The PHILCO Phorum

What would be a fair offer for model 118 console. It is complete, works, and the cabinet is in decent shape.

Depends where. In SD - good question. Here it can go over 100 bucks. Somewhere in IN it will probably be about $70-80 give or take.

It also depends on which 118 console you are speaking of.

Go here and look over the several different styles.

Page 1 - http://www.philcoradio.com/gallery/1935a.htm
Page 2 - http://www.philcoradio.com/gallery/1935b.htm
Page 3 - http://www.philcoradio.com/gallery/1935c.htm

An early or late 118D (pages 1 and 3) would command a premium over the others as these are much harder to find than the others.

It's the 118X model console with the 3 vertical bars.

From what I can find on it, it appears to have a class "A" output circuit with 3? #42 tubes. Is this correct? If so, what makes it so special?

The 118 is a very good performer. The 118 does indeed have three 42s, one as a driver and two as PP outputs. I have a 118 chassis in my shop that I listen daily. I plan to someday make a cabinet for it.

Steve

I have the cathedral one.

All the 118s were 10W undistorted output sets. That's a fair amount of power for 1935. 

For what it's worth I paid $ 25 for a 118x console this summer . It is non working, with the grill cloth gone but with a very clean chassis. My hope at the time was to find a cathedral cabinet to put the chassis in.The cabinet has normal wear. I am located in Ma. just south of Boston.
                                               Henry

 The Philco 18/118 all use a class A-B power output stage with three triode connected type 42 tubes, what Tom says is no exaggeration, they really can put out about 10 Watts of undistorted power. Now what is the set worth, well I would try to keep it at under $100 complete, unless it's in really nice condition with all the paperwork or something, if it needs knobs or cabinet repair start docking value accordingly. As for me I would like to find a model 118MX myself, to go with my 3118B.
Regards
Arran

Of course you have to compare delivered price (or factor in cost of you going to get the set yourself.) Anyway $100 for a nice winter project that you feel can reasonably be done is not more than a trip to a really good restaurant, so go figure.