The PHILCO Phorum

I saw a large Philco shouldered tombstone in a shop recently. It is a multiband radio with hexagonal knobs, 8 tubes and big honkin upright transformer on the left side as you are looking at the back. I could see no model ID on the chassis or on the bottom of the case. $60. If I remember correctly it had four bands. I probably should have grabbed it.

After looking for a week I can't determine exactly what I was looking at. Your thoughts please. Thanks.
OK, Now I understand why "eyewitnesses" don't always have the correct info when an accident or crime occurs.

The set is I believe a 97B, 7tubes, three bands and I already screwed it up.

I have damaged the dial. I have read about not cleaning these and I thought the lettering was on the back of the dial, not the front. I use Q-tips a lot to clean radios. I did the dial and got a lot of what I figure is tobacco smaoke off. It was fine and I should have left it, but did one more pass and took part of the lettering off. It is still usable but with one bad area. Have already checked and no repros for this dial. Color me stupid.
Here are some pics.










Gene

Almost sounds like a 118B. Did it have a shadow meter?

Glenn

Hi Glenn,
I believe it did. It was just above the tuning gang. A small rectangular piece.

Gene

Look like this? This was my 118H, but it's the same chassis. This was pre-restore. I forgot to get a picture once it was cleaned up.

Glenn

I think that looks correct. Was $60 a good buy? How do these sets perform?

Gene

They are great players! P/P. 42's., 3 gang tuner. I have a 118B in the stack. The problem seems to be when the shadow meter goes bad it stops playing unless a resistor is in place to keep the circuit active. I had 2 chassis and neither one had the resistor. Ron sent a picture to me to show the proper location.

To answer your question, that is a great price especially if the cabinet is in decent shape.

Glenn

Thank You for all the info and help Glenn! I will check to see if it is still there.

Gene

Hello Gene/Glenn: if it had four bands, eight tubes, and is in a shouldered cabinet it probably had an oval dial and is a model 650.

The 650 is an excellent set!!

DEFINITELY worth 60.00

Hi TA! And Glenn, I just called and it is still there so they are holding it for me to pick up tomorrow. And the price is $60. So whichever model it is should be good
The only pita I can see is there about 10 of the bakelite block caps in these, right?

Gene

Please post some pictures when you get it home

Glenn

It would not be a 118 if it has four bands. It might possibly be a 640 or a 650, I'm not that familiar with the 6xx Philcos. At any rate, you better get back there and grab it before someone else does.

Steve

Oops, I see TA already said that.

Well Steve, and everyone I wasn't even close on the description. See my edit and pics.

Gene

Congratulations Gene, that was an excellent buy!

Steve

Yes indeed, an excellent buy!!! The 97 is a three band , seven tube set, so you fooled us!

The 97 is a rare set. Note the production numbers in this site!

I have one, and it is a good set. Do a good electronic resto on yours and your set will pleasantly surprise you.

Does your 97 have a dial that is almost red in color?