Philco for 1937 (introduced June 1936)

Overview

Philco's 1937 mod­el line was com­plete­ly new; all 1936 mod­el Philcos were dis­con­tin­ued. Many new Philco mod­els made exten­sive use of "photofin­ish" (decal-based) fin­ish­es on their front pan­els; which means if you strip the fin­ish off many of these 1937 mod­els, you strip away its entire look; reveal­ing very plain white wood underneath.

Most of the 1937 Philco line used a new devel­op­ment called Unit Con­struc­tion. Devel­oped by Philco chief engi­neer David Grimes (whose claim to fame pri­or to Philco was his "Inverse Duplex" radio receivers of the 1920s), the new chas­sis con­struc­tion mount­ed the set's entire front end (tun­ing con­denser, coils, band switch and asso­ci­at­ed tubes) on its own chas­sis which was mount­ed in the cen­ter of the main chas­sis and sup­port­ed by rub­ber grom­mets. These mod­els are very dif­fi­cult to ser­vice. For­tu­nate­ly, Philco only used Unit Con­struc­tion dur­ing the 1937 and 1938 mod­el years, aban­don­ing the idea afterwards.

Some­thing else made its debut in 1937 Philcos: octal-based tubes. These, how­ev­er, were not the met­al shell octals that had been devel­oped by GE and pushed hard by RCA since 1935; 1937 Philco mod­els used glass octal tubes with ST (taper-top) envelopes.

Model Index

All 1936 Philco mod­els were discontinued.

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

37-33B 37-33F 37-34B 37-34F 37-38B 37-38F 37-38J
37-60B 37-60F 37-61B 37-61F 37-84B 37-89B 37-89F
37-116X Stan­dard 37-116X De Luxe 37-600C 37-602C 37-604C 37-610B 37-610T
37-610J 37-610PF 37-611B 37-611T 37-611F 37-611J 37-620B
37-620J 37-620CS 37-623B 37-623J 37-624B 37-624J 37-630T
37-630X 37-640B 37-640X 37-640MX 37-641B 37-641X 37-641MX
37-643B 37-643X 37-650B 37-650X 37-650PX 37-660B 37-660X
37-665B 37-665X 37-670B 37-670X 37-675X Stan­dard 37-675X De Luxe 37-690X
37-2620B 37-2620J 37-2650B 37-2650X 37-2670B 37-2670X

Models


Model 37-33B

Model 37-33B

A new "entry lev­el" bat­tery set which used five tubes and received the AM band only. It could also be pur­chased as a con­sole (shown imme­di­ate­ly below).

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $39.95

Num­ber made: 113,600 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­el 37-84B as well as Jan­u­ary 1937 Mod­el 37-93B)

Model 37-33F

Model 37-33F

The con­sole ver­sion of Mod­el 37-33. This par­tic­u­lar cab­i­net style was shared by sev­er­al dif­fer­ent Philco models.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $49.95

Num­ber made: 50,400 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-34F, 37-38F, 37-60F, 37-61F, 37-89F & 37-611F)

Model 37-34B

Model 37-34B

This mod­el was designed to oper­ate on a 6 volt stor­age bat­tery. It used five tubes and received the AM band.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $49.95

Num­ber made: 102,200 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-60B, 37-61B & 37-89B)

Model 37-34F

Model 37-34F

Mod­el 37-34F

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $65

Num­ber made: 50,400 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-33F, 37-38F, 37-60F, 37-61F, 37-89F & 37-611F)

Model 37-38B

Model 37-38B

Mod­el 38 was back for 1937 in a com­plete­ly new form. This bat­tery set used six tubes and cov­ered AM and short­wave from 2.3 to 7.4 mc.

This pho­to­graph shows an excel­lent exam­ple of the "photofin­ish" used on many 1937 Philco mod­els. If the photofin­ish is stripped off or allowed to dete­ri­o­rate to the point it is flak­ing off, plain white wood will be revealed under­neath and the cab­i­net will nev­er look the same again unless care­ful­ly restored using the Stew­art Schoo­ley technique.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $49.95

Num­ber made: 68,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-610B & 37-611B)

Model 37-38F

Model 37-38F

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $65

Num­ber made: 50,400 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-33F, 37-34F, 37-60F, 37-61F, 37-89F & 37-611F)

Model 37-38J

Model 37-38J

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $69.95

Num­ber made: 48,200 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­el 37-610J as well as June 1937 Mod­el 38-610J)

Model 37-60B

Model 37-60B - Image courtesy of Clifford R. Huff.

Philco's Mod­el 60 returned for the 1937 sea­son as a com­plete­ly new radio. It used five tubes, oper­at­ed from 115 volts AC, and received AM and short­wave from 2.3 to 7.4 mc.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $33.50

Num­ber made: 102,200 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-34B, 37-61B & 37-89B)

Model 37-60F

Model 37-60F

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $42.50

Num­ber made: 50,400 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-33F, 37-34F, 37-38F, 37-61F, 37-89F & 37-611F)

Model 37-61B

Model 37-61B - Image courtesy of Ed Locker.
Model 37-61B

A vari­ant of the 37-60, the new 61 could receive a high­er range of short­wave fre­quen­cies (5.7 to 18.2 mc) as well as the stan­dard AM band. It also had con­cen­tric two-speed tun­ing, some­thing the new 37-60 did not have. This Mod­el also used five tubes and oper­at­ed on 115 volts AC.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $37.50

Num­ber made: 102,200 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-34B, 37-60B & 37-89B)

Model 37-61F

Model 37-61F

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $49.95

Num­ber made: 50,400 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-33F, 37-34F, 37-38F, 37-60F, 37-89F & 37-611F)

Model 37-84B

Model 37-84B
Model 37-84B

Philco con­tin­ued to offer a four-tube regen­er­a­tive set as its "price leader" in the new 1937 line­up. Inter­nal­ly, the chas­sis was near­ly the same as the old Mod­el 84, except for the use of four octal-based tubes in place of the stan­dard-based tubes used pre­vi­ous­ly. It oper­at­ed on 115 volts AC and received the AM band..

This par­tic­u­lar cab­i­net is not doc­u­ment­ed, but sev­er­al are known to exist and, in fact, are fair­ly easy to find.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $20

Num­ber made: Unknown

Model 37-89B

Model 37-89B

This was the suc­ces­sor to the old Mod­el 89. It used six tubes and cov­ered AM and a low range of short­wave fre­quen­cies (1.5 to 3.7 mc).

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $39.95

Num­ber made: 102,200 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-34B, 37-60B & 37-61B)

Model 37-89F

Model 37-89F

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $50

Num­ber made: 50,400 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-33F, 37-34F, 37-38F, 37-60F, 37-61F & 37-611F)

Model 37-116X Standard

Model 37-116X Standard

Philco's flag­ship Mod­el grew to 15 tubes for 1937 and became a true High Fideli­ty receiv­er with the use of a vari­able band­width con­trol. The new 116 was no longer avail­able as a Baby Grand Mod­el, but could be pur­chased as the Stan­dard con­sole (shown here), with a more con­ven­tion­al dial, or the De Luxe Mod­el (see imme­di­ate­ly below).

It seems that most of these were built and sold as De Luxe Mod­els, as the Stan­dard Mod­el is hard to find.

Both oper­at­ed on 115 volts AC and had five tun­ing bands (530-1600 kc, 1.58-4.75 mc, 4.7-7.4 mc, 7.35-11.6 mc & 11.5-18.2 mc).

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $175

Num­ber made: 35,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­el 37-116X De Luxe)

Model 37-116X De Luxe

Model 37-116X De Luxe

The 116 De Luxe offered Philco's new auto­mat­ic tun­ing mech­a­nism, but did not use the shad­owme­ter which was used in the Stan­dard ver­sion. This was obvi­ous­ly the more pop­u­lar of the two Mod­els, despite its high­er cost.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $195

Num­ber made: 35,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­el 37-116X Standard)

Model 37-600C

Model 37-600C - Image courtesy of Kim Bowers.

This new Mod­el was the suc­ces­sor to the mid-1936 Mod­el 600, with a com­plete­ly new cab­i­net. Like its pre­de­ces­sor, this cab­i­net looked the same on the back, except that the dial and con­trols were on the front only. The chas­sis was basi­cal­ly the same as the old­er 600, but now used four octal-based tubes. It still received the AM band only with its regen­er­a­tive cir­cuit, and oper­at­ed on 115 volts AC.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $25

Num­ber made: 98,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­el 37-602C)

Model 37-602C

Model 37-602C - Image courtesy of Ed Locker.

This Mod­el was the suc­ces­sor to the mid-1936 Mod­el 602. Like the 37-600 above, the 37-602 received a new cab­i­net. The inter­nal elec­tron­ics were sim­i­lar to the 602, but now used five octal-based tubes. It could be oper­at­ed from either AC or DC current.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $29.95

Num­ber made: 98,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­el 37-600C)

Model 37-604C

Model 37-604C - Image courtesy of William Dince.

Basi­cal­ly a recy­cle of the mid-1936 Mod­el 604, the new set now used five octal-based tubes. It received AM and short­wave from 6 to 18 mc, and oper­at­ed on 115 volts, AC or DC.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $39.95

Num­ber made: 10,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Jan­u­ary 1936 Mod­el 604C)

Model 37-610B

Model 37-610B
Model 37-610B - Image courtesy of Kim Bowers.

The 37-610 was the suc­ces­sor to the 1936 Mod­el 610. Like the 610, the new Mod­el used five tubes and had three bands, but the fre­quen­cy cov­er­age was some­what dif­fer­ent (530-1720 kc, 2.3-7.4 mc & 7.35-22 mc). It oper­at­ed on 115 volts AC.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $42.50

Num­ber made: 68,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-38B & 37-611B)

Model 37-610T

Model 37-610T - Model 37-610T in maple. Image courtesy of Clifford R. Huff.
Model 37-610T - Model 37-610T in walnut.

The new 37-610 table Mod­el was avail­able in either Wal­nut or Maple veneer.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $45 (wal­nut), $47.50 (maple)

Num­ber made: 28,100 (wal­nut - fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­el 37-611T), 3,000 (maple).

Model 37-610J

Model 37-610J - Image courtesy of Kim Bowers.

Pho­to cour­tesy Kim Bowers

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $59.95

Num­ber made: 48,200 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­el 37-38J as well as June 1937 Mod­el 38-610J)

Model 37-610PF

Model 37-610PF

A radio-phono­graph com­bi­na­tion with a sin­gle play 78 rpm phono­graph and a Mod­el 37-610 chassis.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $125

Num­ber made: 1,000

Model 37-611B

Model 37-611B
Model 37-611B - Image courtesy of Steve Dymale.

This Philco Mod­el was very sim­i­lar to the new Mod­el 37-610 (see above), also using five tubes, and it even had the same fre­quen­cy cov­er­age. The dif­fer­ence is that the 37-611 could oper­ate on either AC or DC current.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $47.50

Num­ber made: 68,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-38B & 37-610B)

Model 37-611T

Model 37-611T

This AC/DC table Mod­el Philco was avail­able only in wal­nut veneer.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $49.95

Num­ber made: 28,100 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of wal­nut ver­sion of Mod­el 37-610T)

Model 37-611F

Model 37-611F

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $59.95

Num­ber made: 50,400 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-33F, 37-34F, 37-38F, 37-60F, 37-61F & 37-89F)

Model 37-611J

Model 37-611J

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $65

Num­ber made: 62,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-620J, 37-623J, 37-624J & 37-2620J)

Model 37-620B

Model 37-620B - Image courtesy of Larry Specht.
Model 37-620B - Image courtesy of Kim Bowers. Model 37-620B Model 37-620B

This new six tube Philco had three bands (AM, 2.3-7.4 mc & 7.35-22 mc), and oper­at­ed on 115 volts AC.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $52.50

Num­ber made: 50,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-623B, 37-624B & 37-2620B)

Model 37-620J

Model 37-620J - Image courtesy of Dave Castor.
Model 37-620J

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $69.95

Num­ber made: 62,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-611J, 37-623J, 37-624J & 37-2620J)

Model 37-620CS

Model 37-620CS - Image courtesy of Kim Bowers.

Philco's only chair­side Mod­el for the 1937 season.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $83.95

Num­ber made: 3,500

Model 37-623B

Model 37-623B - Image courtesy of Steve Kanter.
Model 37-623B Model 37-623B

A new bat­tery-oper­at­ed Philco that could receive three bands: 530-1720 kc (AM), 2.3-7.4 mc & 7.35-22 mc. It used six tubes.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $65

Num­ber made: 50,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-620B, 37-624B & 37-2620B)

Model 37-623J

Model 37-623J

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $79.95

Num­ber made: 62,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-611J, 37-620J, 37-624J & 37-2620J)

Model 37-624B

Model 37-624B
Model 37-624B

Like the 37-623, the new 37-624 used six tubes and could receive 530-1720 kc, 2.3-7.4 mc & 7.35-22 mc. How­ev­er, this new Philco only required a sin­gle 6 volt stor­age bat­tery for power.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $75

Num­ber made: 50,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-620B, 37-623B & 37-2620B)

Model 37-624J

Model 37-624J

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $89.95

Num­ber made: 62,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-611J, 37-620J, 37-623J & 37-2620J)

Model 37-630T

Model 37-630T - Image courtesy of Chuck Schwark.
Model 37-630T - Image courtesy of Kim Bowers.

The new 37-630 was quite sim­i­lar to Mod­el 37-620; both ran on 115 volts AC and had the same fre­quen­cy cov­er­age (530-1720 kc, 2.3-7.4 mc & 7.35-22 mc). How­ev­er, the 37-630 also used a shadowmeter.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $62.50

Num­ber made: 13,689

Model 37-630X

Model 37-630X - Image courtesy of David Kasabo.
Model 37-630X

The con­sole ver­sion of the 37-630T, with the same elec­tri­cal spec­i­fi­ca­tions as above. The 630X used a larg­er (10-1/2") speaker.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $79.95

Num­ber made: 48,500

Model 37-640B

Model 37-640B - Image courtesy of Randy Winter.

A sev­en tube, three band receiv­er that oper­at­ed on 115 volts AC. Its fre­quen­cy cov­er­age includ­ed 530-1720 kc, 2.3-7.4 mc & 7.35-22 mc. A shad­owme­ter was used as a tun­ing aid.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $69.95

Num­ber made: 7,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­el 37-641B)

Model 37-640X

Model 37-640X - Image courtesy of Wayne King.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $89.95

Num­ber made: 18,500 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­el 37-641X)

Model 37-640MX

Model 37-640MX - Image courtesy of Phil Yarnell.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $95

Num­ber made: 6,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­el 37-641MX)

Model 37-641B

Model 37-641B

The 37-641 was offered in three cab­i­nets which were iden­ti­cal to Mod­el 37-640. It had the same fre­quen­cy cov­er­age as the 37-640, and also used sev­en tubes. The three ver­sions of Mod­el 37-640 sold for the same prices as their 37-640 coun­ter­parts. The dif­fer­ence? Mod­el 37-641 oper­at­ed on either AC or DC current.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $69.95

Num­ber made: 7,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­el 37-640B)

Model 37-641X

Model 37-641X

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $89.95

Num­ber made: 18,500 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­el 37-640X)

Model 37-641MX

Model 37-641MX

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $95

Num­ber made: 6,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­el 37-640MX)

Model 37-643B

Model 37-643B

The 37-643 was the best Philco you could buy in 1937 if you need­ed a bat­tery-oper­at­ed receiv­er. It used sev­en tubes and had four bands: 530-1600 kc, 1.58-4.8 mc, 4.7-11.6 mc & 11.5-18.2 mc.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $89.95

Num­ber made: 4,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-650B, 37-660B, 37-665B & 37-2650B)

Model 37-643X

Model 37-643X

A new, ele­gant, Inclined Sound­ing Board Philco for rur­al areas with no elec­tric­i­ty. There was no fin­er bat­tery-oper­at­ed Philco in the 1937 Mod­el year.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $115

Num­ber made: 14,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-660X & 37-665X)

Model 37-650B

Model 37-650B

A new eight tube, AC oper­at­ed receiv­er with three tun­ing bands (530-1720 kc, 5.7-11.6 mc & 11.5-18.2 mc).

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $79.95

Num­ber made: 4,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-643B, 37-660B, 37-665B & 37-2650B)

Model 37-650X

Model 37-650X - Image courtesy of Steve Kanter.

There is a great deal of sim­i­lar­i­ty between Mod­els 37-630X and 37-650X. But there are some dif­fer­ences also; besides the fact that the 37-650X con­tains the eight tube 37-650 chas­sis (as opposed to the six tube 37-630), the styling along the top edge of the cab­i­nets is slight­ly dif­fer­ent. Also, the veneer on the con­trol pan­el has a dif­fer­ent pattern.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $100

Num­ber made: 69,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­el 37-2650X)

Model 37-650PX

Model 37-650PX - Model 37-650PX, closed.
Model 37-650PX - Model 37-650PX, open. Model 37-650PX - Model 37-650PX, inside.

Here is anoth­er Philco radio-phono­graph offer­ing for the 1937 sea­son, which used the 37-650 chas­sis, with a sin­gle play 78 rpm phono­graph under the top lid.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $185

Num­ber made: 1,500

Model 37-660B

Model 37-660B

A nine tube receiv­er with four band cov­er­age (530-1720 kc, 2.3-7.4 mc, 7.35-11.6 mc & 11.5-18.2 mc), the 37-660 oper­at­ed on 115 volts AC.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $89.95

Num­ber made: 4,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-643B, 37-650B, 37-665B & 37-2650B)

Model 37-660X

Model 37-660X - Image courtesy of William F. Honer.

The 37-660X was avail­able in wal­nut or in mahogany.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $115

Num­ber made: 14,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-643X & 37-665X)

Model 37-665B

Model 37-665B

In appear­ance, the two ver­sions of Mod­el 37-665 were iden­ti­cal to the two 37-660 Mod­els. Both used nine tubes and oper­at­ed on 115 volts AC. The dif­fer­ence was in the fre­quen­cy cov­er­age; the 37-665 could receive 530-1720 kc, 2.3-7.4 mc, 7.35-22 mc & 25-42 mc.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $99.50

Num­ber made: 4,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-643B, 37-650B, 37-660B & 37-2650B)

Model 37-665X

Model 37-665X

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $125

Num­ber made: 14,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-643X & 37-660X)

Model 37-670B

Model 37-670B - Image courtesy of Doug Houston.
Model 37-670B

The new 37-670 Baby Grand was the suc­ces­sor to the 1936 Mod­el 116 Baby Grand. Both are sim­i­lar in appear­ance and in size (although the 37-670 is larg­er in width & depth), and both use 11 tubes. The 37-670 has five bands which cov­er the fol­low­ing fre­quen­cies: 530-1600 kc, 1.58-4.75 mc, 4.7-7.4 mc, 7.35-11.6 mc & 11.5-18.2 mc. It oper­ates on 115 volts AC.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $99.50

Num­ber made: 9,500 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­el 37-2670B)

Model 37-670X

Model 37-670X

The con­sole ver­sion of Mod­el 37-670B.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $139.50

Num­ber made: 11,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­el 37-2670X)

Model 37-675X Standard

Model 37-675X Standard

Anoth­er Philco which could be pur­chased with a con­ven­tion­al dial (Stan­dard) or with Philco's Auto­mat­ic Tun­ing mech­a­nism (imme­di­ate­ly below). Both ver­sions oper­at­ed on 115 volts AC, used 12 tubes, and had five bands (530-1600 kc, 1.58-4.75 mc, 4.7-7.4 mc, 7.35-11.6 mc & 11.5-18.2 mc).

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $150

Num­ber made: 7,200

Model 37-675X De Luxe

Model 37-675X De Luxe - Image courtesy of Bill and Jacque Ward - Heartland Antiques.

The De Luxe ver­sion of Mod­el 37-675 used the Auto­mat­ic Tun­ing mech­a­nism. Unlike the 37-116X De Luxe, the 37-675X De Luxe did not sell as well as did the stan­dard version.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $169.50

Num­ber made: 1,500

Model 37-690X

Model 37-690X - Model 37-690X, doors closed. Image courtesy of Frank Drost.
Model 37-690X - Model 37-690X, doors fully open. Image courtesy of Frank Drost.

This was Philco's finest radio for the 1937 sea­son and rep­re­sent­ed a new peak for the company's High Fideli­ty devel­op­ments. The 37-690 used 20 tubes spread over two chas­sis and had a 14 inch woofer, two 6 inch tweet­ers and four 8 inch pas­sive radi­a­tors. Of course it also used a vari­able band­width con­trol for High Fideli­ty reception.

Its five tun­ing bands cov­ered 530-1600 kc, 1.58-4.75 mc, 4.7-7.4 mc, 7.35-11.6 mc & 11.5-18.2 mc.

The two mas­sive front doors were designed to fold back against the sides of the cabinet.

Ear­ly Philco ads showed the 37-690 with han­dles on the doors instead of the knobs shown on this set. No 37-690 has yet been found with the han­dles; every exam­ple that has been seen so far has had the knobs just like the set shown above.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $375

Num­ber made: 2,500

Model 37-2620B

Model 37-2620B

The dif­fer­ence between Mod­els 37-620 and 37-2620 was in the fre­quen­cy cov­er­age. Mod­el 37-2620 cov­ered long­wave, AM and one short­wave band (5.7 to 18 mc). It used six tubes and oper­at­ed on 115 volts AC (export Mod­els oper­at­ed on either 115 or 230 volts AC).

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $55

Num­ber made: 50,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-620B, 37-623B & 37-624B)

Model 37-2620J

Model 37-2620J

The con­sole ver­sion of Mod­el 37-2620.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $72.50

Num­ber made: 62,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-611J, 37-620J, 37-623J & 37-624J)

Model 37-2650B

Model 37-2650B

This new eight-tube Philco added a long­wave band to its AM and two short­wave bands (5.7-11.6 & 11.5-18.2 mc). Domes­tic Mod­els oper­at­ed on 115 volts AC; export Mod­els could oper­ate on either 115 or 230 volts AC.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $85

Num­ber made: 4,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­els 37-643B, 37-650B, 37-660B & 37-665B)

Model 37-2650X

Model 37-2650X

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $105

Num­ber made: 69,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­el 37-650X)

Model 37-2670B

Model 37-2670B

The 37-2670 was much like Mod­el 37-670, but added long­wave cov­er­age (150 to 350 kc) while reduc­ing the short­wave bands from four to three (1.6-4.8, 4.6-11.5 & 11.5-22 mc). Of course it also received the AM band. Like Philco's oth­er 2600 Mod­els, domes­tic ver­sions of the 37-2670 oper­at­ed on 115 volts AC while export ver­sions could run on either 115 or 230 volt AC. It used 11 tubes.

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $99.50

Num­ber made: 9,500 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­el 37-670B)

Model 37-2670X

Model 37-2670X

Orig­i­nal sell­ing price: $139.50

Num­ber made: 11,000 (Note: Fig­ure includes pro­duc­tion of Mod­el 37-670X)

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