ID help with Victor floor model

[LocktownDog]

I came across an old floor model Victor at a furniture thrift store this morning. The wood casing was beautiful, as was the illuminated dial glass. The fabric covering of the speakers was torn to shreds. Stood about 4 feet tall, 2 feet wide, and about 18 inches deep. What surprised me, however, was that it had a remote control system. It was a wooden box of matching grain to the console with a bakelite "telephone dial" on the front. There was a long cable that attached it to the main console. The dial could be preset to about 10 stations. The original owner had written in the station call letters on pieces of paper and taped them to the console glass. I was unable to move it away from the wall and could not get a model number or to check the condition of wiring and tubes.

Any ideas of what I was looking at? The price would be well under $200, if I purchase the two huge chairs (I was going to buy them anyway).

Richard

 

[Flivver]

Can you post a picture of this radio...it sounds very interesting!

Philco used a remote tuning box with a telephone style dial in 1939 but it was wireless (no cable). RCA Victor used wired remote control units in 1931-2 and again in 1938, but not with telephone style dials.

Victor marketed it's own line of radios in 1929-30, but to the best of my recollection, these did not offer remote control.

This one has me intrigued.

 

[LocktownDog]

I'm heading back there tomorrow to pick up the chairs. Will try to take a cell phone pic of the radio and post it later this weekend.

Richard

 

[RetroToday]

Philco used a remote tuning box with a telephone style dial in 1939 but it was wireless (no cable). RCA Victor used wired remote control units in 1931-2 and again in 1938, but not with telephone style dials.

Victor marketed it's own line of radios in 1929-30, but to the best of my recollection, these did not offer remote control.

This one has me intrigued.

Has me intrigued too. First thing I thought of was the Philco remote as you did Flivver. I haven't seen a Victor remote of that early vintage, maybe this radio is newer than we're thinking, possibly late 1940s? The only problem with that idea is by that time it wouldn't have been a hard-wired remote unit. Might be a homebuilt contraption?
I have to look through my archive of victor ads, see if anything matches the description.

Your best bet for proper identification is to ask the dealer to help you move the radio to look in the back to see if everything is still there.

Can't wait to see the pics!

 

[LocktownDog]

Alrighty then. The pics unfortunately did not turn out, but I was able to move the furniture in front of the piece in order to get behind it. Apparently she had it mislabeled as a Victor, when the plate shows Philco. Granted, the lovely lady is in her 80s and probably can't read the text ... it was even hard for me to see. The front of the console is very worn and no logo shows on the fold-down cover in the front. The fabric is pretty thrashed. Some of the tubes are gone and corrosion is taking hold of other parts. I'd swear that the previous owner added the wiring connection the console to the remote box, as it looks like the vinyl wrap insulation used back in the 70s. The wood, glass, and what looks to be bakelite of the dials (including the pink remote dial) all look to be in excellent shape. Her price? $175.

Richard

 

[Flivver]

Sounds like a 1939 Philco Model 39-116X to me. This one had a wireless remote, but, as you said, the wiring to the remote may have been added later.

Is there a horizontal format folding door that lifts up to expose a horizontal tuning dial?

These are very nice sets, but not worth $175 in poor condition. That kind of money should buy a perfect one!

 

[LocktownDog]

Is there a horizontal format folding door that lifts up to expose a horizontal tuning dial?

These are very nice sets, but not worth $175 in poor condition. That kind of money should buy a perfect one!

Yes sir. There is the folding panel. I wasn't planning on buying the radio, especially for that price. But it would make a great display piece when refinished.

 

[Flivver]

The 39-116X is a great performer and nice looking too...typical of high end Philcos of the 1930s.

 

[RetroToday]

...The front of the console is very worn and no logo shows on the fold-down cover in the front. The fabric is pretty thrashed. Some of the tubes are gone and corrosion is taking hold of other parts. I'd swear that the previous owner added the wiring connection the console to the remote box, as it looks like the vinyl wrap insulation used back in the 70s. The wood, glass, and what looks to be bakelite of the dials (including the pink remote dial) all look to be in excellent shape. Her price? $175.

Richard

Ah well, you win some and lose some, sorry to hear about the condition issues. I agree with Flivver, not worth that price at all. Especially since some tubes are missing, that may have made it somewhat worthwhile.

If you owned another one in good condition it may be worth it to convince her to let it go for much less so that you could use it for the parts, but as you said, those parts are getting corroded. Stored in a damp basement?

Seems like another vintage radio is about to be put in the trash...