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PHILCO PHORUM

Philcoradio.com < Gallery Index

Philco for 1946 (introduced January 1946)

Some months after the end of the Second World War, Philco returned to civilian radio production.

The company initially planned a large number of new radio models. However, many of the proposed new sets never made it to production (see the Lost 1946 Models page).

Philco no longer used their Beam of Light record changers in its radio-phonographs. Instead, they introduced completely new changers; the cheaper models used crystal cartridges, as before; while more expensive models used a new magnetic cartridge which Philco called its "Dynamic" cartridge.

Click on a thumbnail to see a larger photo below:
BATTERY-OPERATED FARM SETS

PHILCO TRANSITONE MODELS

PORTABLE RADIO

ELECTRIC (AC & AC-DC) MODELS

TROPIC MODELS

RADIO-PHONOGRAPH MODELS

THE 1946 PHILCO LINE

BATTERY-OPERATED FARM SETS

MODEL 46-131
Philco's new entry level farm set for 1946 was housed in an all-new, brown bakelite cabinet. It used four tubes and covered the AM band only.

Original selling price: $27.60
Number made: 46,539

MODEL 46-132
The 46-132 cabinet was also new for 1946. It uses Di-Noc (photofinish); which means that if the cabinet is stripped, all of the "woodgrain" disappears; leaving only cheap white wood.

The chassis uses five tubes and receives the AM band.

Original selling price: $39.95
Number made: 45,130

MODEL 46-142
NOTE: June 1947 Model 48-145 shown. Model 46-142 is identical in appearance.

The 46-142 cabinet is an ivory painted Bakelite version of the 46-131 cabinet. However, the chassis uses five tubes and features push-pull output. It also receives the AM band only.

Original selling price & number made: Not available

PHILCO TRANSITONE MODELS

MODEL 46-200
Philco continued to offer a low-priced line of Transitone models in 1946. However, these now carried model numbers similar to the rest of the Philco line.

This model uses a brown Bakelite cabinet and is identical in appearance to the 1942 Model 42-PT91.

Original selling price: $19.70
Number made: 179,451

MODEL 46-200-I
The 46-200-I features an ivory painted Bakelite cabinet. The set is identical in appearance to the 1942 Model 42-PT92.

Original selling price: $19.70
Number made: 55,694

MODEL 46-250
NOTE: June 1947 Model 48-250 shown. Model 46-250 is identical in appearance.

Identical in appearance to the 1942 Model 42-PT2, the new 46-250 uses five tubes and receives the AM band.

Original selling price: $22.35
Number made: 149,757

MODEL 46-250-I
This set looks just like the 1942 Model 42-PT4, but the chassis is slightly improved over the 1942 model. One major improvement in all 1946 models is the elimination of rubber-covered wiring. Philco switched to an improved plastic insulation for its chassis wiring beginning with the 1946 models.

Original selling price: $23
Number made: 48,602

PORTABLE RADIO

MODEL 46-350
Model 46-350, tambour door closed

Model 46-350, tambour door open

A major seller for Philco, this model is very easy to find today. It operates on 115 volts, AC or DC current, or on batteries.

Original selling price: $45.95
Number made: 220,503

ELECTRIC (AC & AC-DC) MODELS

MODEL 46-420
The first in a series of Philco sets which collectors have named "The Hippo." This model has a brown Bakelite cabinet, uses six tubes, and covers the AM band only.

Original selling price: $28.85
Number made: 150,062

MODEL 46-420-I
This "Hippo" set is identical to the 46-420 except for the ivory painted Bakelite cabinet.

Original selling price: $29.95
Number made: 51,696

MODEL 46-421
Another Philco cabinet to use a "photofinish;" examples may now be found with the photofinish badly flaking, revealing the cheap white wood underneath. This set also receives the AM band only, and it uses six tubes.

Original selling price: $34.95
Number made: 13,059

MODEL 46-421-I
NOTE: June 1947 Model 48-461 shown. Model 46-421-I is identical in appearance.

This model is identical to Model 46-421 above, except for its ivory trim around the dial scale, and the ivory knobs.

Original selling price: $34.95
Number made: 12,959

MODEL 46-427
It receives AM as well as shortwave from 9.5 to 15 mc. A surprisingly good performer for its small size. It operates on 115 volts, AC or DC current.

The cabinet of this set also uses photofinish - beware if you must strip one!

Original selling price: $42.50
Number made: 16,925

MODEL 46-431
Another table model Philco which receives standard AM plus one shortwave band (9.3 to 15.5 mc). It uses six tubes and operates on AC only.

According to Philco Furniture History, most 46-431 sets were exported with "a few" being put into Philco's line of domestic receivers. Nevertheless, examples of the 46-431 are not hard to find today.

Original selling price: Not available
Number made: 10,879

MODEL 46-451
Photo used by permission.

The appearance of this model is reminiscent of the 1942 Model 42-350. However, there is no FM in this set; it receives the AM band plus shortwave from 9.3 to 15 mc. It operates on 115 volts, AC only.

Original selling price & number made: Not available

MODEL 46-480
Philco's only console radio for the 1946 season used seven tubes and received standard AM, shortwave from 9.3 to 15.5 mc, and the new FM band (88-108 mc). It operated on 115 volts, AC only.

Original selling price: $129.95
Number made: 34,855

TROPIC MODELS

MODEL 46-806
This model is identical in appearance to the 1942 Philco-Tropic model 42-706. It receives standard AM plus two shortwave bands (2.3 to 7 mc & 7 to 24 mc). It uses six tubes and operates on 115 or 230 volts, AC or DC.

Original selling price & number made: Not available

MODELS 46-816, 46-817 & 46-818
These three Tropic models are identical in appearance and in frequency coverage. All three received the AM band plus three shortwave bands: 3.0 to 9.8 mc, 9.3 to 12.0 mc, and 11.8 to 22.0 mc.

The difference was in the type of power used. Model 46-816 operated on 120 or 240 volts, AC only. Model 46-817 could use 120 or 240 volts, AC or DC current. And Model 46-818 requires a 6 volt storage battery for operation.

Original selling price & number made: Not available

MODEL 46-860
This Tropic was similar to the 1942 Model 42-760. It had the same frequency coverage, used eight tubes, and operated on 120 or 240 volts, AC only.

The frequencies covered were: AM (540 to 1750 kc), shortwave (2.3 to 7.3 and 7.0 to 22.0 mc), plus five "spread" bands - 9.4 to 9.9 mc, 11.4 to 12.0 mc, 14.8 to 15.6 mc, 17.3 to 18.2 mc & 20.9 to 21.9 mc.

Original selling price & number made: Not available

MODEL 46-888
Like the 1942 Model 42-788, the new 46-888 used eleven tubes and covered AM, three regular shortwave bands (1.5-2.6 mc, 2.3 to 7.3 mc & 7.2 to 22.0 mc) plus five "spread" bands (9.4 to 9.9 mc, 11.4 to 12.0 mc, 14.8 to 15.6 mc, 17.4 to 18.2 mc & 21.2 to 21.8 mc).

It operated on 115 or 230 volts, AC only.

Original selling price & number made: Not available

RADIO-PHONOGRAPH MODELS

MODEL 46-1201
   Model 46-1201, closed (left) and open (right)
Photos courtesy Clifford R. Huff

Known to collectors as the "Bing Crosby Special" because of Philco advertising featuring Crosby with the set, this five tube set featured a unique method of playing records.

You would open the front lid (it flipped down), insert a 10 or 12 inch 78 rpm record, close the lid and the record would begin to play. It would also shut off automatically when the song was finished.

This was a very popular model in its time. So much so, in fact, that it remained in production through the 1948 season. Examples are easy to find today.

Original selling price: $59.95
Number made: 238,723

MODEL 46-1203
This set is notable because it was Philco's first table model radio-phonograph to use a record changer instead of a single-play phonograph. The radio receives the AM band only and uses six tubes.

Original selling price: $114.90
Number made: 35,880

MODEL 46-1209
   Model 46-1209, closed (left) and open (right)

The 46-1209 uses eight tubes and receives the AM band and shortwave from 9.3 to 15.5 mc.

Original selling price: $205.00
Number made: 74,662 (NOTE: Figure includes production of January 1947 Model 47-1230)

MODEL 46-1213
   Model 46-1213, closed (left) and open (right)
NOTE: June 1947 Model 48-1270 shown at left. Model 46-1213 is identical in appearance.

A fancier radio-phonograph console, this cabinet was available in either a walnut, mahogany, or bleached mahogany finish. The radio used eleven tubes and received AM, the new FM band (88-108 mc) and shortwave from 9.3 to 15.5 mc). Pushbuttons were used to not only select preset AM stations, but also to select any of the three bands, select phonograph mode, or to turn the set on and off.

Original selling price & number made: Not available

MODEL 46-1226
This console used eight tubes and received the AM band plus shortwave from 9.3 to 15.5 mc.

Original selling price: $193.85
Number made: 40,621 (NOTE: Figure includes production of January 1947 Model 47-1227)

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