Vintage 1931 Philco Model 50 Common Baby Grand Radio. A beautiful piece of engineering, known as the "cathedral-style" for the arched top and church window-like fabric speaker grille sections at top. Features mahogany throughout with three rosette knobs triangulated below, and a metal plate with the word "Philco" on it surrounding the dial. The back is open, revealing all the gizmos, gadgets, and wires inside, along with a label affixed to the bottom right next to the outlet cord with significant information about the piece. The model 50 was a 5-tube Tuned-Radio-Frequency (TRF) receiver tuning standard broadcast from 550 - 1500kcs, and was the lowest priced model introduced in 1931, with the gothic outer shell repurposed many times with different grille designs afterwards due to its popularity. 

Condition: We cannot guarantee the working condition of any electronic piece. 

Size: 14 1/2 x 8 x 16 in. 

Originally founded in 1892 as the Helios Electric Company before changing its name in 1906, Philco (an acronym for Philadelphia Battery Company that first appeared in 1919) evolved from a carbon-arc lamp manufacturer into a global pioneer of consumer electronics, particularly radio and television. The company revolutionized the radio industry in the late 1920s by applying automobile assembly line techniques to production, making high-quality radios affordable for the mass market. By 1930 Philco became the leading radio manufacturer in the United States, a title it held for over two decades with iconic designs like the cathedral-shaped “Baby Grand.” Beyond radios, the firm was a leader in television innovation, employing television inventor Philo Farnsworth and later producing the futuristically designed Predicta series. Their engineering department also made significant strides in semiconductor technology, inventing the surface-barrier transistor in 1953 to advance high-speed computing. Following decades of independence, the company was acquired by Ford in 1961 and eventually passed through the hands of GTE in the 70s and Philips in the 80s, where the brand remains active today.

We cannot guarantee the working condition of any electronic piece. 

All items are sold AS IS. Lot and condition details are for descriptive purposes only. Sarasota Estate Auction is not responsible for errors and/or omissions of condition. The absence of a condition report does not imply that the lot is perfect or free from wear, flaws, or characteristics of age. Please bid according to your own expertise, or request any additional information and/or photographs you deem necessary.