Philco Model 37-604C Compact Table Radio (1937)
Before I was fortunate enough to come by this
radio, I had seen photographs of it and had been
fascinated by its unusual styling. So when the
opportunity to acquire this almost pristine example
presented itself I did not hesitate.
The cabinet comprises a compact but surprisingly
sturdy wooden case, finished on all sides and
capped by a bakelite bezel. The chassis is loaded
from below. The bezel features a conical dial cover
with window plus three knobs:- wave change, tuning
and on/off/volume. The tuning control provides
concentric fine and coarse adjustment.
As best as I can tell, this was one of Philco's most
ambitious uses of bakelite to date. No Philco radio
made entirely of plastic would be offered until 1938
(model 38-12CB) and prior to the 604C the material
had been confined to the production of relatively
small escutcheons, such as those used on some of
their cathedral and tombstone models.
The 37-604C had an original sales price of $39.95.
radio, I had seen photographs of it and had been
fascinated by its unusual styling. So when the
opportunity to acquire this almost pristine example
presented itself I did not hesitate.
The cabinet comprises a compact but surprisingly
sturdy wooden case, finished on all sides and
capped by a bakelite bezel. The chassis is loaded
from below. The bezel features a conical dial cover
with window plus three knobs:- wave change, tuning
and on/off/volume. The tuning control provides
concentric fine and coarse adjustment.
As best as I can tell, this was one of Philco's most
ambitious uses of bakelite to date. No Philco radio
made entirely of plastic would be offered until 1938
(model 38-12CB) and prior to the 604C the material
had been confined to the production of relatively
small escutcheons, such as those used on some of
their cathedral and tombstone models.
The 37-604C had an original sales price of $39.95.
After getting the radio home, I noticed that the
Philco decal, which is only on one face, was on the
opposite side of the cabinet to the dial window.
Photos I've seen always show the dial and logo on
the same side, so I reversed both the chassis and
bakelite escutcheon relative to the cabinet and this
is how it now appears in my photos. I'm still not sure
what the original intent was since there are
arguments that can be made for either arrangement.
A curious feature is that when facing the dial window
(as in the photo to the right), the knobs are such
that their pointers face away from you - the photo
below left shows this. The on/off/volume knob to the
right (top one in the photo below) is actually in the
"off" position at 1 o'clock (as viewed from the front).
One normally expects "off" to be at 7 o'clock - which
it is on this model when viewed from the rear! It's
almost as if the bezel and cabinet should both be
reversed, keeping the chassis as is. But that can't
be because the dial window then shows the wrong
end of the band and the "beam-of-light" indicator is
obscured! Perhaps somewhere there is an
alternate set of the knobs having their pointers set
in the opposite direction. Or perhaps it's just a
design oversight!
Philco decal, which is only on one face, was on the
opposite side of the cabinet to the dial window.
Photos I've seen always show the dial and logo on
the same side, so I reversed both the chassis and
bakelite escutcheon relative to the cabinet and this
is how it now appears in my photos. I'm still not sure
what the original intent was since there are
arguments that can be made for either arrangement.
A curious feature is that when facing the dial window
(as in the photo to the right), the knobs are such
that their pointers face away from you - the photo
below left shows this. The on/off/volume knob to the
right (top one in the photo below) is actually in the
"off" position at 1 o'clock (as viewed from the front).
One normally expects "off" to be at 7 o'clock - which
it is on this model when viewed from the rear! It's
almost as if the bezel and cabinet should both be
reversed, keeping the chassis as is. But that can't
be because the dial window then shows the wrong
end of the band and the "beam-of-light" indicator is
obscured! Perhaps somewhere there is an
alternate set of the knobs having their pointers set
in the opposite direction. Or perhaps it's just a
design oversight!
This is a very heavy radio. At first I assumed it was
ac-powered using a power transformer, but that's
not the case and it is in fact ac/dc powered, with
series strung filaments.
It's a 5-tube superhet that covers two bands:-
530-1750kc standard broadcast and 6000-18000kc
shortwave. The tubes are the octals:- 6A8G
(mixer/LO), 6K7G (IF amp), 6Q7G (2nd
detector/AGC/1st AF), 25A6G (AF power), 25Z6G
(rectifier). A filament resistor is used to drop the
117V line to the 68V required by the series strung
filaments. Contrast this with the 1936 model 604C,
which used the pre-octal tubes 6A7, 78, 75, 43 and
25Z5.
On a cautionary note, the bakelite bezel is held in
place by four screws. These are spring loaded, with
the spring captured between the bezel and wood.
When removing or replacing the bezel it is
necessary to adjust the scews evenly so as not to
unduly stress the bakelite. I cannot help but wonder
how many bezels have been cracked as a result of
this arrangement!
ac-powered using a power transformer, but that's
not the case and it is in fact ac/dc powered, with
series strung filaments.
It's a 5-tube superhet that covers two bands:-
530-1750kc standard broadcast and 6000-18000kc
shortwave. The tubes are the octals:- 6A8G
(mixer/LO), 6K7G (IF amp), 6Q7G (2nd
detector/AGC/1st AF), 25A6G (AF power), 25Z6G
(rectifier). A filament resistor is used to drop the
117V line to the 68V required by the series strung
filaments. Contrast this with the 1936 model 604C,
which used the pre-octal tubes 6A7, 78, 75, 43 and
25Z5.
On a cautionary note, the bakelite bezel is held in
place by four screws. These are spring loaded, with
the spring captured between the bezel and wood.
When removing or replacing the bezel it is
necessary to adjust the scews evenly so as not to
unduly stress the bakelite. I cannot help but wonder
how many bezels have been cracked as a result of
this arrangement!
Note: the on/off/volume control (upper knob) is NOT in the "off"
position in this photo. "Off" is at 1 o'clock when viewing face on
from the right - see the text for a discussion of this.
position in this photo. "Off" is at 1 o'clock when viewing face on
from the right - see the text for a discussion of this.
Philco 37-604C ...controls on top for easy tuning.
| This latest 1937 American and Foreign Philco compact has everything...including the Philco Foreign Tuning system and Philco color-dial. AC-DC operation....controls on top for easy tuning. Modern hand-rubbed cabinet. Speaker grille front and rear. |
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