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ABOUT RON
CONTACT RON
PHILCO PHORUM
|
Philco
for 1939 (introduced June 1938)
THE FOLLOWING MODELS
CONTINUED IN THE PHILCO LINEUP: 38-12CB (as 39-12CB), 38-12CBI (as
39-12CBI), 38-12T (as 39-12T), 38-14CB (as 39-14CB), 38-14CBI (as
39-14CBI), 38-14T (as 39-14T), 38-15CB (as 39-15CB), 38-15CBI (as
39-15CBI), 38-15T (as 39-15T). ALL OTHER 1938 MODELS WERE DISCONTINUED.
Philco's new 1939 model
line was dramatically different from its previous offerings. New,
streamlined cabinets housed very different chassis; only a few table
models bore any resemblance to 1938 models.
This was the year Philco
introduced the industry's first wireless remote control. Philco dubbed
it "Mystery Control" and tried to keep the "how" of its operation a
secret, even going so far as to claim in its advertising that it was
"not a radio beam" when in fact it was! The remote unit sent a pulse
modulated signal which was set at a frequency between 350 and 400 kc to
the main receiver, which received the signal, processed the information
and performed the desired operation by either switching to one of eight
preset AM stations, turning the volume up or down, or turning the set
off. It should be noted that you could not turn the set ON with the
remote.
With all the hoopla
surrounding its new Mystery Control, Philco quietly dropped its High
Fidelity research; no more High Fidelity receivers were built by the
company.
Philco's previous
automatic tuning methods were also dropped in 1939; instead, pushbutton
tuning was adopted. The pushbuttons, for the most part, worked much
better than Philco's previous automatic tuning schemes had. The
exceptions were Models 39-17, 39-18, 39-19 and 39-75, which employed a
mechanical pushbutton method; all other Philco models with pushbuttons
used the more precise electronic pushbutton tuning.
1939 was the year Philco
introduced two new series: Transitone and Tropic. Transitone was not a
new name; it originally was the trademark of Automobile Radio
Corporation, which Philco bought out in 1930. Between then and 1938,
Philco Transitone was an auto radio. Beginning with the 1939 season,
however, Philco introduced two low-priced table models whcih did not
carry the Philco name at all - only the name "Transitone."
Philco Tropic was a new
series of radios, chiefly for export to tropical areas such as Central
America. These sets were supposed to have coils and chassis designed to
withstand extremes in humidity.
According to various
Philco documentation, most models of 38-12, 38-14 and 38-15 sets were
retained in the new 1939 lineup; however, I have yet to see one of these
labeled "39-12," "39-14," etc. A very likely possibility is that perhaps
Philco had stock of these models left over and simply sold them,
complete with "38-12," etc. stickers on the inside, until they were
gone.
THE 1939 PHILCO LINE:
| MODEL 39-6C
A new five-tube compact table model
which was nearly identical to the previous season's Model 38-12.
It operated on 115 volts AC and covered the AM band.
Original selling price: $19.95
Number made: 34,025 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Model
39-6CI)
Photo credit: Art Hoch |
 |
 |
MODEL 39-6CI
Successor to the 1938 Model 38-12CI,
this model was otherwise identical to the 39-6CI above.
Original selling price: $25
Number made: 34,025 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Model
39-6CI)
Photo credit: Kim Bowers
|
|
MODEL 39-7C
The new 39-7 was, basically, a 39-6
with the addition of electronic pushbutton tuning.
Original selling price: $23.50
Number
made: 47,809
Photo credit: Don Lindsly |
 |
 |
MODEL 39-7T
Intended to be a more stylish
version of the 39-7; this model included a bezel surrounding the
dial with a glass cover in place of the plastic dial cover used
on the 39-7C.
Original selling price: $27.50
Number made: 23,998 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Model
39-8T)
Photo credit: Jeffrey Goldstein |
|
MODEL 39-7CS
A chairside version of Model 39-7;
this cabinet had been previously used with 1938 Models 38-14CS &
38-15CS. The 39-7 received the AM band only, but included
Philco's new electronic pushbutton tuning.
Original selling price: Not
available
Number made: 8,600 (NOTE: Figure includes production of June
1937 Models 38-14CS & 38-15CS)
Photo credit: Thomas Spiegle |
 |
 |
MODEL 39-8T
An AC/DC version of Model 39-6,
which also used five tubes (plus a ballast), and received the AM
band only.
Original selling price: $25
Number
made: 23,998 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Model 39-7T)
Photo credit: Paul Turney |
|
MODEL 39-17T
One of four Philco models to use
mechanical pushbuttons which moved the tuning condenser to
different preset spots on the dial (the others were Models
39-18, 39-19 & 39-75). The 39-17 used five tubes, operated on
115 volts AC, and received the AM band.
Original selling price: $29.95
Number made: 40,305 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models
39-18T, 39-19T & 39-75T as well as January 1939 Models 39-117T,
39-118T, 39-119T & 39-175T) |
 |
 |
MODEL 39-17F
A console version of Model 39-17.
Original selling price: $39.95
Number made: 28,938 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models
39-18F, 39-19F, 39-70F & 39-75F as well as January 1939 Models 39-117F,
39-118F, 39-119F & 39-175F) |
|
MODEL 39-18T
An AC/DC version of Model 39-17.
Original selling price: $29.95
Number made: 40,305 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models
39-17T, 39-19T & 39-75T as well as January 1939 Models 39-117T,
39-118T, 39-119T & 39-175T) |
 |
|
|
MODEL 39-18F
Original selling price: $39.95
Number made: 28,938 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models
39-17F, 39-19F, 39-70F & 39-75F as well as January 1939 Models 39-117F,
39-118F, 39-119F & 39-175F) |
|
MODEL 39-19T
Model 39-19 added a shortwave band
(5.5 to 19 mc) to its AM coverage. It operated on 115 volts AC,
and used five tubes.
Original selling price: $35
Number made: 40,305 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models
39-17T, 39-18T & 39-75T as well as January 1939 Models 39-117T,
39-118T, 39-119T & 39-175T) |
 |
|
|
MODEL 39-19F
The console version of Model 39-19.
Original selling price: $39.95
Number made: 28,938 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models
39-17F, 39-18F, 39-70F & 39-75F as well as January 1939 Models 39-117F,
39-118F, 39-119F & 39-175F) |
|
MODEL 39-25T
Philco had introduced inclined
control panels on many of its 1938 model consoles. Now, they
offered table models with the feature. The 39-25 used five tubes
and offered eight electronic pushbuttons to complement its two
band coverage of AM and 4.9 to 18 mc shortwave. It operated on
115 volts AC.
Original selling price: $48
Number made: 30,330 |
 |
 |
MODEL 39-25XF
Original selling price: $62.95
Number made: 25,255 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models
39-80XF & 39-85XF) |
|
MODEL 39-30T
A six tube Philco table model with
an inclined control panel, it was otherwise identical to the
39-25.
Original selling price: $58
Number made: 22,050
Photo credit: Ryan Meldahl |
 |
 |
MODEL 39-30XX
Original selling price: $72.95
Number made: Not available |
|
MODEL 39-31XF
The 39-31 used the same chassis as
the 39-30; six tubes, eight pushbuttons, AM and shortwave from
4.9 to 18 mc; and operated on 115 volts AC.
Original selling price: $69.95
Number made: 19,590 |
 |
 |
MODEL 39-35XX
Yet another model that used the same
chassis as the 39-30.
Original selling price: $82.95
Number made: 15,842 |
|
MODEL 39-36XX
This new Philco console used
thumbwheel controls and six tubes. It also had eight electronic
pushbuttons for preset AM stations. It could also tune the
entire AM band as well as shortwave from 5 to 18 mc. Power
required was 115 volts AC.
Original selling price: $82.95
Number made: 30,665 |
 |
 |
MODEL 39-40XX
An eight tube model that had the
same features and frequency coverage as the 39-36.
Original selling price: $103
Number made: 32,795
Photo by Barry Blau; courtesy
David Kulka |
|
MODEL 39-45XX
This was a nine tube, three band set
with eight pushbuttons, that operated on 115 volts AC. Its
frequency coverage included 540 to 1720 kc; 1.7 to 5.9 mc; and
5.8 to 18 mc. It also had a folding door that covered the dial
and controls.
Original selling price: $132.50
Number made: 16.760
Photo credit:
Michael Ko |
 |
 |
MODEL 39-50RX
The 1939 Philco dealer catalog
announced this AM-only model, which had no dial or controls.
Instead, it was to be controlled by a wired remote control
(shown below), which contained eight electronic pushbuttons and
an off-on-volume control.
However, this model was
apparently never put into production. There is no documentation
for it, and none are known to exist. |
|
MODEL 39-50RX
The wired remote that was to have
been used with the main 39-50 receiver above. |
 |
 |
MODEL 39-55RX
The smaller of two "Mystery Control"
models for 1939, the 39-55 was an AM-only receiver. Its wireless
remote could select from eight preset AM stations, change
volume, or turn the set off (but not on). Ten tubes were used in
the radio itself, plus one in the wireless remote unit.
The set itself was two receivers in
one; part of the set was an AM receiver, the other part was
fixed-tuned to the frequency of the wireless remote and
processed the signals from the remote.
Original selling price: $162.50
Number made: 20,480
Photo credit: J. Thomas Lawson |
|
MODEL 39-55 & 39-116 MYSTERY
CONTROL
This is the "Mystery Control"
(wireless remote control) unit as used with several different
Philco models between 1939 and 1941, including the 1939 models
39-55 & 39-116. It used one tube and operated from a special
battery pack. |
 |
 |
MODEL 39-70B
The 39-70 was a new battery-operated
Philco for rural areas, that received the AM band only with its
four tubes.
This was one of only three Philcos
that was still offered in a Baby Grand (tombstone) cabinet in
1939.
Original selling price: $29.95
Number made: 35,635 |
|
MODEL 39-70F
Original selling price: $39.95
Number made: 28,938 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models
39-17F, 39-18F, 39-19F & 39-75F as well as January 1939 Models 39-117F,
39-118F, 39-119F & 39-175F) |
 |
 |
MODEL 39-71T
Philco had produced a "portable"
model back in late 1932 (Model 80P); however, it required a 115
volt AC source of power to operate. Six years later, Philco
introduced its first true portable: the battery-operated 39-71.
The cabinet was large enough to accommodate both the radio
chassis and the needed batteries. It received the AM band only,
and used four tubes.
Original selling price: $33.45
Number made: 32,700 |
|
MODEL 39-75T
A battery-operated version of Model
39-17, the 39-75 also used mechanical pushbuttons and received
the AM band only with its four tubes.
Original selling price: $39.95
Number made: 40,305 (NOTE: Figure includes production of
Models 39-17T, 39-18T & 39-19T as well as January 1939 Models
39-117T, 39-118T, 39-119T & 39-175T) |
 |
 |
MODEL 39-75F
Original selling price: $54.95
Number made: 28,938 (NOTE: Figure includes production of
Models 39-17F, 39-18F, 39-19F & 39-70F as well as January 1939 Models 39-117F,
39-118F, 39-119F & 39-175F) |
|
MODEL 39-80B
This four tube, battery operated
Philco received the AM band only. This large Baby Grand cabinet
left lots of room for batteries, as the chassis and speaker were
relatively small.
Original selling price: $52.50
Number made: 20,050 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Model
39-85B) |
 |
 |
MODEL 39-80XF
Original selling price: $69.95
Number made: 25,255 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models
39-25XF & 39-85XF) |
|
MODEL 39-85B
The difference between Models 39-85
and 39-80 was that the "85" added electronic pushbutton tuning
and a shortwave band (5.6 to 18 mc).
Original selling price: $52.50
Number made: 20,050 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Model
39-80B) |
 |
 |
MODEL 39-85XF
Original selling price: $79.95
Number made: 25,255 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models
39-25XF & 39-80XF) |
|
MODEL 39-116RX
The new Philco flagship offered
three band coverage (540-1720 kc, 1.7-5.9 mc & 5.8-18 mc). The
main receiver used 13 tubes; an additional tube was used in the
Mystery Control. Like the 39-55, the 39-116 was two receivers in
one; part of the radio was used to process signals from the
wireless remote while the remainder functioned as a normal
radio.
Original selling price: $198
Number made: 22,330 (NOTE: Figure includes production of June
1939 Model 40-200XX)
Photo credit: Clifford R. Huff |
 |
TRANSITONE MODELS:
|
MODEL TH-1
This was the new price leader for
1939. The TH-1 used four tubes plus a ballast, and was a
throwback to the late 1920s in electronic design in that it used
a Tuned Radio Frequency (TRF) circuit.
I suspect this model was designed
and built by Simplex, whose majority owner by now was Philco (Philco
had bought into Simplex in 1937, and would eventually buy the
Ohio company out completely).
Original selling price: $9.95
Number made: Not available |
 |
 |
MODEL TH-3
In contrast to the TH-1, the new
TH-3 is a 39-6 chassis (the dial scale of which reads TRANSITONE
instead of PHILCO), in a 38-12CB Bakelite cabinet.
Original selling price: $15.95
Number made: Not available |
TROPIC MODELS:
|
MODEL 39-711T
This Tropic model had three bands
(540-1720 kc, 2.3-7.4 mc & 7.3-22 mc) and operated from either
115 or 230 volts, AC or DC. It used six tubes.
Original selling price: Not
available
Number made: 5,000 |
 |
 |
MODEL 39-720T
Specifications for this model are
not available.
Original selling price: $
Number made: 4,651 |
|
MODELS 39-744T - 39-750T -
39-751T
Three different Tropic models shared
two cabinets. All three had the same frequency coverage as Model
39-711 above. The 39-744 used seven tubes and operated on a
6-volt storage battery; the 39-751 had eight tubes and could run
from either AC or DC current, 115 or 230 volts. Specifications
for Model 39-750 are not available.
Original selling price: Not
available
Number made: 6,344 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models
39-744T, 39-750T & 39-751T)
Illustration is representative of
Models 39-744T, 39-750T & 39-751T, as all three are identical in
appearance. |
 |
 |
MODELS 39-744XX - 39-750XX -
39-751XX
Original selling price: Not
available
Number made: 714
Illustration is representative of
Models 39-744XX, 39-750XX & 39-751XX, as all three are identical
in appearance. |
|
MODELS 39-770T - 39-2770T
These Tropic models used thumbwheel
controls and operated on 115 volts AC, using 11 tubes. Both had
four bands and could receive between 530 kc and 22 mc. The
difference between the two was in the frequency coverage of
each. Model 39-2770 added a long wave band (140-390 kc) while
pushing the shortwave frequencies closer together to maintain
the use of four tuning bands.
Original selling price: Not
available
Number made: 4,729 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models
39-770T & 39-2770T)
Photo credit: Dan Schwartzman
Model 39-770T shown; Model 39-2770T is identical in appearance. |
 |
 |
MODELS 39-770XX - 39-2770XX
Original selling price: Not
available
Number made: 200 (NOTE: Figure includes production of Models
39-770XX & 39-2770XX)
Illustration is representative of
Models 39-770XX & 39-2770XX, as both are identical in
appearance. |
© 1997-2006, Ron Ramirez. All
rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
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