Philco for 1953

Overview

Philco's 1953 line includ­ed more table mod­el radios than the pre­vi­ous year, but only one con­sole radio-phono­graph mod­el. A new end table radio-phono­graph was intro­duced, which could be used as a stand for a Philco table mod­el tele­vi­sion set.

Dur­ing this mod­el year, Philco chose to empha­size what they called the "Spe­cial Ser­vices" band, the low­er short­wave fre­quen­cies between 1.7 and 3.4 mc. At the time, civ­il defense, ama­teur, fish­ing fleets, for­est ser­vice, police, fire, air­craft and marine sig­nals could be heard on this band. The vast major­i­ty of Philco's 1953 mod­els could receive this band.

Philco also chose to make an Amer­i­can ver­sion of an old export Trop­ic mod­el avail­able for the first (and only) time - the 53-960. This giant radio could receive all of the short­wave fre­quen­cies as well as AM.

A new com­bi­na­tion clock radio and lamp was also avail­able this year (53-706).

Model Index

Intro­duced Sum­mer 1952, with changes/additions made Jan­u­ary 1953

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

The 1953 Philco Line

53-559 53-560 53-561 53-562 53-563 53-564 53-565
53-566 53-568 53-642 53-651 53-652 53-656 53-658
No
Pho­to
53-700 53-701 53-701X 53-702 53-706 53-707 53-800
53-804 53-950 53-952 53-954 53-956 53-958 53-960
53-1350 53-1750 53-1754

Models

The 1953 Philco Line


Model 53-559

Model 53-559 - Model 53-559 in mahogany plastic.
Model 53-559 - Model 53-559 in sand colored plastic.

A five tube, AC/DC mod­el which was avail­able in a mahogany or sand col­ored plas­tic cab­i­net. It received the AM band only.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-560

Model 53-560

Sim­i­lar to the 53-559 above, the 560 uses a larg­er tun­ing knob.

The cab­i­net was avail­able in three col­ors - ebony, ivory, and mahogany.

The radio receives the AM band and uses five tubes.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-561

Model 53-561

The first of sev­er­al five-tube, AC/DC, 1953 table mod­els which not only cov­ers the AM band, but also a "Spe­cial Ser­vices" band (1.7 to 3.4 mc, shortwave).

At the time, the "Spe­cial Ser­vices" band includ­ed police, fire, air­craft and fish­ing broad­casts. There isn't much on this band today.

This mod­el was avail­able in six colors:

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-562

Model 53-562
Model 53-562

Using the same chas­sis as the 53-561 above, the 562 was also avail­able in six colors:

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-563

Model 53-563

A cab­i­net with an unusu­al yet styl­ish plas­tic cab­i­net housed a five tube radio that could oper­ate on AC or DC current.

It receives the AM band plus "Spe­cial Ser­vices" (1.7 to 3.4 mc).

The cab­i­net was made in Ebony and Swedish Red versions.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-564

Model 53-564

A five tube, AC/DC Philco that was avail­able in the fol­low­ing colors:

It also receives AM and the "Spe­cial Ser­vices" band.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-565

Model 53-565
Model 53-565

Sim­i­lar in appear­ance to mod­el 53-564 above, the 565 also receives the AM band plus short­wave from 1.7 to 3.4 mc.

It uses five tubes and oper­ates on AC or DC current.

The plas­tic cab­i­net was avail­able in Spruce Green or Ebony.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-566

Model 53-566 - Model 53-566 in mahogany plastic.
Model 53-566 - Model 53-566 in ivory.

Five tubes, AC/DC, AM and "Spe­cial Ser­vices." One of the more styl­ish mod­els of 1953.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-568

Model 53-568

This mod­el was made in a gray plas­tic cab­i­net. It also receives AM and the "Spe­cial Ser­vices" band.

Using five tubes, the set oper­ates on AC or DC house­hold current.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-642

Model 53-642

This "three-way" (AC, DC or bat­ter­ies) portable was avail­able in the fol­low­ing colors:

It receives the AM band only.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-651

Model 53-651

This three-way portable mod­el uses four tubes plus a sele­ni­um rec­ti­fi­er, and receives the AM band.

It was avail­able in Cher­ry, Drift­wood, and Spruce Green.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-652

Model 53-652

Four tubes and a sele­ni­um rec­ti­fi­er are used in this three-way Philco portable that receives the AM band.

It was avail­able in no less than sev­en dif­fer­ent colors:

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-656

Model 53-656

One of two portable Philco mod­els to include the "Spe­cial Ser­vices" band (1.7 to 3.4 mc) in addi­tion to recep­tion of the stan­dard AM band, this mod­el oper­ates on AC or DC cour­rent or on batteries.

It uses five tubes plus a sele­ni­um rectifier.

The 656 was avail­able in the fol­low­ing colors:

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-658

Model 53-658

This portable mod­el uses the same chas­sis as the 53-656 above, but the cab­i­net is wood with a leather covering.

It was also avail­able in three col­ors: Tan, Green, and Gray.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-700

Model 53-700 - Image used with permission.
Model 53-700 - Image used with permission. Model 53-700 - Image used with permission. Model 53-700

This entry lev­el clock radio includes a sim­ple clock which does not have an auto­mat­ic timer or an alarm. The five tube radio will receive AM and "Spe­cial Ser­vices" signals.

This mod­el was avail­able in either a brown mahogany or an ivory cabinet.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-701

Model 53-701 - Model 53-701 in brown mahogany.
Model 53-701 - Model 53-701 in olive green plastic.

A clock radio with auto­mat­ic timer and alarm, it is oth­er­wise iden­ti­cal to mod­el 53-700 above. It uses five tubes and receives the AM and "Spe­cial Ser­vices" bands.

Besides the olive green and brown mahogany col­ors shown above, the 53-701 was also avail­able in Ivory, Ebony, Cher­ry and Sand.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-701X

Model 53-701X

The dif­fer­ence between this mod­el and the reg­u­lar 53-701 above is the "Spe­cial Ser­vices" band is omit­ted in the 701X.

Philco doc­u­men­ta­tion states this mod­el was only avail­able in Ebony.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-702

Model 53-702

A more styl­ish clock radio, the 702 includes the recep­tion of AM and "Spe­cial Ser­vices" with its five tube radio.

The clock has an auto­mat­ic timer and alarm.

This mod­el was avail­able with a maroon or beige cabinet.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-706

Model 53-706
Model 53-706 Model 53-706

This mod­el uses the same chas­sis as the 53-702 above, but is mount­ed ver­ti­cal­ly in a wood­en cab­i­net which includes a lamp on top.

The wood­en cab­i­net was avail­able with either mahogany or blonde finishes.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-707

Model 53-707

Anoth­er five-tube clock radio based on the 53-702, this mod­el is also in a ver­ti­cal wood cab­i­net, but does not have the lamp on top as does the 53-706.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-800

Sim­i­lar to mod­el 53-804 below, this Philco clock radio uses six tubes and receives AM plus the 1.7 to 3.4 mc "Spe­cial Ser­vices" band.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-804

Model 53-804

This mod­el uses six tubes; receives the AM and "Spe­cial Ser­vices" bands; and includes a clock with auto­mat­ic timer and alarm.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-950

Model 53-950 - Model 53-950, front. Image courtesy of Dan Sperry.
Model 53-950 - Model 53-950, top. Image courtesy of Dan Sperry. Model 53-950 - Model 53-950, back. Image courtesy of Dan Sperry. Model 53-950 - Model 53-950, bottom. Image courtesy of Dan Sperry. Model 53-950

Avail­able in brown or ivory, this mod­el uses six tubes and receives the AM and "Spe­cial Ser­vices" bands.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-952

Model 53-952

Anoth­er six tube Philco which could receive AM and the "Spe­cial Ser­vices" bands.

The cab­i­net is brown phenolic.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-954

Model 53-954 - Model 53-954, front. Image courtesy of Ing. Limon.
Model 53-954 - Model 53-954, back. Image courtesy of Ing. Limon. Model 53-954 - Model 53-954, inside. Image courtesy of Ing. Limon. Model 53-954 - Model 53-954, dial. Image courtesy of Ing. Limon. Model 53-954

Sim­i­lar elec­tron­i­cal­ly to the 53-950, the 53-954 is in a wood cab­i­net which was avail­able with either a mahogany or blonde finish.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-956

Model 53-956 - Image courtesy of Nick Whitesell, LTS Antiques & Collectibles.
Model 53-956 - Image courtesy of Nick Whitesell, LTS Antiques & Collectibles. Model 53-956 - Image courtesy of Nick Whitesell, LTS Antiques & Collectibles. Model 53-956

One of two AM-FM table mod­els Philco offered in 1953, this mod­el uses six tubes plus a sele­ni­um rectifier.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-958

Model 53-958

The larg­er of the two 1953 Philco AM-FM table mod­els, this set also uses six tubes plus a sele­ni­um rec­ti­fi­er. This mod­el was housed in a wood­en cabinet.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-960

Model 53-960
Model 53-960

Sim­i­lar to some of the large Philco Trop­ic mod­els of 1942-46, this very large (15-1/2 inch­es tall, 22-1/4 inch­es wide) table mod­el has nine bands cov­er­ing AM and short­wave from 540 kc to 21.9 mc.

Such a large radio had not been pro­duced by Philco for the Amer­i­can mar­ket since tomb­stone mod­els ceased to be pro­duced by the com­pa­ny sev­er­al years pre­vi­ous. And it would not be repeat­ed for 1954; this mod­el was tru­ly the last of its kind made by Philco.

The set uses eight tubes and oper­ates on AC current.

The wood cab­i­net has a mahogany fin­ish, with a mahogany leather pan­el behind the con­trol knobs.

Unlike the old­er Trop­ic mod­els, the 53-960 did not require an exter­nal anten­na. A built-in loop allowed recep­tion of AM sig­nals, while a tele­scop­ing whip anten­na allowed recep­tion of the short wave frequencies.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-1350

Model 53-1350

This table mod­el set includes a three speed phono­graph and a five tube radio which receives AM and the "Spe­cial Ser­vices" band.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-1750

Model 53-1750 - Model 53-1750, closed.
Model 53-1750 - Model 53-1750, open.

This unusu­al drop-leaf cab­i­net served two func­tions: it could be used alone as an end table radio with a built-in three-speed auto­mat­ic record chang­er, or with the leaves in the "up" posi­tion, it could be used as a stand for Philco table mod­el tele­vi­sion sets.

The radio has five tubes and receives the stan­dard AM and "Spe­cial Ser­vices" bands.

The wood cab­i­net has a mahogany finish.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 53-1754

Model 53-1754

Philco's only floor mod­el radio-phono­graph for 1953, it includes a three speed auto­mat­ic record chang­er and a six tube radio which receives AM and the "Spe­cial Ser­vices" band.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: Unknown

Num­ber made: Unknown

© 1997-, Philco Radio His­tor­i­cal Soci­ety. All rights reserved. Unau­tho­rized dupli­ca­tion pro­hib­it­ed. No part of this web­site, includ­ing text and/or pic­tures, may be used in any form with­out express writ­ten per­mis­sion of the site owner.

The views expressed here­in regard­ing the for­mer Philco Cor­po­ra­tion are the opin­ions of the Philco Radio His­tor­i­cal Soci­ety. The Soci­ety shall not be held liable for their accu­ra­cy, nor shall they be held respon­si­ble for any dam­ages caused to oth­ers by the expres­sion of these opinions.

"PHILCO" is a reg­is­tered trade­mark of Philips Elec­tron­ics North Amer­i­ca Corporation.