Christmas gift radio suggestions? - Printable Version

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Christmas gift radio suggestions? - ccomer1955 - 06-25-2015

My oldest daughter has been after me to restore a radio for her since she saw my Philco 66 cathedral sitting in my living room. I've been looking at EBay lately and I get depressed seeing what even a trashed out cathedral goes for these days, so I was wondering if any of you have suggestions about a cathedral with halfway decent sound and reception that is also aesthetically pleasing that I could purchase and restore for under $200 including purchasing the radio, electronically restoring it myself, and doing some hopefully minor cabinet work?

I should say that I've been doing this hobby for about two years, now, have a decent number of tools and test equipment, so I don't anticipate having to farm out any of the labor (besides that is sort of the point).

Philco is, of course, my favorite, but I'm open to anything.

For ideas, here (imperfect as it is) is what she fell in love with:

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RE: Christmas gift radio suggestions? - morzh - 06-25-2015

Small radios have small speakers so the sound won't be grand.
Tombstones have better speakers and are not too bad price-wise.
You could try for a cathedral but if you want good sound it should not be 70 or 90, or 20 ( let alone the fact they will be above your target price).

18 or 118 can be good.

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RE: Christmas gift radio suggestions? - ccomer1955 - 06-25-2015

Thanks, Morzh. In this case aesthetics outweigh fidelity. She particularly likes the arched top.

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RE: Christmas gift radio suggestions? - morzh - 06-25-2015

I like my 66, inexpensive and looks good.

http://web.eecs.umich.edu/~srs/Antiques/templ.php?pid=200&collection=Radios

118 is good looking and can be had under 200.

http://www.tuberadioland.com/images/phil-118_1.gif

Any cathedral in 44-type cabinet looms good and some are priced below 200.

http://www.radioatticarchives.com/images/p/Philco_44_(1934)_KBoyd.jpg

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RE: Christmas gift radio suggestions? - ccomer1955 - 06-25-2015

If I had a reason to go to Indiana, I could likely pick this one up reasonably.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-PHILCO-WOODEN-CATHEDRAL-TUBE-RADIO-NON-WORKING/271912566069?_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131017132637%26meid%3D9c6733c3136341d491793e0653df38e1%26pid%3D100033%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D271912566069

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RE: Christmas gift radio suggestions? - Steve Davis - 06-25-2015

That is a Philco 90. It will close in the $400 range. How about this one  http://www.ebay.com/itm/141651908866?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT  

Steve

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RE: Christmas gift radio suggestions? - sam - 06-25-2015

Charlie
Just be a great dad and give yours to her

Me me

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RE: Christmas gift radio suggestions? - Crist Rigotti - 06-25-2015

(06-25-2015, 11:20 PM)sam Wrote:  Charlie
Just be a great dad and give yours to her

Me me

That's what I was thinking!  LOL!

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RE: Christmas gift radio suggestions? - morzh - 06-25-2015

No, don't. You'll spoil her rotten. If not already.

Ebay alway has something to offer.
Or CL.
Or your local swapmeet.
Or maybe she would like a console. Those can be inexpensive, beautiful and sound nice.

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RE: Christmas gift radio suggestions? - Arran - 06-25-2015

(06-25-2015, 10:20 PM)Steve Davis Wrote:  That is a Philco 90. It will close in the $400 range. How about this one  http://www.ebay.com/itm/141651908866?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT  

Steve

With all due respect probably not, but likely over $200, but after refinishing and electrical restoration it will be up to or over $400. What's more, as Mike stated, model 90s are not particularly good sounding sets, in large part because of the stiff spider in the speaker, the one my uncle had was always a bit muddy sounding. I think that a model 18 or 118B would be a winner, push pull triode connected type 42s, it will blow any 90 out of the water, plus it has AVC and one some 118s short wave.
Regards
Arran

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RE: Christmas gift radio suggestions? - sam - 06-26-2015

mike
that sweet little girl of yours will have you eating out of her hand soon pal

mini me me

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RE: Christmas gift radio suggestions? - ccomer1955 - 06-26-2015

Sam, the real problem here is that I have TWO daughters, and they both like that 66. If I start gifting radios in my small collection, one of them might have to settle for a Crosley 72AF or a Zenith 8s436 because the rest is all 20s sets, and they have no interest.  Plus, I want that whole Christmas surprise thing to happen. There is no particular hurry, but I'd like to get started on it by October at least. 

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RE: Christmas gift radio suggestions? - Steve Davis - 06-26-2015

My vote would be for an 18B/118B, a 19B or an 89B. The 18B and 118B are super performers but will be pushing the dollar limit. The 19B and the 89B are still very good performers and will probably be closer to your dollar range. Personally, I would be right on the 19B with the $99 BIN price. If the 90 on Ebay does happen to sell in the $200 range, that would be a steal. It does have a reserve, that will tend to hold the price down.

Steve

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RE: Christmas gift radio suggestions? - ccomer1955 - 06-26-2015

That 90 is a "local pick up" so that might keep it lower. I'm thinking about the 19B, but the shipping seems quite high to me: $63.

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RE: Christmas gift radio suggestions? - morzh - 06-26-2015

(06-26-2015, 04:23 AM)sam Wrote:  mike
that sweet little girl of yours will have you eating out of her hand soon pal :e_wink:

mini me me

Sam, I am somewhat Russian, we have ways of dealing with it :lol:
Yes, she is sweet and we will have to find ways to resist  :lol:

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