[gary rabbitt]

Hi all,
I have a question someone may know the rhyme or reason behind this. On some of the Philco tabletop sets I've seen, there is a decorative design foil board under the chassis. No, it's not asbestos, but a foil covered piece of thin cardboard.

The last 2 model 84 and 84B had this foil. Other models may have the same, I can't remember.
The foil was probably used to dissipate or insulate heat from getting to the cabinet. That is obvious. But, the actual material used. Was it that Philco got a special deal on some kind if foil boards that were used for something else? They may have then cut them to size, punched holes etc. I can't remember seeing these type of designs on anything else from that era.

If that's the case, i wonder what kind of use they had, other then being used in a radio? I suspect that Philco didn't take the time and effort to design an embossed pattern, just to go under a chassis. There has to be some other reason. Or, maybe not. It's one of those things an inquiring mind wants to know

Here are the last 2 sets I saw the foil on.
Any other speculation about the foil ?
Thanks.

[Image: http://antiqueradios.com/gallery/d/13253...B+Foil.JPG]

[Image: http://antiqueradios.com/gallery/d/13253...bottom.JPG]