A 1942 philco radio I picked up.

[beachdog77]

I figured a few of us on here would appreciate this. It is a 1942 Philco PT-2 some times called a "tropical" model. Bakelite does not distort with humidity like wood does clearly. I am in the process of cleaning it up and day dreamed about what was heard on it. The battle of Iwo jima, VE and VJ day and many other things. I got it for the princely sum of $15.50 when the auction closed although the max bid i threw down was $75. A sleeper auction with no competition for some reason.
The good news is that it work, the tube light up as does the display. I was listening to the local news on it earlier. I will probably replace the cord because the old rubber is cracked but as it stand it functions.
Enjoy.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Those were still in use when I was young, but that shouldn't surprise one as it was the end of the 50's...early '60s. All that stuff was out on the farms as it had sat there for a couple decades...in use.

[beachdog77]

Hey if they still work then why buy a replacement?

[browningautorifle]

They sat in the same place for years and in those days there were TV and radio repairmen and shops. I remember when those went out of use too...you could buy some of these after they'd been brought and abandoned...

[beachdog77]

Times change as they say. My great grand mother lived until 97 and all her life she had a huge cathedral Philco in her house. It was beautiful lacquered wood and she would listen to that rather than turn on her console TV. I'm not that old (but then again that is relative.) but i remember TV/VCR repair shops. Ice cream trucks and match box cars. Playing in the street until the lights came on and every one had to go back home for dinner. They world does change but at least i can drink coffee and collect things that make me nostalgic. I got a number of toys handed down to me when i was a kid, a number of match box cars and lead soldiers. I'm sure if any one saw a child playing with lead toy soldiers these day they would have a fit.

[usabaker]

It is a 1942 Philco PT-2 some times called a "tropical" model. Bakelite does not distort with humidity like wood does clearly.

She's real pretty! I love old raidos and consoles a have a few myself. Your Philco looks a bit like my Marconi.

Attachment 101690

[Neal Myers]

It probably came with 1/16" tempered hardboard as the back. I doubt that you can find it now, but some substitute may be found. That chassis still carries 120 volts, you don't want curious hands touching it.

[Aragorn243]

I have one, possibly two large floor model Philco's. I say two because I'm not exactly sure what I have in my attic these days. The other one is in my den and I've had it since I was a kid. It was old then but it was my first radio. Used to pick up short wave from who knows where. Somewhere along the line I came across a second one for free and of course couldn't pass it up. Just not sure what became of it. I know it was in the attic at one time and seems unlikely I brought it down for a yard sale.

[matthanne1]

we refer to my attic/upstairs unused storage room as the 'Room of Requiring', from the Harry Potter stories. Sometimes I go in for one thing and it may be a while before I come out again....

[Flying10uk]

As part of his electrical business my late grandfather use to recharge up radio batteries/accumulators for people because not everyone had electricity. I believe that these batteries/accumulators were a dangerously high voltage.

http://www.vintageradio.info/cell.html

1942 (June 1941) - Philco Radio Gallery