[zenith82]

Ron,

I noticed in your book that the 38-12 was extended into 1939, but up to that point you hadn't seen a 39-12. It seems like the 38-12 was one of the most popular radios of the late '30s judging by how many I've seen. Do you think it could have been possible they carried the same radio over into 1939, but left the model as 38-12 instead of updating it? From the amount of 38-12's I've seen both in person and on ePay, I'd say it could be realistic that they offered this radio for two model seasons.

Tom

[49Stude63]

Tom another model you see this on is the 46-1209 it was a 1946 model but Philco carried it over into mid-1947. For 1947 there was a model 47-1230 and they shared the same cabinet and phono, so much so that in some 1209 models you will find a brown wedge to hide the FM (1209 hand 3 locations on the band selector decal, 1230 had 4 locations on the band selector decal and on the brown wedged 1209's the positions did not alway line up per the switch setting.

[Ron Ramirez]

Tom - sorry for not replying sooner, I had overlooked this post...

Philco's 1939 dealer catalog indicates that the 38-12, 38-14 and 38-15 were carried over into the 1939 product line - YET, they also developed a few new models based on the 38-12. Model 39-6 is basically the same thing as a 38-12, with the addition of that wonderful rubber-insulated wiring. Model 39-7 adds pushbutton tuning to the 39-6 chassis, and Model TH-3 is a 39-6 chassis whose dial scale reads "TRANSITONE" instead of "PHILCO." It was also housed in the same 38-12CB bakelite cabinet.

Just exactly what happened? Could be Philco overproduced 38-12, 38-14 and 38-15 models, and unloaded the remainder in the early part of the 1939 season. If that was the case, they may not have been renumbered 39-12, etc. Just guessing here, as I have no documentation to back that up, other than the fact the these three models were officially part of the early 1939 lineup.

It would be just like Philco to try and put a positive spin on an overproduction of these models; the 1939 dealer catalog reads in part, "Three Stars of the Compact World...retained by popular demand! We couldn't drop these popular models...even if we wanted to!" Although they DID drop them shortly thereafter; if my guess is correct, as soon as they sold out of their (overproduced) stock of these models.

I've learned that with Philco, almost anything was possible. I have a Model 37-643B tombstone. Only it isn't a 37-643. It has a decal inside the cabinet identifying it as a 38-643! The cabinet is the 1937 style, which means a few of these in 1937 cabinets were issued as 1938 models. I also have a 38-643B in the 1938 cabinet.

Not long ago, someone sent me a picture of a Model 91 chassis. The decal on the chassis read "CHASSIS TYPE 19 CODE 121" . That must have been a Monday or Friday radio!

[Ron Ramirez]

More notes on this series of radios:

The 38-14 (AC/DC, AM/SW) morphed into the 39-8 (AC/DC, AM only, with an added ballast). The basic 38-12/39-6 chassis was also used in Model 39-17. The 38-15 became the Model 39-19. The 39-8 chassis was also used in Model 39-18. These last three (39-17, 39-18 & 39-19) featured mechanical pushbutton tuning, with controls repositioned on either side of the cabinet, and had slide rule dials.

39-17, 39-18 and 39-19 sets became 39-117, 39-118 and 39-119, respectively, at mid-season (January 1939). The newer models had electric pushbutton tuning instead of the mechanical system used in the earlier models.

[zenith82]

One other thing I've been wondering about this series. Where does the 38-17 come in? The model with two grilles and a center dial.

Tom

[Ron Ramirez]

Ah, yes, the 38-17. It is basically a 38-15 with a speaker mounted on the cabinet instead of on the chassis.

[zenith82]

I have a 38-17 and there doesn't seem to be any service info anywhere on it. So it's the same as a 38-15 with a different cabinet? Was this a "midyear" introduction to the '38 lineup?

Tom

[Ron Ramirez]

Yes (with a caveat), and yes.

Caveat: I'd heard somewhere that there are some slight differences between a 38-15 and 38-17 chassis. The main difference I am aware of is that the 38-17 has a larger speaker, mounted inside the cabinet separate from the chassis, while the 38-15 has a smaller chassis-mounted speaker (except for the chairside model).

I've never owned either model, although I will soon have a 38-15 chairside, with many thanks to 49Stude for picking it up for me in NE Ohio.