The PHILCO Phorum

Hi
Looking for some help in identifying a tall case clock ( I believe a Sessions clock) and a Philco radio combined.
It's obviously from the 30's. But who made it? When? and exactly which chassis is in it? are questions I'd like to answer before approaching the current owner with an offer.

It was suggested to me that third parties made these?

Could this have been a generic case, I noticed what looks like a cap (& hole) to close holes near the dial?
Also below the dial looks like maybe it was filled?

Thanks for any help identifying this.












Pm me if you have specific info

Steve

Well for starters it's not a Philco cabinet or clock. Don't know if it was an after market cabinet or it was a clock / radio from a different manufacturer. Would take a guess and and say in was make somewhere around 1928-33. Didn't see many after that. The Philco chassis is  from 1937 and looks like a 37-610. To me not worth much at all.

Terry

(07-31-2015, 05:13 PM)Radioroslyn Wrote: [ -> ]Well for starters it's not a Philco cabinet or clock. Don't know if it was an after market cabinet or it was a clock / radio from a different manufacturer. Would take a guess and and say in was make somewhere around 1928-33. Didn't see many after that. The Philco chassis is  from 1937 and looks like a 37-610. To me not worth much at all.

Terry

Terry
I think the clock is a Sessions clock if that helps

The chassis seems to be different than 37-610

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f296/d...C08018.jpg

Hi
Thanks for the reply.

I took a look at the chassis you mentioned and it appears not to be match, unless there are variations.

Here is a photo of one online.

http://www.tuberadioland.com/images/phil37-10t_4_.jpg

Have another idea on the radio?

Appears to have 2 output transformers?

There may be a chassis number on it but it's not readable on the photos available.

What brands of grandfather electric clock radios were there?

I'm wondering if the original radio died and it was replaced with a philco as a repair or an enhancement.


The owner claims it has a sessions clock. Again could have been replaced.

thinktreasure
that's not right radio for that
some one defiantly put that in. that's why you have other holes in it
unless you really like it and can fix it
250. is too high if had original radio maybe
sam

That's a 1930-31 vintage cabinet and a 1937 Philco chassis (as said, probably a 37-610 chassis).  Don't waste your money on this creation; real Philco tall clocks aren't that rare nor expensive ($150-200 for a nice one).

It's a 37-611 chassis - note the two chokes where a power transformer would be in the 37-610. An AC/DC version of the 37-610.

(08-02-2015, 06:24 PM)Ron Ramirez Wrote: [ -> ]It's a 37-611 chassis - note the two chokes where a power transformer would be in the 37-610. An AC/DC version of the 37-610.

I wouldn't be in a rush to buy this.  Hold off until a much nicer Philco (or other make) becomes available.  I know that you have a feeling that this is a terrific opportunity but quite frankly, it isn't.  In another week, or month or two, there will be a much nicer Philco to buy.  

A couple of months ago I bought a Philco Tall Clock (forgot the model #) with a Model 70 chassis, in very good condition for $150.  It was a nuisance to bring home sticking out the back of my Jeep Wrangler on the notorious NJ Rte. 80 at 70 mph but I made it home none the less.  The only thing I lost was dust.
 
My Philco experience with Philco's goes well beyond 50 years (my first being a 37-84 that I bought for $1.25 in 1956).  I've learned to wait and find the best that I can find.  In other words, don't just jump in but wait for the best opportunities.  My attic is full of opportunities that I should have ignored.

So you have an artifact of questionable heritage (like me.) We will help you to get if fixed and working if that's your goal.

(08-14-2015, 08:32 AM)codefox1 Wrote: [ -> ]So you have an artifact of questionable heritage (like me.)  We will help you to get if fixed and working if that's your goal.

I appreciate everyone who offered opinions on this.

Honestly, what attracted me to this was the idea of the clock radio, and this cabinet
Since then I've done a lot of research and found there were many makes and models of these.

Surprised me since i had never seen a single one before.

This one seems to have started life as a Sessions clock with a Zenith radio.

Factory made? there is no record of it.  I have found another example of this model along with others that ALL
share the same radio (Zenith_Zenette)

After talking with the owner, and the thought that this might be just stripped and thrown out, I offered about 1/3 of what he was asking and he accepted.

BTW Ron is right, it is a 37-611 (with a variation from the schematics I've found)


Initially I will fix the cabinet and restore the 37-611...hopefully.

I'm trying to find the original chassis and possibly put it back to the way I believe it started out.
Though since no one seems to believe that it was made by the factory I'm not sure if I shouldn't just clean it up
and keep the philco with it. The Zenith has an RF stage so it most likely would be a more sensitive radio but the
Philco has 3 bands.

The photo attached is a unmolested version



In the short term I need to find a speaker for the Philco, right now it's connected to a AK speaker in poor condition.
Output transformer 200ohm primary (4000ohm imp)


I have ordered all the caps and some out of tolerance resistors I noticed.

As I mentioned above the chassis varies from the Philco factory 37-611 schematic.
In center of the chassis there is an additional bakelite cap not shown on the chassis layout or in the parts listing
Along with a few other components not listed. I looked for any updates but could not find any for this circuit change.

Is it a "clock radio" in the modern sense (clock controlling the radio's power, to wake you up), or is it two independent devices housed in the same cabinet? I don't see any controls near the clock face.

(08-15-2015, 08:25 AM)wa2ise Wrote: [ -> ]Is it a "clock radio" in the modern sense (clock controlling the radio's power, to wake you up), or is it two independent devices housed in the same cabinet?  I don't see any controls near the clock face.

It's not a clock radio in that sense, but a clock and radio
I haven't posted anything on the clock before this.

The clock is a Sessions clock with a hammond motor (sometimes called a pancake motor). It is one of the first electric clocks made. The motor has no physical contact with power.
The patent for the hammond motor was filed in 1929

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/1924853.pdf

This clock will NOT start by itself. There are 2 controls, one to set the clock, the other to spin it up to start.
You can actually start it to run in reverse

If the power is interrupted, the clock will stop and not restart.... unless it's manually started again

The 1937 chassis has been restored, along with the cabinet including carving replacement sections of the speaker grill.
I could not find the 31-32 Zenith Zenette to put it back to where I feel it started life.

Given the value of these (clock radios) and it's undocumented past, I decided to just go ahead and set it up for the 1937 Philco since that is what was installed in it way back when anyway. The extra holes have been removed.

Here it is:

hey think
looks great nice work

I love this set, great work ! Not sure the DNA really matters all that much. Always room for one of these in just about any home; don't have one myself yet.