Philco Model 52B Baby Grand Cathedral Radio (June 1932)
The Philco model 52B Baby Grand, introduced in June
of 1932, was the latest in the company's line of econo-
my compacts, having been preceded by models 50B
and 51B. It featured a new cabinet by industrial design-
er Clyde Shuler (1, 2), the likeness of which would be
used for most of the Baby Grand radios released
during the next two years.
The 52B had a purchase price of $36.50, complete with
tubes. It was not a big seller and its roll as price leader
was short-lived, since that honor was soon to be be-
stowed upon the model 80B, introduced that fall.
When this radio was introduced in June, many stores
sold it with a free printed program showing the schedule
of radio broadcasts for the upcoming 1932 "Great Nat-
ional Political Conventions", held that month. The big
issue for the upcoming election was, of course, the
Great Depression, with the Democratic challenger
Franklin Roosevelt claiming that Republican incumbent
Herbert Hoover was to blame for the entire debacle. "I
pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American
people" was Roosevelt's rallying cry at the time. Roose-
velt went on to a sweeping victory in the November bal-
lot, ending forty years of Republican rule. I cannot help
but wonder whether or not this radio was used to listen
to those historic broadcasts and if so, to what extent it
influenced the voting of its owners.
of 1932, was the latest in the company's line of econo-
my compacts, having been preceded by models 50B
and 51B. It featured a new cabinet by industrial design-
er Clyde Shuler (1, 2), the likeness of which would be
used for most of the Baby Grand radios released
during the next two years.
The 52B had a purchase price of $36.50, complete with
tubes. It was not a big seller and its roll as price leader
was short-lived, since that honor was soon to be be-
stowed upon the model 80B, introduced that fall.
When this radio was introduced in June, many stores
sold it with a free printed program showing the schedule
of radio broadcasts for the upcoming 1932 "Great Nat-
ional Political Conventions", held that month. The big
issue for the upcoming election was, of course, the
Great Depression, with the Democratic challenger
Franklin Roosevelt claiming that Republican incumbent
Herbert Hoover was to blame for the entire debacle. "I
pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American
people" was Roosevelt's rallying cry at the time. Roose-
velt went on to a sweeping victory in the November bal-
lot, ending forty years of Republican rule. I cannot help
but wonder whether or not this radio was used to listen
to those historic broadcasts and if so, to what extent it
influenced the voting of its owners.
...startling new Philco radio designs.
The model 52B uses the same 5-tube superheterodyne chassis as the model 51B. It covers the standard broadcast band only and has
tube line-up 24 (mixer/LO), 35 (IF amp), 24 (2nd detector), 47 (AF output pentode) and 80 (rectifier). The schematic can be found here,
courtesy of NostalgiaAir.
tube line-up 24 (mixer/LO), 35 (IF amp), 24 (2nd detector), 47 (AF output pentode) and 80 (rectifier). The schematic can be found here,
courtesy of NostalgiaAir.
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