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PHILCO PHORUM

 

Philco for 1936 (introduced January 1936)

THE FOLLOWING MODELS REMAINED IN THE PHILCO LINEUP: 38F, 60F, 89F116X, 116PX, 610B, 610F, 610PF, 611B, 623F, 641X, 642F, 643X. ALL OTHER 1936 (JUNE 1935) MODEL PHILCOS WERE DISCONTINUED.

A number of Philco models received new cabinets at mid-season 1936. In addition, most of Philco's "600 Series" of radios received minor revisions to their chassis and new model numbers.

MODEL 38B

A new, much plainer Baby Grand cabinet was now used by Models 38B, 60B and 89B.

Original selling price: $49.95
Number made: 55,216 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Model 60B)


MODEL 60B

Throughout their nearly three year run, Models 38B and 60B looked alike, but could be distinguished easily by the fact that Model 60 was designed for operation on 115 volts AC, while Model 38 was a battery operated receiver.

Original selling price: $32.50
Number made: 55,216 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Model 38B)


MODEL 84B

The four-tube Philco "price leader" also received a new cabinet for spring 1936.

Original selling price: $20
Number made: 33,000


MODEL 89B

The final version of the 89B looked like a clone of the new, plain 38B and 60B models. Perhaps this is one reason why this version sold poorly.

Original selling price: $39.95
Number made: 7,000


MODEL 116B

Philco's flagship Baby Grand received a slightly smaller, plainer cabinet at mid-season. Its speaker was also reduced in size from 10-1/2 to 8 inches in diameter. It was still just as powerful, however.

Original selling price: $99.50
Number made: 6,880


MODEL 600C

This new compact Philco was the successor to Model 59. It, too, used four tubes in a regenerative superheterodyne circuit and received the AM band only.

The 600C had the same grille cutouts in the back as it did in the front (as shown at left). The new 602C (immediately below) used the same styling.

Original selling price:$25
Number made: 33,500 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Model 602C)


MODEL 602C

Successor to Model 54, this Philco used five tubes, could operate on AC or DC current, and received the AM band only. Like Model 600 above, the back of the set had grille cutouts just like the front.

Original selling price: $29.95
Number made: 33,500 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Model 602C)


MODEL 604C

A completely new Philco, with five tubes and the controls on top. It had two bands (AM and shortwave from 6 to 18 mc). It could operate on AC or DC current.

Original selling price: $39.95
Number made: 10,000 (NOTE: Figure includes production of June 1936 Model 37-604C)


MODEL 610T

A new, stylish cabinet for Model 610.

Original selling price: $44.95
Number made: 15,300 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Model 611T)

Photo credit: Ray Lamont


MODEL 611T

The AC/DC Model 611 was also available with the same new table model cabinet as Model 610T.

Original selling price: $49.95
Number made: 15,300 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Model 611T)


MODEL 611J

A new console cabinet for Model 611.

Original selling price: $59.95
Number made: 18,500 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Model 625J)

Photo credit: Paul Herson


MODEL 623B

This was the new Baby Grand cabinet for the battery-operated Model 623.

Original selling price: $59.95
Number made: 12,250 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 624B, 625B & 642B)

 

MODEL 623K

Original selling price: $84.95
Number made: 15,300 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 624K & 645K)


MODEL 624B

A new Philco model designed to operate on a 6 volt storage battery. It used 6 tubes and could receive AM and two shortwave bands (2.3-2.5 mc & 5.7-18 mc).

Original selling price: $69.95
Number made: 12,250 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 623B, 625B & 642B)

 

MODEL 624F

One of two console versions of Model 624.

Original selling price: $84.95
Number made: 75,750 (NOTE: Figure includes production of June 1935 Models 32F, 89F, 611F, 620F & 623F)


MODEL 624K

Original selling price: $95
Number made: 15,300 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 623K & 645K)


MODEL 625B

The mid-season Model 625 was a revision of Model 620, and could be purchased as a Baby Grand (shown here) or in two different console models. Like Model 620, the 625 used six tubes and operated on 115 volts AC. It had three band coverage (AM, 1.75-5.8 & 5.7-18 mc).

Original selling price: $52.50
Number made: 12,250 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 623B, 624B & 642B)

Photo credit: Ed Locker


MODEL 625J

Original selling price: $69.95
Number made: 18,500 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Model 611J)


MODEL 625S

Original selling price: $59.95
Number made: 6,000

Photo credit: Charles Poplin


MODEL 635B

The new 635 chassis was a revision of the earlier Model 630. It also used six tubes and could receive AM and two shortwave bands (1.75-5.8 & 5.7-18 mc). The 635 also added a band indicator which made the glowing pointer illuminate only on the selected band. Outwardly, the 635B was identical to Model 630B.

Original selling price: $62.50
Number made: 14,700 (NOTE: Figure includes production of June 1935 Model 630B)


MODEL 635X

The new 635X had a different grille than the earlier 630X, and used the revised 635 chassis.

Original selling price: $80
Number made: Not available

Photo credit: Ed Locker


MODEL 635PF

This radio-phonograph continued for spring 1936 with the revised 635 chassis.

Original selling price: $140
Number made: 2,200 (NOTE: Figure includes production of June 1935 Models 610PF, 630PF & 640PF)


MODEL 635CSX

This chairside is identical in appearance to the previous Model 630CSX, but uses the revised 635 chassis.

Original selling price: $84.95
Number made: 3,500 (NOTE: Figure includes production of June 1935 Model 630CSX)


MODEL 641B

Philco's 110 volt DC Model 641 received a new Baby Grand cabinet at mid-season. This cabinet was shared with Models 643B, 645B, 651B & 655B (see below).

Original selling price: $74.95
Number made: 7,500 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 643B, 645B, 651B & 655B)


MODEL 642B

A new Baby Grand cabinet for the 32 volt DC Model 642.

Original selling price: $59.95
Number made: 12,250 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 623B, 624B & 625B)


MODEL 643B

This is Philco's battery operated all-wave receiver in a new Baby Grand cabinet.

Original selling price: $80
Number made: 7,500 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 641B, 645B, 651B & 655B)


MODEL 645B

The new Model 645 was a revision of the Model 640 chassis, removing the long wave band but retaining AM and shortwave coverage from 1.75 to 5.8 and 5.75 to 18 mc. Like Model 640, the 645 used seven tubes and operated on 115 volts AC.

The 645 was available as a Baby Grand (shown here) or as a console (immediately below).

Original selling price: $70
Number made: 7,500 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 641B, 643B, 651B & 655B)


MODEL 645K

Original selling price: $90
Number made: 15,300 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 623K & 624K)

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


MODEL 651B

A new model designed to operate on 115 volts AC or DC, the 651 could receive AM and two shortwave bands: 1.75 to 5.8 and 5.75 to 18 mc.

Original selling price: $80
Number made: 7,500 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 641B, 643B, 645B & 655B)


MODEL 651X

Original selling price: $100
Number made: 60,250 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Model 655X as well as June 1935 Models 641X, 643X & 650X)


MODEL 655B

Yet another Philco model with a chassis that was a revision of a previous model, in his case the 650. Like Model 645, the 655 dropped the longwave band but retained the AM band, and increased the shortwave coverage to 1.75 to 5.8 and 5.75 to 18 mc. As with Model 650, Model 655 used eight tubes and operated on 115 volts AC.

Original selling price: $80
Number made: 7,500 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models 641B, 643B, 645B & 651B)


MODEL 655H

This model is identical in appearance to the earlier Model 650H, but used the revised 655 chassis.

Original selling price: $125
Number made: 2,000 (NOTE: Figure includes production of June 1935 Model 650H)


MODEL 655X

Original selling price: $100
Number made: 60,250 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Model 651X as well as June 1935 Models 641X, 643X & 650X)

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


MODEL 655MX

Original selling price: $125
Number made: 6,000 (NOTE: Figure includes production of June 1935 Model 650MX)

Photo credit: Phil Sweet


MODEL 655PX

Original selling price: $175
Number made: 3,500 (NOTE: Figure includes production of June 1935 Model 650PX)


MODEL 655RX

Identical in appearance to Model 650RX (see the June 1935 page), the 655RX used the revised 655 chassis which has no longwave band.

Original selling price: $150
Number made: 1,500 (NOTE: Figure includes production of June 1935 Model 650RX)


MODEL 665L

Philco's Model 665 was only slightly changed from Model 660. It continued to use ten tubes, and still had four-band coverage: longwave, AM, and shortwave from 1.75-5.8 and 5.7-18 mc.

The 665L is identical in appearance to the previous 660L.

Original selling price: $150
Number made: 1,000 (NOTE: Figure includes production of June 1935 Model 660L)


MODEL 665X

The 665X was new for spring 1936. It also used the revised 665 chassis. While this model was the same price as the 665L, it sold much better.

Original selling price: $150
Number made: 7,200

Photo credit: Paul Turney


MODEL 680X

A new cabinet for Philco's fifteen tube, high fidelity Model 680. This cabinet is more conventional in that the dial and controls are facing forward instead of being hidden under the top lid as with the earlier 680X.

Electronically, this 680 was unchanged from the June 1935 model.

Original selling price: $275
Number made: 1,500

Photo credit: Frank Drost


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