The PHILCO Phorum

The AM only Philco 401 is from New Zealand, and the multiband Philco is from Peru (at least that's where I got it from via ebay).

I could use a schematic for the 401 if anyone has one, thanks.

The New Zealand set looks like an Australian made Philco from the 1950s, note that it uses the same cabinet as a U.S/Canada Transitone model but with a glass dial. The set from Peru looks a lot like a member of the Philco Tropic series, which was an export model, it may have been assembled in Peru but it looks like it's patterned from a Tropic with the two short wave bands.
Regards
Arran

Here's my 46-806:



http://www.philcoradio.com/gallery/1946a.htm#q

Yep, it is a member of the Tropic series, most of which were made in Philadelphia and then exported, mostly to South America but to other countries as well. I've received emails from folks in places like South Africa and northern Europe who have Tropic sets.

It appears that sometime in the 1950s, Philco Tropic production switched to Philco's UK subsidiary. I have two UK-built Tropics; one was purchased from a USA seller but I had the other one sent here from England; the radio was very cheap but the shipping wasn't!

Ron;
Didn't they produce a number of Tropic models in Canada as well, I remember that you posted some pictures of an early 50's example with a broken cabinet, with a hot chassis, and it was made in Canada. There is a 1950s era Philco Tropic about three hours South of me but the party selling it wants $65 for it, they claim that it was from the Caribbean in the ad. I thought about asking about it but it's still just a plastic/Bakelite set for too much money.
Regards
Arran

Yes, you're right, Arran. That early 1950s Tropic I have - a model 3010 - is rubber-stamped on the back of the chassis MADE IN CANADA. And, yes, it is a hot chassis. I bought a 51-532 just for the cabinet, to replace the broken but otherwise identical 3010 cabinet.

The Tropic you mention for sale was, I am sure, exported to the Caribbean when it was new but it was most likely not manufactured there.

Speaking of Canadian sets, there are a few Philcos that were made and sold in Canada that are identical to Tropic sets built in the USA and exported south. Sets such as the 35AT (41-712T), 39AT (41-722T), and the 55AT (42-760T). In fact I have a 39AT, I consider it part of my Tropic collection since it is identical to the 41-722T. I used to own a 55AT but later sold it.

Ron;
On the 46-806 Tropic model that you show where is the range switch located? I see two knobs on the front like a normal Transitone with the same cabinet but no third one, on most small sets like that they would have drilled a third hole in the front and added the range switch there.
Regards
Arran

They put the band selector switch on the back of the radio. Mounted to the back side of the chassis. Philco must have expected that few users of this set would change bands all that often...