[PhilcoPhan1936]

My Dad met with his tax accountant today. He spotted a radio in the office, and mentioned that I collect and restore Antique Radios, so his accountant is going to give it to him to send to me.  
I looked it up in the gallery.
One thing I'm curious about: since most collectors tend to collect AC sets, I'm curious how many battery sets tend to survive? Over 48,000 were made, but I have not seen this radio pop up in discussions here or on the Facebook groups. I'm on the West Coast, so Radios are harder to come by than they are East of the Mississippi. I wonder how common this set might be at, say, Kutztown?

I'm posting from my iPad, and the Flickr app is not giving me the proper code to post pic inline on this post, so I'll add the pic tonight after work. It looks to be in excellent condition, though.

[Ron Ramirez]

> Over 48,000 were made

58,432 according to Philco Furniture History.
http://philcoradio.com/gallery2/1940a/#Model_40-95T

I don't know how many battery operated Philcos have survived, but there are still a lot of them out there in barns, attics, storage units and collections. The guys who like to hoard thousands of radios probably have several.

I've seen a few 40-95T sets around, but I have never owned one that I can recall at present. I don't really care for the styling, but that's just my opinion. It was OK for its time and intended purpose. I don't know how many show up at Kutztown; to be honest, I've never paid any attention as I am usually focused on certain items when I go to K-town - and I usually don't find them . Maybe I'll be more open-minded this time around and who knows what I will find.

Oh, Jeff, when you get that radio, we could use more - and better - photos of that model for the Philco Radio Gallery (hint, hint). Please?

[PhilcoPhan1936]

Ron,
Thanks for the info, much appreciated. I personally don't like the ruler scale dial, but I do like the cabinet style, so I may keep it as part of my collection.

As to the gallery, I believe I submitted some pics last year not long after the new gallery went up, and as far as I know, they never got posted. Whether they got lost in cyberspace, or whatever, I haven't had time to follow up. In any case, once I have it in hand, I'll be happy to submit some more and hopefully nicer pics of this model. I have a handful of other models that I think the gallery would benefit from more pics of. Just need time to look at what I have and what's needed in the gallery.

[Nathan Slingerland]

Hi Jeff,

Actually your images were added to the Philco 45C as well as the late 37-610T.

We do have some pending Gallery additions - but I don't see anything else from you there.
I have been exercising some editorial discretion over the submissions - trying to add only the most representative examples (e.g. original finish, correct grille cloth) for the photos. It kind of depends though if we already have photos or not.

Pics for the 40-95T would be awesome. Personally, I like that cabinet style too. I've seen them from time to time and will eventually pick one up I'm sure.

-Nathan

[Nathan Slingerland]

Lol - I checked eBay and another one just listed:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1940-Antique-Ph...3565193768

[PhilcoPhan1936]

Nathan,
Thanks for posting those. I thought I submitted more than those two. Sorry I missed seeing those post. I'll be sure to submit more when I get a chance. I'll try to make sure they are as close to original as possible. I know the 1936 116PX is very rare and needs some gallery updates, however, mine will need veneer repair, and a refinish. Also the grill cloth is a Richmond Designs replacement.
Interesting that 40-95T showed up on eBay. I think they are asking a bit much, though, considering it's unrestored.

[Nathan Slingerland]

Awesome! The 116PX is a rare one indeed (1,050 made)!

Original finish, perfect grille cloth, etc. is just 'ideal'. For the rare sets - and even more common sets that we don't have photos of - any photo contribution is going to be tremendously useful.

I think my rarest set is a 28D (1,000 of that cabinet style made). Not a fancy set like the 116PX - but it was my first 6-legged Philco. And recently I added another hexapod to go with it - a 44H (that cabinet is more common - 29,500 made, shared with a few other models).

[PhilcoPhan1936]

As promised, here's the pic of the one my Dad is getting for me. It'll be some weeks before I have it in hand, though. He won't have it for a couple weeks at least, and then he needs to pack and ship it from Arkansas to California. I'll make sure he packs it well so the shipping gorillas don't destroy it!

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4774/2608...ad2b_k.jpg]

[PhilcoPhan1936]

Nathan,

By the way, those 2 sets of yours you mentioned are absolutely gorgeous! Definitely pieces to be proud of in your collection. I hope I'm able to get my 116PX back up to snuff. When I do, I'll be sure to submit pics.

[Arran]

There are quite a number of battery sets, sometimes called "Farm" battery sets still around, but they seem to turn up more in some areas then others. Where I am at the moment AC operated radios seem to turn up much more then battery sets, but in other places I've been it was just the opposite because AC power wasn't as available outside the cities until after the war. I have a collection of battery radios because when I started in this hobby it was a way for me to get pre war radios for a cheap price, most of the other collectors tended to avoid them because they are not worth much if they needed any restoration done, and because you either needed to build a battery eliminator, locate and rebuild a vintage eliminator, or construct battery packs in order to operate them. Quite often they would still work, or would work after minimal repair, after power was applied, due to the cool running tubes and low number of operating hours on them
  Now as for the set in question, it seems to be a pretty average battery set using 1.4 octal tubes, probably something like a 1C5 (1A5,1T5,or 1Q5) 1H5, 1N5, and a 1A7, no RF amp or extra IF amp tube, and AM broadcast only, runs on 1.5 volts and 90 volts. Basically like a portable radio in a veneered cabinet, rather then cloth covered, and no handle. It probably had space for an "A-B" pack that was plugged in and fitted right behind the chassis, though many elected to use separate "A" and "B" batteries since the "A" batteries would die first. Be careful though, these suffer from the same rotting rubber/gutta percha covered wire as their AC cousins, including in the battery cables and the IF cans, I think even the Canadian models did, you may have to make up a new cable with more modern vinyl or EPDM covered wire if you intend to operate it. One more thing, before you power it up there is a small electrolytic running from the screen of the power output tube 1A5 to ground, I would clip it out of circuit or replace it in case it shorts out.
Regards
Arran