Philco Model 551 Colonial Clock Radio (1932)
The Philco 551 Colonial Clock-Radio was introduced in
January of 1932 with an original selling price of $60,
complete with "Philco Balanced Tubes". It was claimed to be
an exact reproduction of a 19th century Eli Terry Colonial
clock, the only changes being the swapping out of the old
clockworks with an electric mechanism, the placement of
the radio chassis in what was the pendulum chamber and
the addition of the upwards facing loudspeaker and grille.
Philco advertised this model as "a big performing 5-tube
balanced superheterodyne using pentode tube, improved
dynamic speaker and other big Philco features" and added
that it had an "all-electric synchronous motor type clock".
The cabinet was of "genuine hand-rubbed mahogany with a
figured maple panel".
The model 551 embodied a new 5-tube "balanced"
superheterodyne chassis that was also used in the Baby
Grand model 51B, released at the same time in January
of 1932. This chassis would serve yet again, a few months
later, for the models 52B and 52C. It tunes the standard
broadcast band from 550-1500kc and has the tube
line-up:- 24 (mixer/LO), 35 (IF), 24 (2nd detector), 47 (AF
output) and 80 (rectifier). By comparison with Philco's
7-tube super- het chassis, such as used for the model 70
type II, this one has no RF stage and employs a single
stage detector that does not generate AVC.
January of 1932 with an original selling price of $60,
complete with "Philco Balanced Tubes". It was claimed to be
an exact reproduction of a 19th century Eli Terry Colonial
clock, the only changes being the swapping out of the old
clockworks with an electric mechanism, the placement of
the radio chassis in what was the pendulum chamber and
the addition of the upwards facing loudspeaker and grille.
Philco advertised this model as "a big performing 5-tube
balanced superheterodyne using pentode tube, improved
dynamic speaker and other big Philco features" and added
that it had an "all-electric synchronous motor type clock".
The cabinet was of "genuine hand-rubbed mahogany with a
figured maple panel".
The model 551 embodied a new 5-tube "balanced"
superheterodyne chassis that was also used in the Baby
Grand model 51B, released at the same time in January
of 1932. This chassis would serve yet again, a few months
later, for the models 52B and 52C. It tunes the standard
broadcast band from 550-1500kc and has the tube
line-up:- 24 (mixer/LO), 35 (IF), 24 (2nd detector), 47 (AF
output) and 80 (rectifier). By comparison with Philco's
7-tube super- het chassis, such as used for the model 70
type II, this one has no RF stage and employs a single
stage detector that does not generate AVC.
..a perfect timepiece and a remarkable performing radio.
I purchased this radio through Ebay. The original finish was in poor condition (very evident from the auction photos)
and it was missing two finials, but it appeared very restorable. Since I had been looking for one for a while I sniped it
with a fair bid and won. I stripped it, stained it lightly with Minwax and re-finished it with multiple coats of lacquer. Three
replacement finials, from Dick Oliver, were added to complete the cosmetic restoration. The chassis was rusty but
complete, including the often-missing tube shield. It cleaned up nicely and ended up being a routine restoration. The
upward-facing speaker needed reconing but I found a replacement on Ebay just a few short weeks later for less than it
would have cost for the reconing. Now it plays great and looks spectacular.
and it was missing two finials, but it appeared very restorable. Since I had been looking for one for a while I sniped it
with a fair bid and won. I stripped it, stained it lightly with Minwax and re-finished it with multiple coats of lacquer. Three
replacement finials, from Dick Oliver, were added to complete the cosmetic restoration. The chassis was rusty but
complete, including the often-missing tube shield. It cleaned up nicely and ended up being a routine restoration. The
upward-facing speaker needed reconing but I found a replacement on Ebay just a few short weeks later for less than it
would have cost for the reconing. Now it plays great and looks spectacular.
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