Philco Model TP-20 Bakelite Table Radio (1940)
The Philco TP-20 is an elusive but
very striking radio with sleek, machine
aged-styling. To me, in addition to
leaving various mechanistic
impressions, it is suggestive of a fiery
comet streaking through the heavens,
leaving a long blazing tail.
This and a number of similar models
continued the legacy of the Simplex
Corporation of Sandusky, Ohio,
several years after Philco had bought
a controlling interest in the company in
1937. Beyond this date, Philco
continued to increase its holding in the
company until, by 1948, the old
Simplex had disappeared completely
and that company had become just
another branch of Philco. Starting in
1939, within the transition period,
many stylish table models were offered
from the Simplex stable, first under the
Transitone tradename but within a
year, under Philco Transitone.
A brief history of Philco, Simplex and
the Sandusky manufacturing plant can
be found at www.firelandsradio.com.
The TP-20 was first offered for sale in
June 1939, at the start of the 1940
model season. As such it was one of
the last models to use the "Transitone"
brand name without showing Philco
anywhere on the cabinet. According
to PhilcoRadio.com only 4000 of these
were made, with an initial selling price
of $15.95.
The chassis is a 5-tube ac/dc
super-het covering the standard
broadcast and old police bands. The
tubes used are 7A8 (mixer/LO), 7B7
(IF), 7C6 (2nd det/AVC/1st AF), 35A5
(AF output) and 35Z3 (rectifier). These
are all Loktal types. The schematic
can be found on Riders page 12.2.
very striking radio with sleek, machine
aged-styling. To me, in addition to
leaving various mechanistic
impressions, it is suggestive of a fiery
comet streaking through the heavens,
leaving a long blazing tail.
This and a number of similar models
continued the legacy of the Simplex
Corporation of Sandusky, Ohio,
several years after Philco had bought
a controlling interest in the company in
1937. Beyond this date, Philco
continued to increase its holding in the
company until, by 1948, the old
Simplex had disappeared completely
and that company had become just
another branch of Philco. Starting in
1939, within the transition period,
many stylish table models were offered
from the Simplex stable, first under the
Transitone tradename but within a
year, under Philco Transitone.
A brief history of Philco, Simplex and
the Sandusky manufacturing plant can
be found at www.firelandsradio.com.
The TP-20 was first offered for sale in
June 1939, at the start of the 1940
model season. As such it was one of
the last models to use the "Transitone"
brand name without showing Philco
anywhere on the cabinet. According
to PhilcoRadio.com only 4000 of these
were made, with an initial selling price
of $15.95.
The chassis is a 5-tube ac/dc
super-het covering the standard
broadcast and old police bands. The
tubes used are 7A8 (mixer/LO), 7B7
(IF), 7C6 (2nd det/AVC/1st AF), 35A5
(AF output) and 35Z3 (rectifier). These
are all Loktal types. The schematic
can be found on Riders page 12.2.
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