[Ron Ramirez]

I have seen some 1946/47 Philco consoles with a cardboard cover over the speaker compartment only. But the radio portion had no back.

Keep in mind most prewar radios, and some postwar models as well, never had backs. It was understood that parents would teach Junior and Sally to stay the heck away from the back of the radio. Common sense, you know. That thing that has all but disappeared today.