Philco for 1934 (introduced January 1934)

Overview

Model Index

The fol­low­ing Philco mod­els remained in the line­up: 14B, 14L, 14RX, 14X, 16B, 16L, 16RX, 17B, 17LS, 17XS, 18B, 18L, 18H, 18X, 19B, 19H, 38L, 44H, 47 (all ver­sions), 60L, 89 (all versions).

The fol­low­ing mod­els were dis­con­tin­ued: 16X, 19L, 19X, 38B, 44B, 54C, 57C, 60B, 80B, 81B.

Click on a thumb­nail to see infor­ma­tion and pho­tos for each model:

14MX & 18MX 16X 19X 32B 32L 34B 34L
38B 44B 44X 54C 58C 60B 60MB
84B 500L, 503L, 504L & 505L

Models


Models 14MX & 18MX

Models 14MX & 18MX - Model 14MX shown; Model 18MX is identical in appearance.

These new Philco con­soles reflect­ed a more "mod­ern" school of thought. Note how the legs have dis­ap­peared and the entire cab­i­net has tak­en on a more "stream­lined" appearance.

This new cab­i­net could be pur­chased with either the nine-tube Mod­el 14 or the eight-tube Mod­el 18 chassis.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Not avail­able (14MX), $85 (18MX)

Num­ber made: 6,407 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of both 14MX & 18MX, as well as June 1934 Mod­els 18MX & 118MX)

Model 16X

Model 16X

This is the same cab­i­net which was used for the Fall 1933 Mod­els 14X and 18X.

Some of these Mod­el 16X sets have a larg­er ver­sion of the rep­wood escutcheon with musi­cians on either side of the dial open­ing; oth­ers have the stan­dard Mod­el 16 escutcheon.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $175

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 19X

Model 19X

This new 19X con­tained a revised chas­sis (Code 128), which had a dif­fer­ent parts lay­out under­neath, and slight­ly high­er pow­er out­put (5 watts com­pared to the 3 watts of pre­vi­ous Mod­el 19 versions).

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $75

Num­ber made: 5,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­el 44X as well as June 1934 Mod­el 29X)

Model 32B

Model 32B - Image courtesy of Clifford R. Huff.

A new Philco for farms wired for 32 volt DC pow­er. The Mod­el 32 was based on the Mod­el 89, but with a sep­a­rate vibra­tor pow­er sup­ply designed to oper­ate from the 32 volt DC source found in some rur­al areas of the time.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: 10,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 34B & 44B)

Model 32L

Model 32L

The out­ward appear­ance of Mod­el 32L is iden­ti­cal to the Mod­el 89L, but this set was designed for use on a 32 volt DC pow­er supply.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: 16,807 (Note: Fig­ure includes July 1933 Mod­els 38L & 60L as well as Fall 1933 Mod­els 17LS & 18L)

Model 34B

Model 34B

A new all-wave Philco designed to oper­ate on batteries.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: 10,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 32B & 44B)

Model 34L

Model 34L

The con­sole ver­sion of Mod­el 34; a fine addi­tion to any farmhouse.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: 13,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes July 1933 Mod­els 14B & 18B)

Model 38B

Model 38B

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: 57,500 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­el 60B)

Model 44B

Model 44B
Model 44B - Image courtesy of Ed Locker.

This "flat-face" ver­sion of Mod­el 44B is some­what eas­i­er to find than is the Fall 1933 inset-pan­el version.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $65

Num­ber made: 10,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 32B & 34B)

Model 44X

Model 44X - Note: 1935 Model 29X shown. Model 44X cabinet is identical except for the escutcheon and knob layout.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: 5,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­el 19X as well as June 1934 Mod­el 29X)

Model 54C

Model 54C - Image courtesy of John Mielke.

This new com­pact Philco was the company's first mod­el to use "photofin­ish" to give the front pan­el the appear­ance of expen­sive veneer inlays.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: 49,415 (Note: Fig­ure includes Mod­el 58C as well as June 1934 Mod­el 59C)

Model 58C

Model 58C

The suc­ces­sor to Mod­el 57C now had an illu­mi­nat­ed dial, as well as a photofin­ished front pan­el iden­ti­cal to Mod­el 54C.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: 49,415 (Note: Fig­ure includes Mod­el 54C as well as June 1934 Mod­el 59C)

Model 60B

Model 60B - Image courtesy of Jim Muck.
Model 60B Model 60B

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: 57,500 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­el 38B)

Model 60MB

Model 60MB

This unusu­al Philco has a sort of Euro­pean look, quite dif­fer­ent from pre­vi­ous Philco offer­ings. The mot­tled grille cloth is unique to this model.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $37.50

Num­ber made: 15,000

Model 84B

Model 84B - Image courtesy of Rob Smith.
Model 84B - Image courtesy of David Kasabo.

Suc­ces­sor to Mod­els 80B & 81B, this new four-tube regen­er­a­tive Philco had a larg­er speak­er, and worked slight­ly bet­ter than did its predecessors.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $20

Num­ber made: 28,980

Models 500L, 503L, 504L & 505L

Models 500L, 503L, 504L & 505L - Model 503L shown. Model 500L, 504L & 505L cabinets are identical in appearance.
Models 500L, 503L, 504L & 505L - Model 503L shown. Model 500L, 504L & 505L cabinets are identical in appearance. Image courtesy of Keith Park. Models 500L, 503L, 504L & 505L

After the absence of about a year or so, Philco began try­ing to get back into the radio-phono­graph busi­ness in ear­ly 1934. How­ev­er, their radio-phono­graphs con­tin­ued to sell poor­ly. Radio-phono­graph com­bi­na­tions would not real­ly begin sell­ing well for Philco until the 1941 season.

These three mod­els, while iden­ti­cal in appear­ance, con­tain very dif­fer­ent chas­sis: Mod­el 500 was the best, with the 11-tube Mod­el 16 chas­sis. Mod­el 503L (shown above) used an eight-tube Mod­el 18 chas­sis; Mod­el 504L, a six-tube Mod­el 44 chas­sis; and Mod­el 505L, a five-tube Mod­el 60 chassis.

All four mod­els used a sin­gle-play 78 rpm phono­graph, with the same, heavy, Vic­tor-designed tone arm that had been used since the June 1930 Mod­el 296.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Not avail­able (500L, 503L, 504L), $90 (505L)

Num­ber made: 936 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 500L, 503L, 504L & 505L)

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