Philco Radio: 1928-1942 [Paperback]

Ron Ramirez (Author), Michael Prosise (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2007

This superb reference book profiles Philco, the leading radio manufacturer during radio's "Golden Age." In addition to illustrating many of Philco's radio receivers, it provides background on the company. Specifications for each model are given. The text is divided into a year-by-year look at Philco's radio line from 1928, when the company began to make radios, to 1942, when World War II put a halt to radio production. This newly revised edition is an invaluable source for the radio collector. Anyone who remembers radio's "Golden Age" will enjoy taking a nostalgic trip through its pages. The photographs and specifications will prove a valuable aid in identifying a particular Philco model.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer Publishing; 2 Revised edition (July 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076432330X
• ISBN-13: 978-0764323300
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,078,290 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What year and model is grandfather's radio...?, March 7, 2008

By 

Mike Rophone (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Philco Radio: 1928-1942 (Paperback)

As the follow-up edition to Ron's earlier book on PHILCO, this continues to be the definitive reference for antique radio collectors and mass media historians. PHILCO (short for "Philadelphia Storage Battery Company") was the name synonymous with affordable radios for nearly three decades...along with the well-known "cathedral" style radio of the 1930s and 1940s.

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the family radio was the last household item to be sold for rent and food money.

I recommend picking up your copy before this edition goes out of print.

5.0 out of 5 stars I love everything about this book: Illustrations, content, organization., December 21, 2009

By 

Gary Coffrin (San Jose, California, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Philco Radio: 1928-1942 (Paperback)

The publisher uses a high quality glossy stock that allows the many photographs to be presented with excellent detail and fidelity. There are literally 100's and 100's of photos, nearly all in color. The shots are bright, detailed, and large enough to help you identify nearly any Philco model ever produced through 1942.

Author Ron Ramirez has organized and presented the right information in the right order. After presenting corporate history, each chapter then reviews by model year the Philco line and its technical advancements. And, each chapter has large color photos of models from the year it covers. This approach is hugely more satisfying than having to refer to photos in a section of the book far removed from the subject.

The content and organization are incredibly helpful to collectors and dedicated fans. The flow is superb with the book's chronological organization. Many photos have very detailed captions explaining features of the particular model presented. The information is precise and dependable.

Data tables are nicely organized. Chapter 16 lists Philco tube radios produced by year from 1928-42, along with number of tubes, power source, and cabinet type. One appendix shows chassis sketches with tube layouts for the various models. This is valuable information for collectors and restorers. Another appendix includes a value guide organized by model year.

This volume is sure to delight collectors and tube radio fans. Complaints? None. The author and publisher have done a superb job of documenting the technology of a bygone era. This may be my favorite of the many books I have on tube radios.

Tip: No value guide can account for all variables. However, if you are looking for a single-volume source of data and price information on Philco and a wide variety of other brands, I recommend the latest edition of "Collector's Guide to Antique Radios: Identification and Values."