Philco Model 70 Baby Grand Cathedral Tube Radio 1931

Philco Model 70 Baby Grand CathedralTube Radio (1931).
During the Great Depression this was quite costly being offered at $50. I paid $160 in 2009 for it and was quite pleased how it had been preserved and all original without any modifications. I have no idea what it's worth, but would like to hear a collector's opinion. The Philco Model 70 Baby Grand was first offered for
sale in June of 1931, at the same time as its big brother,
the model 90. It employed Philco's 7-tube "balanced
superheterodyne" chassis, the entry level offering in
their line-up of 7, 9 and 11 tube designs for 1931/32. Philco had proven success-
ful in the past with their "neutrodyne plus" and "screen
grid" plus, and so now came "superheterodyne plus".
Although strictly this referred only to their 11-tube sets,
they nevertheless used the word "plus" when promoting
their lower tube count models, combining it with "balan-
ced", another of their favorite words, as seen in the
following extract clipped from Baby Grand advertising a superheterodyne receiver PLUS balanced units PLUS balanced tubes. chassis is 35 (RF amp), 24 (mixer/LO), 35 (IF), 27 (rectifier-detector), 35 (detector-amp), 47 (output pentode) and 80 (rectifier). The mixer and LO, which used separate tubes in the earlier chassis, were combined into one self-oscillating type 24 (autodyne) stage and
the 2nd detector was reconfigured to use a detector-rectifier and detector-amp for the AVC.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Philco
• Model
• 70
• Baby
• Grand
• CathedralTube
• Radio
• (1931)
• antique

[Johnny4903]

I couldn't let this one go either when I spotted it. I had to keep going back hoping it was still there, I'm still pretty amazed at the prices you can find these for in antique stores.

[coolbluelights]

it must have been restored sometime in the past, no way those filter capacitors would be any good after 80 years! what a beautiful set!!

[Johnny4903]

@coolbluelights The radio was real dusty and appears original. It took some time to get a sound as I had to replace a tube to get it working, but I know it can sound better. I am going to have my radio guy that's been in his same shop for 54 years test everything and see if I can get it back to it's original condition. Not too far off right now.

[lgbman62]

Thanks for the info... I would have driven myself crazy trying to find something this fantastic on ebay!

Oh well, I guess it's off to the antique store for me!!

[Johnny4903]

@lgbman62 I found a great Antique Store in Reno that has a ton of old Radios and I like that they are covered in dust and you have to dig pretty deep to find the treasures.

[advthinker]

love the old radios, cant beat the glow from the tubes! i found one one day on the road for trash pick up, put it in my wagon, and the owner was a prick, and would not let me have it. and he tossed it in a hole of a new house basement. no problem would get it outa there next mourn, went back and the crew had the back fill put in, and there was no way to get it. funny how we allways want things we cant have! and i still want that radio.

[Johnny4903]

@weightfeather1 Dang, I was wondering why that dust was getting in.

[bnsffreighttrain]

Beautiful radio... 

[lgbman62]

Yeah, thats the best way! Next time I'm out in vegas visiting my brother, I'll try to get out to Reno, although I think it's pretty far from vegas. Meanwhile, I'll scout around out here in Jersey!

[Johnny4903]

@lgbman62 I purchased this at an Antique Store in Reno, NV. The wood is in amazing condition and the clothe appears to be original. This has been well preserved over the yeas. In terms of appearance this has the most historic and nostalgic look of all my radios. I must admit the two Zenith Radios have the best sound, but I think I scored here in terms of a 70 year old radio that is free of any damage and has the original look.