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Another new acquisition - a Philco Grandfather Clock! - Printable Version

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Another new acquisition - a Philco Grandfather Clock! - Ron Ramirez - 11-29-2010

Recently, I made a deal to acquire a Philco grandfather clock cabinet.

Advertised as a Model 70, the reason I acquired it is because it is not a Model 570, but instead, it is the very rare Model 52 grandfather clock.

The gift supreme for Christmas - a PHILCO.

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum/52_gfc/gfc.jpg]

How do I know it is a 52 and not a 570? Look at the close-up of the front panel:

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum/52_gfc/closeup.jpg]

Notice that it has three shaft holes, not four, and that they are spaced farther apart than Model 70 shaft holes would be. In fact, this is the proper spacing for a 52 chassis. In addition, the escutcheon is the correct one for a 52. Too bad someone replaced the original escutcheon pins with screws! But this, too, is repairable.

More info here:

http://philcoradio.com/gallery2/1932b/#Model_52GC_Grandfather_Clock

At this time, it appears this is only one of two 52 GFC models known to exist. I have seen one other, a complete set in a private collection. I have never heard of anyone else owning a Model 52 GFC. If anyone else does, I would like to know about it.

Re: Another new acquisition - a Philco Grandfather Clock! - Jayce - 11-29-2010

Great find! Icon_biggrin Now you are part of the club of those of us who have Philco Grandfather clocks! My mom and I went half and half on a 570 a couple years ago. Pretty much complete except it has a later PM magnet speaker installed in place of the original. Though I think I found a speaker for it a while back.

Re: Another new acquisition - a Philco Grandfather Clock! - dos0711 - 11-30-2010

Awesome score! I know your proud!

Re: Another new acquisition - a Philco Grandfather Clock! - Steve Chambers - 11-30-2010

Great find. I'd love to have one of these. Looks great "under" the tree too!

Steve Chambers

Re: Another new acquisition - a Philco Grandfather Clock! - Ron Ramirez - 12-07-2010

Mine has a 5 inch P-2 speaker which Philco used in the 52B cathedral and 52C table model. I was surprised they did not use the 8 inch S or S-2 that was used in the 52 lowboy.

Re: Another new acquisition - a Philco Grandfather Clock! - TA Forbes - 12-09-2010

WOW! I too have not heard of another Philco 52 in a grandfather clock cabinet. Recently I saw where the 51/52 chassis was also found in the 70 style cabinet, another suprise of similar nature.
Hope that this and other radios like it make it into another edition of your book, Ron... hint, hint....??

Re: Another new acquisition - a Philco Grandfather Clock! - Glenn Roberts - 12-09-2010

I think a new main topic might be in order, oddities or one-off's or maybe Philco Phrankensteins Icon_smile

Re: Another new acquisition - a Philco Grandfather Clock! - TA Forbes - 12-09-2010

Second that idea, Ron.... I bet there are plenty of "oddities" out there, be they factory or otherwise. I think battery powered radios with old, or even newer x battery eliminators built in would be included under this topic. Maybe even (ahem) people who marry 116X chassis/speakers to 116b tombstone cabinets could submit their entries.................
ANOTHER SUBJECT: wonder if your grandfather clock actually takes a model 51 chassis, which is really the same as a 52 except for the number. The reason I say this is that it would logically follow the 551 mantle radio model.

Re: Another new acquisition - a Philco Grandfather Clock! - Ron Ramirez - 12-09-2010

There is an existing thread on Frankenradios here on the Phorum:

http://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=709

My 52 GFC is not a Franken-Philco. I have seen another complete 52 grandfather clock a few years ago, long before I knew the one I now own existed. And my friend's 52 GFC did have a 52 chassis, not a 51. It makes sense when you stop to think how Philco sometimes combined chassis and cabinets in the 1932-33-34 period to make some low production oddballs.

The 80 Colonial Clock is an example. Originally a 551, two strips of wood were added to the front panels to hide the shaft holes for the 51 chassis. A wooden platform was made to go inside to hold up the 80 chassis at the proper height. Two new shaft holes were drilled in the front panel for the 80 control shafts. I can look inside my 80 Colonial Clock cabinet and see the original shaft holes for a 51 chassis.

You guys are free to start a new thread on unusual Philcos, or perhaps I will tomorrow if neither of you do so before then. Icon_smile

TA Forbes Wrote:Hope that this and other radios like it make it into another edition of your book, Ron... hint, hint....??

It will happen. But please be patient. I expect some good things to happen in the next year or two towards that goal.

Re: Another new acquisition - a Philco Grandfather Clock! - marcapra - 01-03-2011

I have a 1931 Majestic Sherwood grandfather clock radio. The clock works, the cabinet is in great shape, but the radio is missing, darn it! I guess there was a fad for grandfather clock radios in '31? Marc.

Re: Another new acquisition - a Philco Grandfather Clock! - gary rabbitt - 01-06-2011

Great find Ron.
I have worked on 3 GF clock radios but not a Philco yet. One of these days I may find one, even if it isn't a rare one like yours. Beautiful set.
Take care, Gary.