Philco Model 53-954 - Printable Version
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Philco Model 53-954 - Elijah - 01-22-2013
I'm looking intently at this one and wonder if anyone has any accolades or curses for or against it. With a seven inch speaker and six tubes it should sound pretty good. What are feelings from those that may have one? Would a totally restored both in cabinet and electronics be worth $180?
RE: Philco Model 53-954 - codefox1 - 01-22-2013
Probably not, unless you have some special attachmet to the set or model. I don't doubt someone would ave put that much effort and parts, etc.. to get it right, but if you ever needed to get your money back, probably not. I don't buy 'em or sell 'em neither.
RE: Philco Model 53-954 - Elijah - 01-22-2013
Believe it or not but they went to great lengths to do this one right...new wires, resistors and caps, alignment as well as a magnificent looking cabinet. I just didn't know if even after all that it would bring $180 or not.
RE: Philco Model 53-954 - Ron Ramirez - 01-22-2013
If it's as nice as you say, could I persuade you to furnish a few photos for the Philco Gallery? It would be very much appreciated.
RE: Philco Model 53-954 - Elijah - 01-22-2013
Ron-This is where I saw it. There's several pictures there.
http://radioattic.com/item.htm?radio=1090257
I like his restoration ideas and philosophy.
http://radioattic.com/attic.htm?sellerId=109#terms
RE: Philco Model 53-954 - Ron Ramirez - 01-22-2013
Well, it sounds like it's "talking" to you.
Most of us would not consider a set such as this, much less at that price simply because it is an AM-only set with what Philco called a "Special Services" band (what was called the "police" band in the early to mid-1930s). But I've been collecting long enough to know that when that certain special set is "talking" to you, and if you can afford it, then you should splurge and grab it even if you're the only one willing to pay $180 for it!
If you don't buy it, I'll write to the seller and ask permission to use one of his pictures. Thanks for pointing it out.
RE: Philco Model 53-954 - Elijah - 01-22-2013
Three brands I love-Philco, Zenith and RCA. They have such a mellow sound(to my tinnitus ears anyway). It is a bit pricy I'll admit and I may just adore it from afar. I haven't decided yet. I really need yet another radio! It would be a treat to not have to open one up, replace filter and bypass caps and half the resistors but rather just plug it in and enjoy. I haven't had many like that. One of the few was an Atwater Kent Model 44. Heavy as lead but a great sound for such an old radio.
[Image: http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ColColt/Misc%20Stuff/Old%20Radios/_DEF4785a.jpg]
[Image: http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ColColt/Misc%20Stuff/Old%20Radios/_DEF4789a.jpg]
RE: Philco Model 53-954 - Arran - 01-22-2013
I wouldn't pay that even if I did like it, I've seen those on fleabay for a fraction of that much, even nice originals. Most of the time they don't sell or if they do with few if any bids. I also don't trust most of the Radio Attic sellers, many are good at writing ad copy bragging about how great their stuff is but if you buy you often end up paying a premium price for an as is radio with just enough repairs to get it playing, not a restored set. If it was restored thoroughly he should post pictures of the underside of the chassis and be able to produce a list of what parts were replaced. Electrically restoring an early to mid 50s radio is a breeze compared to a late 1920s Atwater Kent, they aren't doing you enough of a favor to warrant paying an extra $150 for one of these.
Here is something similar in style, but not the same model:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1957-Philco-E-976-Radio-/140907488960?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item20cebda6c0
Regards
Arran
RE: Philco Model 53-954 - Elijah - 01-22-2013
I had a bad experience with one of the sellers on radioattic. The radio was listed as totally restored but when I got it few stations could be picked up and there was motor boating in the lower end. I took the chassis out and none of the caps had been replaced nor was anything else. After repacking all paper and electrolytics and most resistors, aligning it it played fine. I was not a happy camper about the deal and told him why. He refunded half the cost and said he was told it had been restored. He should have checked first before listing it as such.
I was more impressed with this seller after he sent me some pics of another of his restorations where he did all the wiring changes, caps and resistors.
[Image: http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ColColt/Misc%20Stuff/Old%20Radios/r2.jpg]
RE: Philco Model 53-954 - Paul Philco322 - 01-23-2013
Greetings Elijah, very cool Old Testament name btw!
Joe Rebar is the real deal, he is meticulous. He is also very willing to make good any problems after a sale. Keep in mind he is a seller and restorer.
He enjoys what he does but also tries to turn a little profit. You are paying him to find it, clean it, restore it, some parts, maybe a tube if there was a weakling. This being said many on the Phorum like to find, clean, restore, listen and collect so they are already some of what you are paying Mr. Rebar for, so his price may appear high to some. It may be that sometimes you would like to buy a set you find attractive and have sort of an out of the box it is ready to go experience. That is what you are getting. Nothing wrong with that.
There may be some who cut corners on the Attic, Joe is not one of them. Everyone has their own angles of enjoyment in this hobby and view the antique radio experience as seen through their own spectrum, and that is reflected in the many different responses your post got. My 2 cents...
All the best in collecting.
Paul
RE: Philco Model 53-954 - Elijah - 01-23-2013
Amen and amen.
Elijah is one of my heroes. He's the only one in the old Testament(or New) that got run out of town by a woman!
RE: Philco Model 53-954 - Arran - 01-24-2013
Perhaps, but for every Mr. Rebar on R.A you run into six of the other kind that will change the filter and audio coupling caps and claim the set is restored. Regardless of what was done to the radio in question I still think it is overpriced, in my opinion, as it has very little collectable appeal. I know some like to say that maybe the next guy will like it, maybe so, but I have seen plenty of antique stores close waiting for the next guy to pay their price when he never shows up. Maybe he takes offers, I don't know, but I would be embarrassed to even try selling something like that for even half that price.
I have an assertive attitude when it comes to radio restoration because I have performed so much of it over the years and have a general idea of what things are worth and how long it takes to restore them. One of my meticulous restorations on an AC/DC type set may take about six hours or less, on and off, the parts are largely negligible unless the tubes and speaker need replacing. To acquire and restore such a set like the one Elijah likes for resale is a poor investment, wrong age, not much style, really a basic set with no special features. This was in part why I linked to a similar styled AM/FM set since it at least has something setting it apart from the plethora of AA5 kitchen radios or suggested he find a 53-954 from fleabay or elsewhere.
Regards
Arran
RE: Philco Model 53-954 - Elijah - 01-24-2013
The process of restoration takes on many faces depending on the mind of the seller/restorer/buyer. I've seen literal junk on ebay going for well over the price of $180.They give you several pictures of the front, top and back and maybe one with the back removed only to show wires that aren't even connected and you wonder where they're suppose to go. Frayed on the ends and the insulation falling off is not what I call a restoration. The outside looks super like a white sepulcher while the inside is full of dead mens bones.