Philco Model 20 "Baby Grand" Cathedral Radio (1930)
The Philco model 20 Baby Grand was introduced in August of
1930 and it became an overnight success for the company. It
integrated an electro-dynamic speaker and an all-electric
7-tube screen grid chassis into a compact table-top cabinet, all
for the unheard of price of $49.50 less tubes ($68 with - see
below). Its unique combination of price, looks and perfomance
was just what the public was looking for, making it a classic case
of a product being in the right place at the right time. It was
extensively advertised by Philco and in all some 300,000 sets
were sold, catapulting Philco to the number one spot in the
industry, where they would remain for the rest of the decade.
In their advertising, Philco went to lengths to point out that the
Baby Grand had "nothing but size in common with the other
so-called midget sets". They referred to it as that "big performing
little radio" and also as "the greatest little name in radio", all
presumably in an effort to convey the impression of small size
but of BIG sound - just like that of the traditional consoles that
the public was familiar with. They further went on:-
1930 and it became an overnight success for the company. It
integrated an electro-dynamic speaker and an all-electric
7-tube screen grid chassis into a compact table-top cabinet, all
for the unheard of price of $49.50 less tubes ($68 with - see
below). Its unique combination of price, looks and perfomance
was just what the public was looking for, making it a classic case
of a product being in the right place at the right time. It was
extensively advertised by Philco and in all some 300,000 sets
were sold, catapulting Philco to the number one spot in the
industry, where they would remain for the rest of the decade.
In their advertising, Philco went to lengths to point out that the
Baby Grand had "nothing but size in common with the other
so-called midget sets". They referred to it as that "big performing
little radio" and also as "the greatest little name in radio", all
presumably in an effort to convey the impression of small size
but of BIG sound - just like that of the traditional consoles that
the public was familiar with. They further went on:-
Philco Baby Grand...that big performing little radio.
The model 20 Baby Grand uses a 7-tube screen-grid chassis that covers standard broadcast from 550-1500kc. The tube line-up is
24*2 (two stages of screen-grid RF amplification), 24 (2nd detector), 27 (1st AF), 71A*2 (push-pull audio output) and 80 (rectifier).
In spite of Philco having introduced automatic-volume control into some of its sets the previous season, this set does not use it. The
schematic can be found here.
In the photograph, the escutcheon is bright due to its previous owner having over-polished it and removed the original patina - I
believe the escutcheon came from the factory with a deliberate oxidized and antiqued appearance like that on my 20 Deluxe.
Furthermore, the radio has the incorrect grille cloth (the correct one is as for the model 20 Deluxe). However, I do have an
unpolished escutcheon earmarked for this set, together with a reproduction grille cloth that I purchased from grillecloth.com. I'll
update the photo once I get these items installed.
24*2 (two stages of screen-grid RF amplification), 24 (2nd detector), 27 (1st AF), 71A*2 (push-pull audio output) and 80 (rectifier).
In spite of Philco having introduced automatic-volume control into some of its sets the previous season, this set does not use it. The
schematic can be found here.
In the photograph, the escutcheon is bright due to its previous owner having over-polished it and removed the original patina - I
believe the escutcheon came from the factory with a deliberate oxidized and antiqued appearance like that on my 20 Deluxe.
Furthermore, the radio has the incorrect grille cloth (the correct one is as for the model 20 Deluxe). However, I do have an
unpolished escutcheon earmarked for this set, together with a reproduction grille cloth that I purchased from grillecloth.com. I'll
update the photo once I get these items installed.
"Use it as an extra radio set or as a portable... With the radio
fans dancing in the parlor, how wonderful to have a Baby
Grand upstairs for mother. For that boy or girl at college, Baby
Grand steps in with great performance at a price that will
hardly make a father flinch. For the spare bedroom, for the
boudoir, the den, the summer cottage and as a gift supreme
for all occasions, the Philco Baby Grand fills a long-felt want.
Philco Baby Grand is an all-electric portable - can be carried
from room to room and attached to any AC socket"
fans dancing in the parlor, how wonderful to have a Baby
Grand upstairs for mother. For that boy or girl at college, Baby
Grand steps in with great performance at a price that will
hardly make a father flinch. For the spare bedroom, for the
boudoir, the den, the summer cottage and as a gift supreme
for all occasions, the Philco Baby Grand fills a long-felt want.
Philco Baby Grand is an all-electric portable - can be carried
from room to room and attached to any AC socket"
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To the right is a late 1930
ad showing the pricing for
Philco tubes as used in the
model 20 Baby Grand. The
total for 2*71A, 3*24, 1*80
and 1*27 is $18.50. Quite a
sum in 1930!
ad showing the pricing for
Philco tubes as used in the
model 20 Baby Grand. The
total for 2*71A, 3*24, 1*80
and 1*27 is $18.50. Quite a
sum in 1930!
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