[Gene Pederson]

I see a couple of the members have recently picked up model 116's. There is a 37-116X available for $195. Is this reasonable? My 2005 Slusser's lists it at $200-230. Looks to be in decent shape, no visible tears on the grill cloth, but the chassis has been attached using a metal strap at each end. It's a 2+ hr drive each way so $50 in fuel. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks,

Gene

[Radioroslyn]

[quote='Gene Pederson' pid='26443' dateline='1332454809']
I see a couple of the members have recently pick up model 116's. There is a 37-116X available for $195. Is this reasonable? My 2005 Slusser's lists it at $200-230. Looks to be in decent shape, no visible tears on the grill cloth, but the chassis has been attached using a metal strap at each end. It's a 2+ hr drive each way so $50 in fuel. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks,

Gene
Certainly a great set! A bit of a pain to service because of it's size and the rf sub chassis. It and the 37-690 are the only truly HiFi sets from Philco in '37. There are two versions the standard and deluxe. The standard is pretty hard to find, only made for 6 months. Deluxe outsold it in spades. Seams like a fair price for it. The chassis is held down with two blocks of wood that are bolted to the cabinet. Before moving it be sure the speaker is bolted in place, it has a wooden cone shaped part that will tear the speaker.
GL
Terry

[Gene Pederson]

[quote='Gene Pederson' pid='26443' dateline='1332454809']
I see a couple of the members have recently pick up model 116's. There is a 37-116X available for $195. Is this reasonable? My 2005 Slusser's lists it at $200-230. Looks to be in decent shape, no visible tears on the grill cloth, but the chassis has been attached using a metal strap at each end. It's a 2+ hr drive each way so $50 in fuel. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks,

Gene
Certainly a great set! A bit of a pain to service because of it's size and the rf sub chassis. It and the 37-690 are the only truly HiFi sets from Philco in '37. There are two versions the standard and deluxe. The standard is pretty hard to find, only made for 6 months. Deluxe outsold it in spades. Seams like a fair price for it. The chassis is held down with two blocks of wood that are bolted to the cabinet. Before moving it be sure the speaker is bolted in place, it has a wooden cone shaped part that will tear the speaker.
GL
Terry

[Gene Pederson]

Thanks Terry!
I know it is a good set, just not sure about acquiring another console.....owner says he is going to relist it at $225--he was told his price was too cheap.

Gene

[37silverstreak]

I see a couple of the members have recently picked up model 116's. There is a 37-116X available for $195. Is this reasonable? My 2005 Slusser's lists it at $200-230. Looks to be in decent shape, no visible tears on the grill cloth, but the chassis has been attached using a metal strap at each end. It's a 2+ hr drive each way so $50 in fuel. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks,

Gene

Gene
I picked up my 37-116X last summer. Mine is also in very good original but non-working condition. I paid $175 plus about a 130 mile round trip. Great set, just a little too intimidated by the thing to start working on it! Good luck!
Kevin

[Arran]

Thanks Terry!
I know it is a good set, just not sure about acquiring another console.....owner says he is going to relist it at $225--he was told his price was too cheap.

Gene

That sounds like a ploy to sell it, I mean really, is he going to walk away from a deal just to get an extra $30? I wonder who gave him that advice? Probably somebody that knows nothing about radios I bet but saw an overpriced hi fi in and antique shop once. Among Philco afficianados we know that a 37-116 is potentially a good set, but we also know what a pain they are to work on too. To the general public it's just another old radio and if it doesn't work it's just another fancy plant stand or book end, in short his only other potentential customers are going to be radio collectors who like Philcos. Personally I wouldn't pay over $150 for one (preferably less) as is if it's complete and the cabinet half decent, some may go as high as $175 to $200. I have seen restored ones listed around $350-400 so $195 isn't really all that cheap for one as is. One thing I know is that stuff can look way better in a photo then it does in person, especially in selective photos where they don't show certain things.
Regards
Arran

[murf]

Thanks Terry!
I know it is a good set, just not sure about acquiring another console.....owner says he is going to relist it at $225--he was told his price was too cheap.

Gene

That sounds like a ploy to sell it, I mean really, is he going to walk away from a deal just to get an extra $30? I wonder who gave him that advice? Probably somebody that knows nothing about radios I bet but saw an overpriced hi fi in and antique shop once. Among Philco afficianados we know that a 37-116 is potentially a good set, but we also know what a pain they are to work on too. To the general public it's just another old radio and if it doesn't work it's just another fancy plant stand or book end, in short his only other potentential customers are going to be radio collectors who like Philcos. Personally I wouldn't pay over $150 for one (preferably less) as is if it's complete and the cabinet half decent, some may go as high as $175 to $200. I have seen restored ones listed around $350-400 so $195 isn't really all that cheap for one as is. One thing I know is that stuff can look way better in a photo then it does in person, especially in selective photos where they don't show certain things.
Regards
Arran

Very nice radios,but a real bear to work on with the seperate tuner chassis.
I am having trouble reading the schematics for my 38-116.
Not at all what I am used to.
A few of the electrolitics were replaced at some time,so I am trying to figure out the original wiring from the cans so I can re-cap all properly.
Anyway,the cartoons suck for this radio.
murf

[Gene Pederson]

When I mentioned the probability of the rubber covered wiring the guy says he has worked on electronics since the 70's. All the knobs are missing. Small veneer chip on the top. I don't know who told him it's worth a lot more, but I agree that consoles are harder to sell. I had trouble GIVING one away! The chassis sounds somewhat intimidating to me also.

Maybe I should go look at an RCA K130 instead. That's $150 and a lot closer.

Gene

[Ron Ramirez]

I hate to sound like the bad guy here, but I feel this needs to be said, and someone should say it...so here goes.

I don't understand why some guys appoint themselves pricing specialists, and claim that X radio is "worth" Y price. These same "specialists" would never dream of actually paying the prices they quote, but they are quick to condemn those who pay less than what these "specialists" think they are "worth."

This sort of thing goes on at another forum which shall remain nameless...populated by several frustrated old yentas with nothing better to do than criticize everything and everybody.

I just get the feeling that this is what happened in the case of the 37-116, Gene. Some nosy yenta convinced the seller that $195 wasn't enough. So why doesn't the nosy person buy it himself/herself, then? Like I said...these people are quick to claim something is "worth" a lot but they won't pay premium prices for the stuff they buy. On the contrary...if they wanted to buy that same radio...it would suddenly become worthless (to them).

Oh, and in fairness to that other forum, I've also seen similar activity at radio swap meets. If you're selling something and they walk by, it's junk. If they are selling something, it's worth a king's ransom.

'Nuff said.

[murf]

When I mentioned the probability of the rubber covered wiring the guy says he has worked on electronics since the 70's. All the knobs are missing. Small veneer chip on the top. I don't know who told him it's worth a lot more, but I agree that consoles are harder to sell. I had trouble GIVING one away! The chassis sounds somewhat intimidating to me also.

Maybe I should go look at an RCA K130 instead. That's $150 and a lot closer.

Gene

Hi Gene,
Just did a K130.
Lots of bad rubber coated wires to replace in those.
Nice looking and sounding radio when it was done though.
I like the adjustable antenna in these.
murf

[Arran]

When I mentioned the probability of the rubber covered wiring the guy says he has worked on electronics since the 70's. All the knobs are missing. Small veneer chip on the top. I don't know who told him it's worth a lot more, but I agree that consoles are harder to sell. I had trouble GIVING one away! The chassis sounds somewhat intimidating to me also.

Maybe I should go look at an RCA K130 instead. That's $150 and a lot closer.

Gene

Oh, that sounds like more like a $40 to $100 radio to me now, not that fleabay is a reasonable price guide but that's what a console with no knobs would go for on there. Not that the knobs are difficult to find but what else is missing or wrong with it that he hasn't told you about?
I would let him sit on it for now, but leave him your number and when he gets serious about selling it (such as asking a more realistic price) he can call you back.
Regards
Arran

[Arran]

I hate to sound like the bad guy here, but I feel this needs to be said, and someone should say it...so here goes.

I don't understand why some guys appoint themselves pricing specialists, and claim that X radio is "worth" Y price. These same "specialists" would never dream of actually paying the prices they quote, but they are quick to condemn those who pay less than what these "specialists" think they are "worth."

This sort of thing goes on at another forum which shall remain nameless...populated by several frustrated old yentas with nothing better to do than criticize everything and everybody.

I just get the feeling that this is what happened in the case of the 37-116, Gene. Some nosy yenta convinced the seller that $195 wasn't enough. So why doesn't the nosy person buy it himself/herself, then? Like I said...these people are quick to claim something is "worth" a lot but they won't pay premium prices for the stuff they buy. On the contrary...if they wanted to buy that same radio...it would suddenly become worthless (to them).

Oh, and in fairness to that other forum, I've also seen similar activity at radio swap meets. If you're selling something and they walk by, it's junk. If they are selling something, it's worth a king's ransom.

'Nuff said.

I've witnessed that happen on the other forum, a guy posted an inquiry about his TV set. It was a weird early postwar console, an off brand with an electrostatic picture tube. Anyhow all that the poster offered was a frontal shot, much like those brand Z consoles I linked to on fleabay, and the set looked in about the same shape as those brand Z consoles, like it had sat in a shed for 40 years. Anyhow the "Yentas" or "Rubber Neckers" on the other forum in effect started bidding the set up to astronomical prices for what it was, and I in effect said that it was easy to say it was worth that if they had not intention of buying it.
So the original poster (following their advice0 put the thing on fleabay, at least twice, with a high reserve, the set was bid up to $750 in one auction and it still didn't meet the reserve. I don't know whether the bidders actually wanted to own it or were just playing games trying to figure out where the reserve was. All this for an unrestored set, with an untested electrostatic picture tube, and no chassis pictures. I have no idea whether he eventually sold the thing or not.
Regards
Arran

[Arran]

When I mentioned the probability of the rubber covered wiring the guy says he has worked on electronics since the 70's. All the knobs are missing. Small veneer chip on the top. I don't know who told him it's worth a lot more, but I agree that consoles are harder to sell. I had trouble GIVING one away! The chassis sounds somewhat intimidating to me also.

Maybe I should go look at an RCA K130 instead. That's $150 and a lot closer.

Gene

It's a bit off topic but in what shape is the K130? It looks like a 1939-40 set, but it also has a Tenite bezel and pushbuttons which can have problems. It looks like a good set but keep in mind it's less collectable then a set from 1936-37 so people will usually pay less for one then an earlier set. It's up to you of course but I would only go for it if everything is there and in good shape, and I would still make an offer unless someone actually restored the thing at some point. Maybe we can move this to the non Philco section if you like.
Regards
Arran

[Phlogiston]

It has a pair of 6B4Gs for output. If they are good - GREAT! If not it could cost you another $60 or so.

If you are going to recap/ rebuild/ restore one of these chassis, you have to be prepared to pull the sub chassis, Many wires to unsolder, none of them rubber coated and then get it back together hoping that none of the coils are open, Not for a beginner.

"We" like the one we found last summer for $25. Yes, I know, we got lucky.

   

[LASJayhawk]

Some guy on the barking dog forum Had a picture of a 37 or 38 he did. He unbolted the tuning dial and took all the screws out of all 4 of the sub chassis. thing folded up like a rubics cube. Got to everything without unsoldering anything from the 4 sub chassis.