price: $79.50
Number made: 75,750 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 89F, 611F, 620F, 623F & 642F as well as January 1936 Model 624F)


MODEL 38B

The difference between the 1935 and 1936 versions of Model 38B is a larger escutcheon and different dial scale on the 1936 model. Otherwise, this five-tube battery set remained unchanged.

Original selling price & number made: Not available

Photo credit: Philip Sarasqueta


MODEL 38F

Original selling price: $65
Number made: 110,000 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 60F & 610F)


MODELS 54S - 59S

While the January 1935 Models 54C and 59C were carried over into the new 1936 season, the 54S and 59S received new cabinets.

Model 54 uses five tubes and operates on either AC or DC current; Model 59 is a four-tube regenerative superheterodyne which operates on AC only.

Original selling price: $35 (54S), $29.95 (59S)
Number made: 16,700 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 54S & 59S)

Model 54S shown; Model 59S is identical in appearance.


MODEL 60B

Like Model 38B, the five-tube Model 60B is identical to the 1935 version except for the larger escutcheon and different dial scale on the 1936 model.

Original selling price & number made: Not available


MODEL 60F

Original selling price: $42.50
Number made: 110,000 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 38F & 610F)


MODEL 89F

The six-tube Model 89 continued on for 1936, The 1935 version of the 89 Baby Grand continued to be offered in the first part of the 1936 season, while the 89 received a new console cabinet.

Original selling price: $50
Number made: 75,750 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 32F, 611F, 620F, 623F & 642F as well as January 1936 Model 624F)


MODEL 116B

This set was the successor to the Model 16; it also used 11 tubes and added a long wave band to its AM and shortwave coverage up to 22.5 mc.

Original selling price: $97.50
Number made: 15,750


MODEL 116X

The new 116 console added passive radiators, which Philco called "Acoustic Clarifiers." The console model also used 6A3 triode output tubes for a higher output power than the Baby Grand version.

Original selling price: $175
Number made: 30,950


MODEL 116PX

A radio-phonograph combination which used the 11-tube 116X chassis and an automatic record changer.

Original selling price: $350
Number made: 1,050


MODEL 610B

An all-new five-tube set with three band coverage (AM, the old "police" band and shortwave). It operated on AC current only.

Original selling price: $39.95
Number made: 81,000 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Model 611B)

 

MODEL 610F

The console version of Model 610.

Original selling price: $49.95
Number made: 110,000 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 38F & 60F)

Photo credit: Ryan Meldahl


MODEL 610PF

The new 610 could also be purchased as a radio-phonograph combination which included a single play 78 rpm phonograph.

Original selling price: $100
Number made: 2,200 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 630PF & 640PF as well as January 1936 Model 635PF)

 

MODEL 611B

Similar to Model 610, the 611 also used five tubes, but was made to operate on either AC or DC current.

Original selling price: $45
Number made: 81,000 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Model 610B)

Photo credit: Marc Frigon


MODEL 611F

Original selling price: $57.50
Number made: 75,750 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 32F, 89F, 620F, 623F & 642F as well as January 1936 Model 624F)


MODEL 620B

Another new three-band set, this model used six tubes and covered AM and shortwave to 18 mc. It operated on AC only.

Original selling price: $49.95
Number made: 66,000 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 623B & 642B)

Photo credit: Ed Locker


MODEL 620F

Original selling price: $65
Number made: 75,750 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 32F, 89F, 611F, 623F & 642F as well as January 1936 Model 624F)


MODEL 623B

This new battery-operated Philco used six tubes and could receive AM and shortwave up to 18 mc.

Original selling price: $59.95
Number made: 66,000 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 620B & 642B)

NOTE: Grille cloth should be the 1935-37 Philco "V" pattern.


MODEL 623F

Original selling price: $75
Number made: 75,750 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 32F, 89F, 611F, 620F & 642F as well as January 1936 Model 624F)


MODEL 630B

Another new six-tube, AC operated radio, Model 630 was very similar to Model 620 except for the added shadowmeter. Like the 620, it, too, received AM and shortwave to 18 mc.

The 630 Baby Grand is slightly larger than the 620 Baby Grand.

Original selling price: $59.95
Number made: 14,700 (NOTE: Figure includes production of January 1936 Model 635B)

Photo credit: Larry Specht


MODEL 630X

Original selling price: $75
Number made: 51,415

NOTE: Grille cloth is incorrect; it should use the Philco 1935-37 "V" pattern.


MODEL 630PF

This radio-phonograph, while identical in appearance to Model 610PF, used the six-tube Model 630 chassis.

Original selling price: $100
Number made: 2,200 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 610PF & 640PF as well as January 1936 Model 635PF)


MODEL 630CSX

A new chairside model for 1936, which is somewhat similar in appearance to the January 1935 Models 28CSX & 29CSX. This set uses the six-tube 630 chassis.

Original selling price: $79.50
Number made: 3,500 (NOTE: Figure includes production of January 1936 Model 635CSX)


MODEL 630CSX

Back view of the 630CSX chairside.


MODEL 640B

This new Philco used seven tubes and had four bands; longwave, AM, 2.2-2.6 mc & 5.8-18 mc.

Original selling price: $69.50
Number made: 24,750 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 32B, 641B, 643B & 650B)


MODEL 640X (Early version)

The early version of Model 640X looked identical to the six-tube Model 630X (see above). This version was not in production very long, and was soon changed to the later version shown immediately below.

Original selling price: $89.50
Number made: 5,000

NOTE: Grille cloth is incorrect; it should use the Philco 1935-37 "V" pattern.


MODEL 640X (Later version)

Original selling price: $89.50
Number made: 10,000

Photo credit: Doug Houston


MODEL 640PF

Yet one more version of this radio-phonograph; this one used the seven-tube Model 640 chassis.

Original selling price: Not available
Number made: 2,200 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 610PF & 640PF as well as January 1936 Model 635PF)


MODEL 641B

Despite the availability of Philco models that could operate on either AC or DC, Philco continued to manufacture a line of radios designed to operate on 110 volts DC only. Model 641 was Philco's DC offering for 1936. It used seven tubes and had three-band coverage; AM and shortwave to 18 mc.

Original selling price: $75
Number made: 24,750 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 32B, 640B, 643B & 650B)


MODEL 641X

Original selling price: $100
Number made: 60,250 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Model 643X & 650X as well as January 1936 Models 651X & 655X)


MODEL 642B

A new 32 volt DC set; unlike the Model 32, the 642 did not have a vibrator power supply - it used 32 volts as its "high voltage." Its seven tubes were tied in series. It could receive AM and shortwave to 18 mc, in three bands.

Original selling price: Not available
Number made: 66,000 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 620B & 623B)


MODEL 642F

Original selling price: $74.95
Number made: 75,750 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 32F, 89F, 611F, 620F & 623F as well as January 1936 Model 624F)


MODEL 643B

This is a large, all-wave battery set that used 7 tubes and received longwave, AM, and shortwave (four bands total).

Original selling price: $79.50
Number made: 24,750 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 32B, 640B, 641B & 650B)


MODEL 643X

Original selling price: $100
Number made: 60,250 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Model 641X & 650X as well as January 1936 Models 651X & 655X)


MODEL 650B

The 650 used 8 tubes, and has the same frequency coverage as Model 640. The 640 and 650 Baby Grand models are identical in appearance.

Original selling price: $79.50
Number made: 24,750 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 32B, 640B, 641B & 643B)


MODEL 650H

Original selling price: $125
Number made: 2,000 (NOTE: Figure includes production of January 1936 Model 655H)

Photo credit: Doug Houston


MODEL 650X

Original selling price: $100
Number made: 60,250 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 641X & 643X as well as January 1936 Models 651X & 655X)

Photo credit: Paul Turney


MODEL 650MX

Original selling price: $125
Number made: 6,000 (NOTE: Figure includes production of January 1936 Model 655MX)

Photo credit: Ed Floyd
NOTE: Grille cloth should be the 1935-37 Philco "V" pattern.


MODEL 650PX

Original selling price: $175
Number made: 3,500 (NOTE: Figure includes production of January 1936 Model 655PX)


MODEL 650RX-TU

Philco's other chairside offering for 1936 used a separate speaker cabinet (see immediately below).

Original selling price: $137.50
Number made: 1,500 (NOTE: Figure includes production of January 1936 Model 655RX)


MODEL 650RX-SU

The separate speaker cabinet used with Model 650RX-TU.


MODEL 660L

This large console model had the dial and controls hidden under the top lid. Model 660 has 10 tubes and had four bands (longwave, AM and two shortwave bands).

Original selling price: $150
Number made: 1,000 (NOTE: Figure includes production of January 1936 Model 665L)


MODEL 660X

A more conventional cabinet, this version of the 660 outsold the 660L by more than 15 to 1.

Original selling price: $137.50
Number made: 15,000

Photo credit: Donald Rininger


MODEL 680X

Philco's largest radio for 1936 used 15 tubes and featured high fidelity reception. Passive radiators as well as an active 10-1/2 inch speaker was used. The 680 had four bands - longwave, AM and two shortwave bands.

As shown at right, the 680's dial and controls were underneath the top lid.

Original selling price: $250
Number made: 2,500

Photo credit: Frank Drost


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