Newest Flea Market Find
I have been spending far, far too much time browsing through flea markets and yard sales in the area. Very recently I came across this gem of an item for a low $5.00 purchase price. I kid you not. $5.00.
I didn't really think twice about it. It became mine very quickly.
This is an old Philco radio, model 37-620. It's in rough shape, but nothing that isn't repairable. What I really like about this radio is it's entire shape; other radios of the era (1930's) where standup radios, whilst this one is a box that can double as a small coffee table. The control panel is on top of the radio, which is an interesting design.
Upon getting it home and into my already crowded work area I took another look at it. On the surface (hah) it appears that there are speakers in both the front and the back of the system. Here is the rear of the radio.
Upon flipping it onto it's side we can see that not only is there a lot of empty space inside but, interestingly, the only active speaker appears to be the one in the back.
One might notice the cat's tail. Funnily enough, the cat did not come with the radio, despite what might appear to be otherwise:
Now, the radio components themselves are pretty beat up. The wires are shredded, and the radio itself is likely missing a whole craptonne of tubes, which I honestly have no plans to replace. I don't mind restoration, but I don't have any emotional attachment to this radio at all to try to rebuild it.
Beyond refinishing the exterior to make it look snappy, I'm not yet 100% sure what I'm going to do with the innards. Most likely I'll gut it and retrofit it with something, though what that something is I'm not yet sure. I really do like the circular dial on the top of the radio; whatever I do with it will need to keep that as a feature. The rest of it, however, as far as I'm concerned, is junk. My immediate thought is to fit it with a raspberry pi to play internet radio; there is certainly enough space inside to place whatever I need to do so! And that'd make a pretty snappy addition to either my front room or work area in the basement.
(c) All images and photographs, unless otherwise specified, are created and owned by me.
(c) Victor Wiebe
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WOW thats a classic, I remember a few years ago a friend got a similar one,similar as it it could be used as a table, and similar state inside but i do not know what brand it was, he fixed up the external side of it sanded varnished etc and i helped him rebuild the radio took ages to find some of the parts but we finally got it working, thinking of this I just messaged him to see if he still has it
I really like how this one looks, for sure, but it certainly needs to be cleaned right up. I've had zero free time lately, but hopefully I'll be able to get to this sometime in the next week. For now it's just sitting in my work area begging for me to fix it up.
You will find the time sometime I have no doubt
I have a friend in "You Know Where" who is a retired pipe organ repair person, who also collects antique electronics, He had a "craptonne" of tv's and radios and more in his home, which is a church building he bought in Fenton Missouri.
I'm going to send him this article and see if he has any words about this.
Neat find Victor @wwwiebe
Your friend lives in an old former church? That is awesome. If I lived in a place like that, I'd fill it full of old antiques too!
Yes, he bought it some time ago, lives there alone, and indeed has lots of antique ELECTRONICS, but no antique furniture that I've heard him talk about
I just found an album he has called "My Homes Architecture" but unless you have a FB account, if I shared the link to it, you wouldn't be able to see it
That is pretty epic. That's almost better than living in a castle.
You should see the images from the rafters, under the roof. It really DOES seem like some medieval construction
Looking straight up in the East Bell tower. The white on some of the roof boards is actually concrete. These boards were re-used after they were used for the foundation concrete forms.
Way up near the peak is a tiny horizontal walk board, probably left behind from the original construction.
— in Fenton, Missouri.
I did contact my friend, shared your post @wwwiebe . This was his reply
Marlin Harrison Mackley
Cool find! These are called "Chairside" radios, 'cause that's what they are designed for.
That is why they are finished cabinets all around.
There are many folks into restoring these old radios (electronically) and the tubes and other necessary replacement parts are available. Probably $150 - $225 to pay somebody to do that for you. The "37" in the model number denotes 1937.
Neat! I did not know about the '37', but that makes a lot of sense.
Interestingly, my initial thought is to place is somewhere near my desk to do... something. I'm not sure what yet, but something, because it's too awesome to not do anything with.
Happy to help with info whenever I can @wwwiebe
Shut up!
I can't believe you got this beauty! The chairside radios are pretty cool! Manufacturers were so clever and Uber practical years ago. I have an old radio, I'm pretty sure I told you about it and actually everything is in it and the tube is he even still good. For all practical purposes, it works. Sort of. When you turn them over and look in the back there's hardly anything in them they were such a simple design.
Are you sure you didn't steal that cat? It sort of looks like it goes with the radio. I don't have an emotional attachment to mine, but it was a nice little conversation piece in the house I had on the Canadian border. Also known as the upper peninsula of Michigan. LOL mine is in okay shape and I think I paid a dollar? Between you and I, it was so little and it was probably a box lot at an auction. You know, towards the end they just want to get rid of the stuff, and, close it down. I actually think that wherever you put it it will make an amazing addition. You do know that you could have easily put this in #MarketFriday tomorrow. :) This is such an awesome find and I'm glad that it went home with you because you will take good care of it and cherish it. I snapped a quick shot with mine. It's trash compared to the one you got.
You don't have an emotional attachment to your cat? Or to the radio? 😄
These radios were definitely impressive, and built to last. They were considered furniture and were constructed as such. They are indeed mostly empty space on the inside, and we're far to "practical" for that now, but from a purely personal standpoint, that empty space gives me plenty of space to do something with! Maybe I'll turn it into a hidden bookshelf, or a safe, or a bar!
Both. Kidding. I love kitties and radios too, just this one is not the be-all to get-all. But, still, it has its place in my house.
Your radio is a relic from an era gone by. I love how functional they were. Now, it is fun over function. Or something like that. I liked the empty space as well, and I like the bar idea! I need treasures for a safe to be practical. :)
A hidden bookshelf? I likey.
Sorry for the delay in a comment, I had to wait to get home to take a picture of the radio. :)