[RadioSvit]

Hello everybody . Information is needed, tell me - is the Philco model 40-140 desk radio a collector's rarity? Amazingly, it is being sold at one of the local Ukrainian auctions for $80.

[Arran]

Peter;
 I don't think that they are, the 40-140T is basically the cheaper or "stripper" version of a model 40-145, without pushbutton tuning. Personally I would not consider paying anywhere near $80 for one, it's not really a model that appeals to me, and is full of rubber/gutta percha covered wire that likes to deteriorate, including in the IF transformers. 
Regards
Arran

[morzh]

Well...one has to adjust for the radio being in Ukraine. Where it naturally is a bit more expensive than here.

This said, Arran is right: here it is nowhere near being a rarity or highly collectible.

It's a matter of the condition and how much you want it.
Truth be told, even 38-116 is not a rarity. But at least it is a good radio.

[RadioSvit]

Thank you friends... Why am I interested in this device? But because it is already in Ukraine and therefore I save on delivery from the United States, which costs from 80 to 150 dollars, depending on the transport company. Also, the purchase of any radio in the USA is justified only when it has technical or historical value for me due to its uniqueness. Philco 40-140 definitely does not belong to this category, so I guess I will refuse to buy it, despite the fact that I save a large amount on delivery.

[RodB]

We all have lines we do not cross. (Someone said that once. )

[Arran]

If it's at an auction why is it at $80? Is that the opening bid? By the way the model 40-145T looks like it was more popular, likely because of the pushbuttons, neither were as popular as the 40-180X or the slant front table versions. As I mentioned it has a six tube chassis, with three bands, for the right price I wouldn't turn one down but I don't really need one either. I'm not sure what the sixth tube does, it might be an RF amp or an extra IF amp, though sometimes they would use a double diode tube as a detector/AFC just to make a five tube set into a six tube, without really doing anything else.
Regards
Arran

[RadioSvit]

Sellers of American and European radios in Ukraine are forced to add to the price of the lot the cost of their delivery from the United States or Europe, and sometimes also the cost of a 30% tax if the price exceeds $150. Therefore, it can be assumed that if the cost of its delivery from the USA (approximately $80) is subtracted from the cost of the lot, then this radio is sold for a nominal $1.

[morzh]

Like I said, it is the question of whether you want this radio or not. This radio is just another radio, it is not a representative one, highly sought after one etc etc. It is just that - another American radio from 1940. Not a bad radio. $80, especially in Ukraine, is not bad at all.
If you do like it, and the style of it fits your collection, you could choose to go for it; if it is not on your bucket list or strongly wanted list - skip it.

There are no strong pros or cons.