At least I am pretty sure that is what this is as the model tag is missing. Got a call on this from a shop and fellow collector right before work yesterday. He stated he was selling the 'Biggest Philco Tombstone" he had ever seen for someone and thought he'd better get me over there before it either sold or he got too tempted to buy it. After hearing his description, I went up this morning right after he opened his shop and now own the king of the Philco tombstones! Great sounding set if I may say so, maybe a bit better than my 116X which is acting like it has a flaky tube.
The pros: It's a 116B! It's complete. It plays well. Electrolytics appear to have been replaced sometime in the past. Veneer is good.
The cons. Crappy refinish job. Patched speaker (sounds ok). Grill cloth is shot. Still has a lot of original capacitors. Cost me $225 to get.
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Wow ! Great set ! I'm sure you will have fun restoring it properly. I really look forward to following your progress. Please keep the pictures coming. They are so informative. As they say, " one picture worth one thousand words." As for the price, I think I might have paid that myself for a set in that condition, no seriously difficult issues. I'm a sucker for these old multi-band sets. Best of luck with the restoration !
Nice looking set! Keep us all posted with your progress.
- Geoff
Very nice! The 116 is a great set. It's the best table top Philco ever made and the 10" speaker gives it that "console" sound.
Nice that the veneer is good as it will make for an easy refinish
The 116B is a good performer, but it probably has the least appealing cabinet of all the 16B/116Bs. I'm not sure that I would have paid as much as that for one myself, very likely not, it wasn't a rip off but it wasn't a bargain either. However you wanted one that played and I am somewhat indifferent to that, I don't really trust anyone else's work unless I can see what was done or know who did it, so I'm unwilling to pay extra for that.
Regards
Arran
I was willing to pay the price for several reasons. One being that these just don't pop up around here. Tombstone and cathedral radios in general around here are not common to find outside of collections and when they do come up for sale, they usually demand a bit of a price and don't last long. Yes, I have lucked out the past couple years, but that was just it, LUCK! Other than the mid-century crap, these seem to be the only type radios people are looking for lately and I've heard they even bring way better prices at the Estes sales than even a nice, common console will lately. Also, the older gentleman who wanted this radio sold was no dummy and had done his research. Basically, for me, this is a once in a lifetime radio and the fact I was given first dibs really helped on my decision.
As for sound, this radio definitely has that console sound. I listened to it for an hour in my bedroom this even with no issues and a couple family members actually mistook it for the stereo I got not too long ago. Actually, that is a bit of an insult to the Philco!
I don't think it was over priced. You don't see the 116's often. The fact that it plays is always a big plus even if you want to go over the last persons cap job. I haven't bought a 116 as of yet, but I do have a 16B and the performance/sound is awesome. The 10" speaker Philco put in these sets have a deep, full sound.
Nice find! Seems a little pricey for me, but it is a difficult set to find. What happened to thinning down?? Take care, Gary
I am still trying to thin down, but no-one is buying right now. I might still have to go the auction route next spring the way things are going. That said, radios like the 116B are still on my list to get and there was no way I was going to say no to a complete, working example. Same would go for a 37-690 or 38-690. Even so, I actually did rethink even this radio before going to get it yesterday.
Nice score Jayce. Doesn't really matter what anyone else would have paid for it as long as you're happy with the deal. Prices vary widely according to location and that isn't a radio you'd want someone trying to ship. Fortunately that grille cloth is being reproduced again. Enjoy and keep us updated.....