Philco 51-1731

[jsaxe]

For the longest time I have been trying to retro-identify the Philco console that made the rounds of my extended family throughout the 1950's and early 60's.

I believe I've found it's closest cousin, the 51-1751, as shown in the picture here: http://radioatticarchives.com/radio.php?radio=2169, only the cabinet was not mahogany colored but blonde, like bleached oak. The knobs were clear, uncolored plastic in a plain cylindrical shape with brass colored brights. Cabinet hardware was bronze in the style shown.

My family acquired this unit sometime between 1953 and 1958, and I recall that it was banished to the dining room when we got our first TV around 1954-5, but was the daily driver for many years. My family moved to another house in 1958, and I remember that my mom had a huge collection of great jazz 78's that she kept in special cases. We kids were allowed to play dopey novelty 78's like "Too Fat Polka" I also recall playing 45's and LP's on it (My brother and I were big Johnny Horton fans, and the first record I ever bought, a 45 of James Darren's "Goodbye Cruel World" in 1961). I don't believe the FM band was ever used because there were no stations in our area at the time.

I'm not looking for one of these, just curious to know if anyone has one, had one pass through his hands/life, and would like to know if there was a separate model in the blonde finish or if there was a choice of finishes at the time it was manufactured.

(Ron, if this is not appropriate for this forum, please feel free to move it somewhere else)

[Ron Ramirez]

jsaxe - no worries, your topic is most appropriate for this section.

I have some photos of 1951 Philco models. I do not have photos of the entire 1951 lineup, but do have illustrations of most of the table models and a few of the consoles. And I do not have a photo of yours - sorry!

[Guest]

jsaxe,

I've got one of those consoles, the standard finish 51-1751 anyway. A pretty good sounding radio with AM and FM. Sorry, no idea if different finishes were offered.

Chris

[Guest]

I have a 1951 model 51-1730 but it's just AM. It looks almost identical to yours but it is Mahogany color. Never seen a blonde one. I got mine through my uncle, it was his wife's father's when she was young. In the process of refinishing it but can't find the right cloth for it.