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PHILCO PHORUM
|
Philco
for 1948 (introduced June 1947)
Philco's 1948 radio line
was mostly a completely new lineup, with only a few "holdovers" from the
1946-47 season; these received new model numbers and refinements to
their chassis.
| TABLE MODELS
The price leader for the new 1948
season was Model 48-200, yet another recycle of the radio
that began before the war as Model 42-PT-91. This set is
distinguishable from its older cousins by the new dial scale
which is exclusive to the 1948 model.
This set was also available with
an ivory painted cabinet (48-200-I).
Original selling price: $19.95
(48-200), $22.95 (48-200-I)
Number made: 95,550 (48-200), 127,939 (48-200-I) |
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New for 1948 was
Model 48-206, a redesign of the 1946-47 Model 47-204.
This year's model had rounded sides, but otherwise shared the
same features (including brown leatherette cover) of the 47-204.
Original selling price: $32.95;
number made: 29,961 |
| This is Model
48-214, another AM-only, AC-DC receiver. 5 tubes.
This cabinet was intended to be a
1946 model, but did not make production during that season.
Original selling price: $34.95;
number made: 40,322 |
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Model 48-225
This little set, with its maroon
Polystyrene cabinet, seems to appeal especially to women. AM
only, 5 tubes.
Original selling price: $27.95;
number made: 37,928 |
| Model 48-230
The first of Philco's "Flying Wedge"
sets and one of their neatest designs, it was made of
Polystyrene.
As with most of Philco's 1948
table model radios, it receives the AM band only. It uses 5
tubes.
Original selling price: $29.95;
number made: 24,114 |
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Another prewar
holdout, Model 48-250 continued on for the 1948 season,
unchanged in appearance since it was first offered in January
1941 as Model PT-2. This
set was also available with an ivory painted cabinet (Model
48-250-I). Both use 5 tubes and receive AM broadcasts.
Original selling price: $27.95
(48-250), $29.95 (48-250-I)
Number made: 58,196 (48-250), 53,787 (48-250-I) |
| Model 48-460,
a holdover of the 1946-47 Model 46-420, has in recent years been
given a "cutesy" name (The Hippo) and gained cult status among
some collectors. This model
uses 6 tubes and receives the AM band.
Original
selling price: $34.95; number made: 56,461 |
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Model 48-460-I,
in an ivory painted Bakelite cabinet, is otherwise identical to
Model 48-460 above.
Original selling price: $37.50; number made: 57,120 |
| Model 48-461
uses 6 tubes and receives AM only. The entire cabinet is
finished in "Philcote" (photofinish), a process meant to
replicate the look of expensive veneers on very plain, white
wood.
Original selling price: $34.95; number made: 44,633 |
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This large Bakelite
radio is Model 48-464, a 6-tube set designed to receive
AM and shortwave broadcasts.
Original selling price: $49.95;
number made: 16,251 |
| Today's FM band was
operating in 1948, and radios capable of receiving the new band
were available, but expensive. This.Model 48-472 was
Philco's entry-level AM-FM radio, and it wasn't exactly cheap!
It used 7 tubes.
Original selling price: $79.95;
number made: 12,102 |
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Model 48-472-I
features an ivory painted Bakelite cabinet, but is otherwise
identical with Model 48-472 above.
Original selling price: $84.50;
number made: 3,714 |
| Model 48-475
is a very large table model radio and features a very unusual
design. With its 8 tubes, it received both AM and FM broadcasts
and even included pushbuttons which could be preset to favorite
AM (only) stations. A
fairly expensive radio, it did not sell very well. The more
expensive 48-482 actually did better; outselling the 475
by better than 5 to 1.
Original selling price: $129.95;
number made: 4,977 |
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Model 48-482
was the King of Philco table models for 1948. A very large radio
(20 inches wide and a foot tall), it could receive AM, FM and
short wave with its 9 tubes.
Despite its high price, it sold
fairly well.
Original selling price: $149.95;
number made: 25,908 |
| TABLE MODEL
RADIO-PHONOGRAPHS The
Model 48-1201 "Bing Crosby Special" was the 1948 version
of the extremely popular 1946-47 Model 46-1201. 5 tubes, AM
only.
Most 1948 models have a round
brass medallion in place of the PHILCO decal as shown at right;
the medallion is embossed with the PHILCO trademark.
Original selling price: $69.95;
number made: 30,463 |
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Model 48-1253
featured AM reception and an automatic record changer.
Original selling price: $99.95;
number made: 43,932 |
| Model 48-1256
used 6 tubes and included an automatic record changer. It
received the AM band only. It was available in either Walnut or
Mahogany. Original selling
price: $124.95 (walnut), $129.95 (mahogany)
Number made: 18,723 (walnut), 28,003 (mahogany) |
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CONSOLE
RADIO-PHONOGRAPHS
(Philco did not produce
any console models this year that did not include phonographs.)
Model 48-1260 was Philco's
entry-level console for the 1948 season. It featured AM
reception and a single-play phonograph that operated like the
table model 48-1201, shown above; and the portable 48-1200,
shown below.
This set was available in either
Mahogany or Blonde.
Original selling price: $129.95
(mahogany), $134.95 (blonde)
Number made: 22,897 (mahogany), 1,927 (blonde)
See the 48-1260 with its
matching record storage cabinets. |
| Model 48-1262
was a 6-tube, AM-only receiver and included an automatic record
changer. Original selling
price: $159.95; number made: 48,314 |
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Model 48-1263,
yet another AM-only console with phonograph, had a control panel
which could be easily viewed from above, making it convenient
for the owner to operate from a standing position. 8 tubes.
Original selling price: $199.95;
number made: 11,672 |
| Model 48-1264
was Philco's lowest priced console radio-phonograph to include
FM as well as AM coverage. It used 9 tubes and a drop-panel door
to reveal its record changer.
These were available in Walnut and
Blonde.
Original selling price: $259.50
(walnut), $265.50 (blonde)
Number made: 20,815 (walnut), 2,142 (blonde) |
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Model 48-1266
included AM, SW and FM reception and used 9 tubes. The top doors
could be opened and slid into the cabinet, out of view. The
bottom door drops down to reveal the phonograph.
Original selling price: $329.50;
number made: 4,951 |
| Model 48-1270,
a 13-tube radio-phonograph, featured AM, SW and FM reception and
a "Dynamic" (magnetic) phonograph cartridge which was also used
on Philco's more expensive radio-phono models.
This set was available in Walnut,
Mahogany and Bleached Mahogany.
Original selling price: $359.50
(walnut), $369.50 (mahogany or bleached mahogany)
Number made: 6,614 (walnut), 7,436 (mahogany), 1,989 (bleached
mahogany) |
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Model 48-1274 "Hepplewhite"
is reminiscent of some of Philco's higher-end 1942
radio-phonographs in style. And this was no accident - this,
too, was a high-end, very expensive set. It featured AM, SW and
FM reception, 16 tubes pushing 15 watts though a coaxial speaker
(a small tweeter mounted in front of a large woofer).
For the first time in ten years, the
term "HIGH FIDELITY" reappeared on a Philco radio; on this set
and its sister Model 48-1276. However, the "HIGH" was
abbreviated "HI" and had more to do with FM and phonograph
reproduction than AM.
This set was available in both
Walnut (shown) and Mahogany.
Original selling price: $575;
number made: 1,140 |
| Model 48-1276
"Sheraton" was Philco's top of the line receiver for the 1948
season. It included the same 16-tube chassis and the same record
changer as the 48-1274 above, in a somewhat fancier Mahogany
cabinet. Original selling
price: $695; number made: 1,216 |
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PORTABLES
Model 48-360 was the
successor to the wildly popular 1946-47 Model 46-350. It could
be operated from batteries or from 115 volt AC or DC current. A
surprisingly sensitive radio, using 6 tubes.
Original selling price: $49.95;
number made: 13,500
A similar model, the 48-300,
had no "roll-top" cover over the dial. It sold for $39.95;
47,109 of these were made. |
| Model 48-1200
was a portable single-play phonograph (only), with no radio. It
operated the same as Models 48-1201 and 48-1260; drop a door,
slide a record in, close the door and the record would then play
automatically - and stop automatically at the end of the record.
This set was "portable" only to the
extent that it had a handle on the door - it required 115 volt,
60 cycle AC to operate.
The little knob shown at upper
right of the front panel was actually at top center of the front
panel on production models.
Original selling price: $49.95;
number made: 31,420 |
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FARM SETS
(BATTERY OPERATED)
Model 48-141
Operated on 4 tubes and received
AM only.
Original selling price: $39.95; number
made: not available. |
| Model 48-145
Housed in an ivory painted Bakelite
cabinet, it is otherwise identical to Model 48-141 above.
Original selling price: $42.50; number
made: not available. |
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Model 48-150
This AM-only farm set used 5 tubes.
Original selling price: $59.95;
number made: 13,085 |
© 1997-2006, Ron Ramirez. All
rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
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