[jtieri]

Hello,

I just purchased a beautifully restored 38-12 that has no back.  I wanted to purchase a reproduction back from Retro-Tronics and I see they have a PT-30 which looks the exact same.  Can anyone tell me if these cabinets are the same and if the PT-30 back would work?  Thanks in advance!!!

[morzh]

The radios are not the same. But the cabinets are. Also TH-3 Philco.

[jtieri]

Yeah I know they are different radios, I just wanted to be sure that the back for a PT-30 would work on the same cabinet as the 38-12. Thanks!

[morzh]

I never ever saw any of 38-12/15/14 sold with the backs....mysekf have the same brown backelite 38-12, and a wooden 38-15, and have been watching them closely for a long time....never with the back.
But then 38-12/15 are transformer radios so I don't fret it....will improve cooling

[jtieri]

This is what I picked up.

http://www.radioattic.com/item.htm?radio=1000243

And this is the back I found.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Reproduction-Rad...5ad50db57e

[Arran]

 I don't think that a 38-12 ever had a back, I can see no way to attach one either to the cabinet nor the chassis. If this set had a back I would think that there would be stand offs on the rear of the chassis, or some places molded into the rear of the cabinet to drive screws, this has neither.
Regards
Arran

[Ron Ramirez]

The 38-12CB did not have a back originally.

There were several Philco models that used this cabinet:

Brown Bakelite: 38-12CB, 38-14CB, 38-15CB, 39-3A1ACB, 39-3A5ACB, TH-3, 40-90CB, 40-710T, 40-2710T, PT-30, 41-705T
Ivory Plaskon (or painted Bakelite): 38-12CBI, 38-14CBI, 38-15CBI, 39-3A1ACBI, 39-3A5ACBI

Of those, I think only the PT-30, 40-710T, 40-2710T and 41-705T had backs originally. I cannot be sure about the Tropic models (40-710/2710 and 41-705) as I have never seen one, but am assuming so since it appears that most Tropic models originally had backs.

But I digress.

The PT-30 did have standoffs which attached to the back, and in turn were attached to the chassis. The cabinet has no provisions for fastening a back onto it.

[jtieri]

Thanks everyone!! Well since the guy did a beautiful job cleaning the chassis, then no back it is. I appreciate all your help!! This is a new hobby for me and I am really enjoying it. I've only got a few Philco's in my collection so far. This is what I have;

37-650
PT-25
46-420
50-522
52-542

It's a fun hobby and am so glad I found this Phorum!! So much information here that has helped!! I don't know anything about restoring them electrically but have really enjoyed bringing the cabinets back to life and displaying them!!! Thanks again!!