11-10-2015, 08:03 PM
Well, Bob said that I should comment, so I will...
While it is entirely possible that Philco did some cross-matching at the factory, the fact that the cabinet still has 37-690 stickers indicates to me that someone installed the 1938 chassis at some point after it left the factory.
Yes, Philco did make their own Phranken-Philco sets, more often than some folks may realize. Case in point: I own a 200X. Only it isn't a 200X. It has a 201 chassis inside. And the cabinet stickers indicate model 201. One of the stickers was placed over a 200X sticker, but in such a way that you can still read "MODEL 200X" under the 201 sticker.
That was a factory job. And it must have been done towards the end of production of the 201, and here's why:
My friend, Steve Geary came over here about a year ago. He had a 201 chassis with him. His set came with the stock 201 cabinet. The serial number on his is lower than the serial number on my 201 chassis, so mine was made later. Since it was mated up with a 200X cabinet, my guess is that Philco was closing out their 1935 model line in preparation to introduce the 1936 models, and started clearing the factory of all the leftovers. My Phranken-200/201 is the result.
On the other hand...
A few years ago when I was still restoring radios as a sideline, someone sent me a 37-690 upper chassis. My job was to mate it with a lower chassis.
I couldn't find one.
So the owner found - and bought - a 38-690 upper and lower chassis which I rebuilt for him, after which he installed it in his 37-690 cabinet.
This is what I think happened to your set, Chris.
I certainly wouldn't be upset about that. In my opinion...you have the best of both worlds. The better performing 38-690 chassis in what is (arguably) a classier piece of furniture.
In any event...great catch!
While it is entirely possible that Philco did some cross-matching at the factory, the fact that the cabinet still has 37-690 stickers indicates to me that someone installed the 1938 chassis at some point after it left the factory.
Yes, Philco did make their own Phranken-Philco sets, more often than some folks may realize. Case in point: I own a 200X. Only it isn't a 200X. It has a 201 chassis inside. And the cabinet stickers indicate model 201. One of the stickers was placed over a 200X sticker, but in such a way that you can still read "MODEL 200X" under the 201 sticker.
That was a factory job. And it must have been done towards the end of production of the 201, and here's why:
My friend, Steve Geary came over here about a year ago. He had a 201 chassis with him. His set came with the stock 201 cabinet. The serial number on his is lower than the serial number on my 201 chassis, so mine was made later. Since it was mated up with a 200X cabinet, my guess is that Philco was closing out their 1935 model line in preparation to introduce the 1936 models, and started clearing the factory of all the leftovers. My Phranken-200/201 is the result.
On the other hand...
A few years ago when I was still restoring radios as a sideline, someone sent me a 37-690 upper chassis. My job was to mate it with a lower chassis.
I couldn't find one.
So the owner found - and bought - a 38-690 upper and lower chassis which I rebuilt for him, after which he installed it in his 37-690 cabinet.
This is what I think happened to your set, Chris.
I certainly wouldn't be upset about that. In my opinion...you have the best of both worlds. The better performing 38-690 chassis in what is (arguably) a classier piece of furniture.
In any event...great catch!
--
Ron Ramirez
Ferdinand IN
