[Ron Ramirez]

Kirk spotted this on the auction site. I have never seen anything like this before, so I bought it to see if I could figure out anything more about it.

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum..._00001.jpg]

The trouble is, the only known 42-123 is a console model (42-123F).

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum..._00003.jpg]

I looked in Philco Furniture History to make sure I had not missed it.

Nope, no 42-123T there.

However, there is an entry for a 42-132T, cabinet no. 10594-A, designed by A.R. Woodman on November 26, 1941.

With a design date that late in the year, this would have been intended as a mid-season 1942 model. Of course, Pearl Harbor and America's subsequent entry into WWII basically put an end to Philco's 1942 season, although a few mid-season models were still introduced and put into very limited production before conversion to 100% war work for the government sometime in the Spring of 1942.

No other information is listed.

So...I am wondering if the 132 is a typo, and maybe they meant 42-123T?

I did a Google patent search, and there are no design patents for any radio cabinets designed by A.R. Woodman.

So it remains much of a mystery.

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum..._00004.jpg]

It is missing the outer portion of one of the feet.

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum..._00005.jpg]

It has an unusually large speaker for a battery radio...and plenty of space in back for the batteries.

This radio has five tubes and a single band, just like the 42-122T and 42-123F.

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum..._00006.jpg]

You can't really tell from the photo, but when I look at the chassis carefully, it sure looks like 42-123 to me.

Oh, forgot to mention: There are no stickers or labels of any kind inside or underneath the cabinet.