[tubadon40]

I have an old transitone to restore. I plan on using in my 1930 Model A Ford. It has a cathedral shaped head that attaches to the
stearing column. It also has a keyhole in the center which I have no key for. I did find this Philco rosette knob with a key type blade that may have been used for this purpose but does not fit my Transitone.
Did these radios come with knobs that could be removed like a key? This is the first knob I have seen like this.

[Image: http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii51/...1sized.jpg]

Don

[BILL]

Well I've never seen one !
it looks brown witch would make it a houes radio , car radio knobs where black, I've got Transitone heads with out key too I think a kock smith could help you out !

[tubadon40]

In holding it next to my transitone head, it is a very close match however a bit lighter in shade.
Next to a regular brown house radio rosette, it appears much darker and almost black.

Now you have me wondering if not a auto transitone, where would Philco ever used a key knob like this?
Hotel service comes to mind where it would be inserted in the room radio if additional fee was paid?

Any other Ideas?

Don

[BILL]

There where coin operated radios for Motel/Hotel use. The shape of it I would say that it is a PHILCO,
This shaped knob was used originally on Philco house radios around 1930 they where light brown , later on these where used on the Transitone automobile radios up to the mid 30's mostly for tone controls found on the speaker and radio boxes, and some early head controls, they where all black .
If I where to guess on auto radio, I'd say that these where for a set that the on/off/ volume control lock where all one piece, Ive been working many years on vintage auto radios ,many early 30's with locks but with no key like this, If you find out what it is ,please let me know, BILL

[tubadon40]

Well, BILL and others. It took me 3 years to find out but I believe the proper home for my wayward Knob-Key is on a
WARWICK radio.  I will try to link to the pics I found.  The original, which I thought was a Philco Transitone was the same rosette pattern  used on the Warwick. I wonder if there was a relationship between the two companies.

You can see the link to my knob-key in my first post but I will also try to post again by copy and paste.
First the Warwick head.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii51/...8ae855.jpg

Then the complete radio.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii51/...f4953a.jpg

My knob-key
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii51/...1sized.jpg


Mistery solved?

[Arran]

 There was no relation between Warwick and Philco at all that I am aware of, Warwick was a manufacturer of private label radios mostly for Sears. I have seen rosette style knobs on some Airline brand radios as well, which may have been made by Belmont. If there was any relation at all it was to whatever plastics molding company made the knobs, most radio manufacturers either contracted out the job of molding plastic parts to outside firms, or used generic off the shelf parts, Philco was no exception.
 As for hotel radios all of the ones I have seen had a timer and a coin slot, I could imagine the nightmare of hotel management trying to keep track of keyed knobs for their radios, the replacement of such things would easily outweigh the earnings from whatever fees they could charge for using the radio. Also most of the hotel radios one sees are from the 1940s and 50s, typically with an AA5 or AA6 chassis inside, I've never seen even a photo of one that was older.
Regards
Arran