The PHILCO Phorum
A rare 16L variant? - Printable Version

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A rare 16L variant? - Ron Ramirez - 04-03-2011

This afternoon, I decided to visit my favorite local antique/junk/second hand shop, to see if they had found any new treasures since I had been in there last.

Turns out they did have a new acquisition - this 1933-34 Model 16L lowboy.

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum/ARF/16-1.jpg]

As you can see, it was in very, very rough shape - truly "barn fresh." It is actually worse than the photos seem to indicate.

Here's a view of the back:

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum/ARF/16-2.jpg]

But look closely at those two pictures. Something just isn't right!

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum/ARF/16-3.jpg]

As you can see in the photo above, the escutcheon isn't the usual brown elongated octagon typical of 1933-34 Philco 16 sets - it is the more rectangular black of the 1935 season! Notice also the dual tuning knobs which are 1935 style - yet the other three knobs are brown bakelite!

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum/ARF/16-4.jpg]

Yep, no doubt about it - this is a 4-band Code 126 chassis, not the 5-band Code 122 you would expect to find in this cabinet.

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum/ARF/16-5.jpg]

I removed the escutcheon to find a very smooth hole, the proper shape for a 1935 escutcheon. It shows no signs of having been modified from the 1933-34 octagon style.

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum/ARF/16-6.jpg]

Here, you can see the larger hole for the dual tuning shaft. Again, this hole looks factory, not redrilled.

My thoughts:

After careful examination of this radio, it is my opinion that Philco must have had inventory of 1933-34 style 16L cabinets left in stock after the new 4-band 16 chassis came out in late summer or fall 1935, and they simply stuck some 4-band chassis in the leftover 16L cabinets to use up inventory. They probably modified the cabinet as needed.

It wasn't the first time Philco had done something like this.

Unfortunately, the tube layout sticker was long gone. Had it been in place, and had it been a sticker for the Code 125-126-127 Philco 16, that would have been enough convincing evidence to prove my theory.

It's just too bad this cabinet is not salvageable. I think Bill (Exray) could save a cabinet like this, but he's too far away from me.

If this radio could only talk...

Well, at $29.99 plus tax, at least it will yield a restorable (if rusty, from mice living in this thing at one time) chassis and salvageable speaker.

Re: A rare 16L variant? - gvel - 04-03-2011

Well...before you trash the cabinet, could I get you to measure the length of the legs, please?

Two of the legs on my 37-675 are in sad shape, and these may work. Mine are ~ 4 3/16" tall.

Re: A rare 16L variant? - Ron Ramirez - 04-03-2011

I'll do that tomorrow if I don't forget.

Re: A rare 16L variant? - ekimetsok - 04-04-2011

Ron:

I've got some black rosettes if you need them.

Re: A rare 16L variant? - TA Forbes - 04-05-2011

This is pretty uncommon. Maybe worth an extensive cabinet re veneer job?

Re: A rare 16L variant? - Ron Ramirez - 04-06-2011

I've been thinking about that, Tom. Should I attempt to save it, especially since cabinet work is not one of my strong points?

I thought about it some more as I measured the legs for Gvel this morning. 7 inches, Greg, so they are too long for a 37-675.

Re: A rare 16L variant? - gvel - 04-06-2011

Thanks for checking, Ron!

Re: A rare 16L variant? - Steve Davis - 04-06-2011

WOW Ron, You got a deal on that one!
Steve

Re: A rare 16L variant? - TA Forbes - 04-06-2011

Ron, if you decide to sell it keep me in mind.

Re: A rare 16L variant? - Ron Ramirez - 04-06-2011

OK Tom - will do.

The more I look at it, the more I hate to destroy the cabinet.

Say, you wouldn't want a 42-1010 empty cabinet too, eh? Icon_wink

Re: A rare 16L variant? - Arran - 04-08-2011

I believe that this cabinet style is what they would call a lowboy since it has short legs and no stretchers. The highboy version, in Philco's world, probably had six legs and the X version would have been fully skirted with that inclined speaker panel. Is it a factory variant or did someone just mix and match parts? I know that Philco used to build stuff like this to use up inventory, my Philco 60 console has rosette knobs and a brass escutcheon, Bob Anderson has a similar set to mine but his has hex knobs and a black Bakelite escutcheon that would suit a more modern cabinet, but mine was made in Toronto and his was built in Philadelphia.
It looks like the veneer on either side of the control panel is delaminating, it could be repaired but where would you draw the line? The fellow that Phil Nelson knows could make it look like brand new, take a look at the DuMont TV cabinet that he repaired. I've repaired cabinets that weren't as far gone as that and they were still a lot of work, the material is almost negligible, veneer can be had very cheaply. In reality you would have to take every bit of the cabinet apart, repair each section, and then reassemble it, in some cases you would have to construct a jig for each part to clamp and glue the irregular shapes. Was this same cabinet used on a number of different models or just the 16? I was thinking that the best bet would be to find an empty cabinet and perform a transplant, if not then it doesn't hurt to sit on it for a while.
Regards
Arran

P.S Ironically $29.95 was I paid for a 1939 Canadian Majestic console from a second hand store that also has a project cabinet, top is delaminating along with part of the skirting board. Unlike my Majestic your radio has a full set of knobs even if they are mismatched, however my cabinet seems to be more solid other then the lifting veneer.