| Model 37-116X Technical Highlights |
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| Philco Model 37-116X High-Fidelity Console Radio (1937) (Standard Tuning) |
| This Philco 37-116X (37-116) High-Fidelity console radio was one of two model 116X variants introduced in June of 1936 for the 1937 season. It features standard (manual) tuning, whereas its counterpart, the 37-116X Deluxe, debuted Philco's "Automatic Tuning", which provides a means for rapidly locating and tuning in favorite stations. Automatic-tuning, in its various guises, was a technology about to come of age and Philco may have been a little uncertain as to how well their version of it would be received by the radio buying public, so perhaps as a result they decided to offer the 116X both with and without the feature. We may never know for sure, but the Deluxe set was certainly the more heavily advertised of the two models and ended up being a great success, whereas the standard version sold comparatively few and is a much rarer find today. For sure, standard tuning was dropped from the set's 1938 successor, the 38-116XX, which was offered with automatic tuning only. The 37-116X was a very different radio to the 1936 116X , which was not a true high-fidelity set at all, despite some Philco advertising claims to the contrary. In addition to new cabinetry and, in the case of the Deluxe the aforementioned automatic tuning, the 1937 set received an all-new 15-tube chassis that provided adjustable IF bandwidths, high-fidelity audio and magnetic tuning. In fact, the 37-116X embodied all six elements considered key by Philco in 1937 for high-fidelity reproduction (see box below). The 15-tube standard listed at $175, the same as the previous year's 11-tube 116X. The Deluxe was $20 higher at $195. Both of these sets represented extremely good value for money. They were Philco's second to best models for 1937, bettered only by the 37-690X. Today, of all the 15-tube radios found, regardless of manufacturer, the 1937 and 1938 Philco 116X models are those most often encountered, a testimonial indeed to their great success in the marketplace. According to philcoradio.com, 35,000 1937 and almost 26,000 1938 116Xs were sold. I know of no other "15-tubers" that came even close! |
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PHILCO MODEL 116 SERIES
Copyright www.TubeRadioLand.com
Philco High-Fidelity Tone gives you sheer, thrilling realism!.
| "The new Philco 1937 line aims at true high fidelity reception, a term that has been used somewhat loosely in the radio industry, but which actually means absolutely true, pure tone reproduction over the entire musical scale from the highest to the lowest notes. It is achieved by combining every scientific advance in radio into a complete system, including a specially designed audio circuit and audio tubes. Six major features include fifteen watts of power which make it possible to bring in every note clearly and distinctly at any volume; the inclined sounding board, which directs the high notes up to ear level in perfect balance with the bass notes; wide angle sound diffusion, which spreads the sound evenly to all parts of the room, additional acoustic clarifiers which do away with barrel-like booming resulting from the distortion of the low notes and absorb cabinet resonance; the tone control knob, which makes it possible for the listener to emphasize either high or low notes as he desires; and the auditorium speaker, which is in effect two speakers, one desgined to carry very high notes and the other to reproduce low notes" |
| The 37-116XX is a 15-tube all-wave AC superheterodyne having five frequency bands with an RF amplifier, Automatic-Frequency-Control (AFC), two stages of IF amplification with continuously variable selectivity control and a 15W High Fidelity audio system with push-pull triode output stage, cathedral speaker and acoustic clarifiers. The tube line-up is:- 6K7G (RF amp), 6L7G (mixer), 6A8G (LO), 6N7G (reactance tube), 6K7G (1st IF), 6K7G (2nd IF), 6J5G (2nd detector), 6K7G (magnetic tuning amp), 6J5G (AVC diode), 6H6G (AFC discriminator), 6J5G (1st audio), 6F6G (triode-connected driver), 6B4G * 2 (triode outputs) and 5U4G (rectifier). The tuning range is:- 530-1600kc (band 1), 1580-4750 (2), 4700-7400 (3), 7350-11600 (4) and 11500-18200 (5). The code 121 chassis, with shadowmeter, was used for the 37-116X Standard model and the code 122 chassis, with Automatic-Tuning, for the 37-116X Deluxe. The schematics may be obtained here, courtesy of NostalgiaAir. For details of other aspects of Philco High-Fidelity, see my 201X, 116X, 680X, 37-690X, 38-116X and 38-690XX pages. For further information on Philco Automatic Tuning and Magnetic Tuning (AFC) see my "Philco Automatic Tuning and Automatic-Frequency-Control" page. |
| "One of the greatest developments for the improvement of foreign and American reception, magnetic tuning is being demonstrated by Philco dealers. The new feature completely eliminates the tendency of a radio to drift "off frequency" or away from the station tuned in, necessitating constant retuning of the set if finest tone and fullest power are to be enjoyed. By means of magnetic tuning the station that is being received is kept perfectly tuned at all times, thus enabling the listener to enjoy the fullest power and tone. Once a station is tuned-in with magnetic tuning in operation, no further attention is necessary and the listener may listen to hour after hour of entertainment without touching the radio. Magnetic tuning works similar to the manner in which a magnet pulls metallic object toward it. The minute a new radio is tuned close to the frequency of any strong station, either at home or abroad, magnetic tuning goes into operation, establishing the exact frequency of the station and holding the set there. It eliminates all possibility of poor tone quality due to inaccurate tuning" |