1936 Philco 116PX - Printable Version

1936 Philco 116PX - Printable Version

+- The PHILCO Phorum (https://philcoradio.com/phorum)
+-- Forum: Philco Radio Discussions (https://philcoradio.com/phorum/forumdisplay.php?fid=5)
+--- Forum: Philco Home Radios (https://philcoradio.com/phorum/forumdisplay.php?fid=6)
+--- Thread: 1936 Philco 116PX (/showthread.php?tid=16598)

Pages: 1 2

1936 Philco 116PX - PhilcoPhan1936 - 05-02-2017

I spotted this on an App I downloaded on my iPad, called "LetGo". I had bought an early 1920s Emerson 12" 3 speed oscillating fan on New Year's Eve, and since then, I check it regularly.
I spotted this and thought, "Oh no, I need another console like I need another hole in the head. Besides, I don't have room for it." Icon_crazy

I posted the pic on the Facebook Radio Groups, and everyone said "Get it!", "It's rare!" Icon_exclaim

. I contacted the seller and he was kind enough to send more pics. Icon_thumbup

After some research, I found there was mention of only 2-3 of these mentioned on the Forums, Including Skip's from 2013. I decided as rare as it was, it warranted picking it up. I picked it up on February 28, 2017. The seller was very pleasant and friendly, even offering me some records from his vast collection, but I politely refused, as I have quite the collection myself! My parents are graciously housing it in their living room until I finish a restoration on a 1951 pinball machine for a client. Once that is done, and out of my shop, This will be coming home!
Some discussion has been stirring recently over this unit on Skip's thread here on the Phorum, so I decided to drop by my parents and get some more photos and inspect it a bit more. I have lots of pics, and will present my findings here. Once it's home, and I start the restoration process, I'll be sure to document it in the restoration sections.

So, here we go:

This unit, to the best of my knowledge at the time of picking it up, was complete Icon_thumbup

. The seller told me he used to listen to his records on it some years ago.

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4257/35640650776_3e0cc91776_z.jpg]

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4214/35549784691_ce29b8226f_z.jpg]

It stands a full 48" tall with the lid closed. I'm 5'11" (6' with shoes on) so you get a good idea of its size with me standing by it.

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4082/35549794201_2ef203d8b7_z.jpg]

RE: 1936 Philco 116PX - PhilcoPhan1936 - 05-02-2017

It has some damage to the cabinet, mainly on the lower part of the cabinet. Icon_cry

There is veneer damage and missing veneer on both sides and the front.

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4212/35762742835_f336eb1f46_z.jpg]

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4143/35511096002_695a1ebbb8_b.jpg]

A close-up of the bottom of the front grill columns:

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4010/35293114820_7604f849c9_b.jpg]

RE: 1936 Philco 116PX - PhilcoPhan1936 - 05-02-2017

It uses a General Industries record changer. This unit I'm sure is familiar to some of you. It ejects the records off to the left side.

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4214/35549784691_ce29b8226f_b.jpg]

RE: 1936 Philco 116PX - PhilcoPhan1936 - 05-02-2017

Some detail shots of the record changer:

The tone arm has a nice art deco look to it, but it looks bent to me. Icon_cry

Is it supposed to be angled like this or flat Icon_question

RE: 1936 Philco 116PX - PhilcoPhan1936 - 05-02-2017

And now to address the doors on the side. It had been discussed on Skip's thread what the reason or function of the doors might be.

(For easy reference, here’s a link to Skip’s Phorum post about his unit, and discussions:
https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=6341&highlight=116PX)

After closer inspection, it does in fact look like there was some kind of structure that once upon a time had been on the inside of the doors. I saw router grooves on the inside of the door, suggesting some sort of wood pocket to drop records into. One door is split Icon_cry

(The side with the most veneer missing), and needs to be repaired. Both doors are hinged on the bottom with piano hinges, much like the top lid, and are designed to tilt out. With no structure inside, they just flop all the way open. I imagine when it had a pocket, there was some sort of "stop" built in that would keep the door from flopping all the way open.

When I picked up the unit, and left it at my parents house, I didn't inspect the inside of the doors that closely. Now that I see how they are designed, it makes sense these were designed for record storage.

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4255/35762720735_4552e911bc_z.jpg]

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4023/35762725065_8ce5011ae8_z.jpg]

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4022/35762729725_ea9af9ac45_z.jpg]

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4014/35762737155_963205059b_z.jpg]

It certainly appears that there would be room for a decent sized pocket for holding records, if looking in from the back of the cabinet.

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4238/35762779265_693083b38d_z.jpg]

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4263/35762783955_a0b0541015_z.jpg]

The door that is broken. You can see the hinge on the bottom.

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4238/34921553334_5cb129190e_z.jpg]

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4285/34922067014_55fb78eb09_b.jpg]

RE: 1936 Philco 116PX - PhilcoPhan1936 - 05-02-2017

The speaker and acoustic clarifiers all appear intact. I didn't see any rips or holes. Icon_thumbup

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4005/35292860840_055152fb90_b.jpg]

RE: 1936 Philco 116PX - PhilcoPhan1936 - 05-02-2017

And now for something some might find really interesting!

There was a shipping label on the back with a name and address! The unit at one time resided in a home in the Ingleside Terrace area of San Francisco.

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4028/35679800405_218fe6785c_b.jpg]

I did a Google search and found the house both on street view, and a listing on Zillow.

According to Zillow, the house was built in 1927, and it last sold in 1974 for $85,000. Now currently valued at $2.5 million!! I wish the radio had risen in value as much as the house has!

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4124/35510922972_5291e88bee_b.jpg]

RE: 1936 Philco 116PX - PhilcoPhan1936 - 05-02-2017

One more section here. I found a couple threads that mention this unit outside of the Phorum. Here they are for your perusal.

http://rec.antiques.radio-phono.narkive.com/zUFObdbi/record-changer-for-a-philco-116-122

http://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=69075

RE: 1936 Philco 116PX - theradiofox - 05-02-2017

That is fascinating! Thanks for all the photos.

It does look as if there were pockets on the fold out doors to hold record albums. They probably had a stop to hold the door at an angle.

Unfortunately, the tone arm is bent. It should lay flat across the top. I don't know if you can gently coax it back to normal without breaking it or not. It would have to go slow and gentle.

-Steve

RE: 1936 Philco 116PX - PhilcoPhan1936 - 05-02-2017

Being a woodworker, and having built a couple things, I recognized the routered slot inside the doors as a sign there used to be pockets for storage in there. I missed that during my initial inspection when I picked it up and left it at my parents house. I have enough experience that I could fashion replacements, but it would be nice to have detail pics to see what they look like. Icon_thumbup

I wonder if applying some heat from a heat gun would help in straightening out the tone arm Icon_question

Thanks for your comments and info, Steve Icon_thumbup

Much appreciated!

RE: 1936 Philco 116PX - Warren - 05-02-2017

If the tone arm is made of pot metal it will probably break if straightned. I would be careful, heat usually isnt good for pot metal either.

RE: 1936 Philco 116PX - PhilcoPhan1936 - 07-06-2017

It's home! Icon_biggrin

. I went over to visit my parents over the 4th of July, and decided to bring it home. I'll be working on rearranging my "shop" to accommodate it, probably today.
I'll also start the process of checking out and restoring the chassis. I'll document it over in the Philco Electronic Restoration Section.
Here's some pics after bringing it home.

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4045/34921164284_5c10e4590e_z.jpg]

I had to run to the hardware store for some screws, screw collars, and t-nuts in order to secure the record player mounting flat. You can see the new parts in the corners. I'm pretty sure that is how the tone-arm got bent. A move at some point with the flat not secured. Icon_e_sad

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4112/35374502020_c8acc72c09_z.jpg]

I was able to gently bend the tone-arm back nearly straight, and secure it for the move. Icon_thumbup

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4218/34921166484_c7ca43a72d_z.jpg]

RE: 1936 Philco 116PX - morzh - 07-06-2017

That one will be a lot of work but will be worth it all in the end.

Congrats!

RE: 1936 Philco 116PX - Warren - 07-06-2017

Good to hear ... Icon_biggrin