[Ron Ramirez]

Not long ago, I received a very nice e-mail asking me about a "Model 17" console radio.

The pictures seemed to show a 38-17F - only it had pushbuttons!

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/philco001.jpg]

And the pushbutton bezel looks identical to that used on many 1941 Philco models.

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/philco004.jpg]

Initially, I dismissed it as a 38-17F that had been modified by someone later on.

And then another complete set turned up, followed by someone selling parts from one of these on eBay.

The tube layout sticker inside the cabinet identifies it simply as "PHILCO MODEL 17." Which leaves me wondering if perhaps Philco had a small quantity of unsold 38-17F sets left over, which they then later modified and sold during the 1941 model year?

Here is an illustration of a production 38-17F:

[Image: http://philcoradio.com/gallery2/images/1...ery_00.jpg]

Yet another Philco mystery...

Thanks to Art Lebermann for permission to post photos of his "Model 17."

[Glenn Roberts]

Hi Ron,
I've just recently been bit by the radio restoration bug. I really enjoy your website and the Philco Phorum. I was trying to lookup a model in the gallery and was unable to locate it, so I did a search in the Phorum and behold there it is. Below is a picture. It is a 5 tube setup and is marked as a model 17 code 125. I'm curious, would this be a worthwhile restoration project? With only 5 tubes on the chassis what would the sound quality be? Thanks for your input. I wish I would have read more before beginning the 41-300 I'm in the middle of now, The wiring is extremely time consuming, but can't wait to hear how it sounds when it's complete.

Note from site admin: Sorry, but the photo which was attached to this post is no longer available.

[Ron Ramirez]

Hi Glenn

Do you already own a Model 17 Code 125? If so, then yes...it would definitely be worthwhile. I, for one, would like to know how the pushbutton mechanism hooks up into the chassis, and if the chassis is indeed like the 38-15/38-17 with the addition of pushbuttons.

Is the wiring in yours rubber-covered?

Don't expect super high fidelity sound from this model, but with what looks like an S series Philco speaker, it should sound pretty decent.

There is one for sale on eBay right now, in Columbus, Ohio.

http://cgi.ebay.com/110598174254

So, they are slowly coming out of the woodwork. And I still have yet to find any documentation on this model. Jim Skinner, Larry Gubb, et al. must be laughing at me somewhere.

[Glenn Roberts]

Ron that's the same one. It's local for me and I was seriously thinking of bidding on it, just wanted to know more about it. Now I'm real curious too so it might be something to add to my collection which now stands at 2...
Glenn

[Ron Ramirez]

OK, in that case, I won't bid on it. I have a couple friends in the Columbus area, but it would be a LONG drive for me to go get it. Besides, I have no room for any more consoles!

Keep in touch, and let me know if you get it, OK? I would really like to know more about this undocumented Philco set.

[Glenn Roberts]

You got it. I'm interested in finding out too!

[Allen in SB]

Ron and Glenn:

These sets are coming out of the woodwork! Here's another offered on craigslist:

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/atq/1995594271.html

Allen :

[Glenn Roberts]

Wow Allen, that is funny. I wonder how many others are out there. I found out the code on the chassis of the one I found is "17 code 125". which is odd all 17's have more than the 5 tube setup the 125 in the picture has.

[Ron Ramirez]

The 1933-34 Model 17 has 11 tubes.

This is a totally different animal, which appears to be based on the 38-17 but with the addition of pushbuttons.

And yes, now more and more are showing up for sale.

Who was that character on TV that was always saying, "Veddy interesting..." in the late 1960s?

[DeckApe]

Arte Johnson, in the guise of a German soldier among bushes on Laugh-In. (Hey, I was born in '72... do I get extra points for knowing this?)

[Chuck Schwark]

[Image: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3340/3519...79.jpg?v=0]

[rocketeer]

FWIW. I'm not saying this is the answer but I came across a similar situation involving a 1938 Zenith 6-S-254. From the factory the 6-S-254 did not have buttons yet this one did. After much research it turned out this was a factory modification, in a way. The 1939 models had buttons and a decision was made to add buttons to leftover 1938 models so dealers wouldn't be stuck with them. A kit was sent to dealers who then installed them.

[Image: http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/ab191..._0599a.jpg]

Larry

[Ron Ramirez]

Larry, I have a feeling you have the correct answer. It makes sense that Philco would add, or have their dealers add, pushbuttons to 38-17 sets and rebadge them as "Model 17" sets to not appear to be the previous year's model.

For what it's worth, it is known that Philco sold leftover 38-12, 38-14 and 38-15 sets in wood and Bakelite as "39-12," "39-14" and "39-15" at the beginning of the 1939 season; these appear in the Philco 1939 dealer catalog and in 1939 model year price lists. Yet I have never seen one of these rebadged as 39-12, 39-14 or 39-15.

DeckApe and Chuck - Yes, it was Arte Johnson. I thought it was him, but since my hospital stay I find that my memory sometimes plays tricks on me.

[BILL]

The same was done with auto radios ! I have a 1938 Chevrolet radio , it has a head control that replaces the ash tray on a 1939 Chevrolet , for some reason there was an over stock of 38 radios these head controls help dealer sell out of the 38 radio installing them in 1939 cars, There was a large number of 38 Chevy head controls showing up a auto flea matkets some years back, this may be the reason.

[Glenn Roberts]

I just wonder what chassis it really is. The model 17 had 11 tubes, this has 5. I think finding a schematic could prove troublesome. any ideas??

Glenn