Hello everyone! I am a newbie to your site and any kind of forums. I just acquired a very large Chippendale Radiobar (1940 or 1941) at one of the antique malls here in Albuquerque. It has a Philco model 40-508 radio chassis and a Philco automatic record changer model 35-1180. I am having a hard time trying to distinquish whether it is a model 200-RBR or a RP-200? Maybe a different radio or phono? Everything seems to be correct including a full set of original glassware. The 6 silver stripe glass decanters have have silver chain medallions that hang from the top of them inscribed with scotch, bourbon, etc. Other earlier Radiobar decanters have inscriptions on the decanters themselves. The other glassware including the ice bucket seem to be original and the same as some of the earlier Radiobar models with Federal Glassware. Also, note the unusual bar light covers.
I want to be as accurate as possible on this restoration and would appreciate any information from anyone out there and from someone that might have one. I have checked with a few Radiobar people on other websites and this seems to be the only one they have ever seen.
As you can see from the pictures, the cabinet, glass, and chrome are in very good shape. I am going to keep the original finish on the cabinet and chrome. I will be cleaning and redoing the electronics on the radio and will try my electro mechanical skills on the phono. or (Anyone out there repair this type of phono?) I will post info and pics of my progress on this unit.
Anyway, I am very excited about this new project and my wife will even allow me to put it in our living room!!
Extremely nice find. I hope you find a nice spot to display and play this beauty.
I had a friend who had found a booklet from a liquor company circa 1940's it was a party information guide. The amounts of booze to have on hand for each guest was amazing, larger quantities than one would safely suggest today. We got a good laugh from the booklet.
So these Philco Bars really hilite 2 things people really enjoyed and found entertaining, booze and music.
I do plan on using this Radiobar, but very carefully. If the party gets out of hand, I will close it up and turn on the radio. The news today is enough to sober anyone up!!
Thanks for the link to Riders. These copies are much more legible than the ones I have.
Ron
I'm not certain that glassware is original. I've got a full set of the same stuff that I picked up cheap since it was the closest pattern I could find to the originals. That style shows up frequently online. It's very similar to this pattern https://www.etsy.com/listing/525420602/v...?ref=hp_rv Perhaps some radiobar experts can pipe in.
Keith
Very nice...
Glassware is the later style and is original. I have some of it for the original bar owner that I got a few years back. That ice bucket makes me jealous!
Glassware is the later style and is original. I have some of it for the original bar owner that I got a few years back. That ice bucket makes me jealous! [Image: http://philcoradio.com/phorum/images/smi...on_lol.gif]
Old restorer I hope that you're correct. I was under the impression that radiobar used tiered glasses. I purchased several sets of glasses with the thicker non-tiered glasses for my three radiobars because I thought there were a close approximation of the originals. If they're original they're not that hard to find. Fifty years ago folks are going to find radiobars with rolypoly glassware thinking it's original glassware. Here's a pic of glassware I found in the "wild". The two on the left are common and easy to find, while the two on the right are almost impossible to find. The ice bucket is tiered and extremely thin. I'm not sure if the ice bucket is original but it matches some I've seen as parts of complete sets. Perhaps this could be the topic of a new thread.
Keith
You may as well put look alike glassware in the bar, if you intend to use it as a bar, or if the original stuff is missing. It seems kind of stupid to pay $40+ a piece for tumblers and other glasses just because they are radiobar originals when the originals weren't exactly high end glassware to start with. You could fill the thing with Bohemian or Irish crystal, even at full retail, cheaper then with Radiobar glassware. Most of the RadioBars you see came with a 620 chassis, which is a decent performing set, but hardly a top end model, so I don't really understand the prices people seem to pay for them.
Regards
Arran
This may be an old post, but I wanted to add this to it. The glasses in this advertisement of that Radiobar model match exactly what you have. I think they are all 100% Radiobar glasses! Congrats on that bar, very rare!!! I believe they changed the glassware in 1939 and 1940 model years. They are pretty rare and I do not see them very often. Don’t switch them out
![[-]](https://philcoradio.com/phorum/images/bootbb/collapse.png "[-]")
