This gorgeous Art Deco radio is the 1938 Philco 38-2620T and is known in today's collecting circles as the “The Big Bullet” since its shape resembles the nose of the Norfolk and Western Bullet Streamliner 600 Art Deco train. This is a premium grade 3-Watt output, six-tube chassis, and it is a great performer.
History - This model first appeared in the fall of 1937 and sold for USD $60. It used the same cabinet as the battery powered 38-623T and the 38-624T, except this model is the export AC version. As such, it has extra shielding for the tubes and could be set up to run on 220-volt power. With a round left side and a speaker opening that combines a round lower half with several horizontal bars in the upper half, it somewhat resembles a small Greek 'sigma.'
Collectors seek out this attractive radio today but seldom find it in this condition. We acquired this one in early 2020 from an antiques dealer. The cabinet was in OK shape. However, the chassis was not working and needed a full restoration and upgrade.
Cabinet – The cabinet got a complete restoration. For the most part the original multi-colored veneers have stood the test of time but there were a few small abrasions. We stripped the entire cabinet, toned the front and top piping pin stripes and footer with period-correct brown and sealed the entire cabinet with a flat matte lacquer. The abrasions are barely noticeable now. We added an exact match Philco reproduction grille cloth and retained the original control knobs. The knobs, from left to right, are on/off/three-point tone control, band switch (lower center), fine/coarse tuning (upper center) and volume (right). The result is a handsome looking radio that will last many, many years into the future.
Dial – The amber dial faceplate was faded, and we had an exact replica made at considerable expense. All the letters and numbers are now clearly visible and will last many years. The very stylish Art Deco Globe dial is quite an impressive sight - especially in a dim or dark room. The dial exhibits the broadcast scale at the bottom and two consecutive shortwave bands on top. As you select a band, the ‘Glow Beam Indicator’ lights up the band and the frequency you tune. The letters and number are very legible because the faceplate is a brand-new reproduction of the original. The ‘Glow Beam Indicator’ light shields are original. The cabinet dial glass is free and clear of any chips, breaks, or cracks. The surrounding brass escutcheon has been stripped and refinished to keep its like-new look well into the future.
Chassis – For its age, there was no damage and only minimal, small spots of rust. We cleaned the steel chassis exterior and added rust inhibitor or paint to stop future corrosion. We went through the entire underside of the chassis and replaced all the capacitors and checked and replaced resistors and wires where needed. All tubes were checked and replaced where needed with NOS (new old stock) tubes. Unlike a lot of restorers, we went so far as to remove the RF deck, refurbished it with new capacitors, and added new grommets to keep it isolated from the main chassis. We disassembled and lubricated the main tuning capacitor gears and concentric tuning mechanism for smooth tuning operation. We also removed and cleaned the volume control pot. The radio now plays very well across the dial and all bands even with the simplest of antennas. A new power cord was installed for electrical safety and new silicone rubber chassis mounts were added for better vibration isolation. We added an auxiliary input and switch on the back and aligned the radio for the Bluetooth adapter.
We did not set up or test the power supply for 220-volt power, so it should only be plugged into a 120-volt outlet.
Speaker – Even though it performed well, we had the all-original 5-1/2-inch speaker cleaned and reinforced. The result is clear audio across the entire audio frequency range. This radio produces exceptional bass tones for its size, and its great sound will fill the room.
Bluetooth - Additionally, this radio has been fitted with our custom Bluetooth / MP3 adapter which allows you to switch between the radio or your smartphone or music device. Access your streaming audio service or the playlist on your smart device to provide classic tunes and bring the warm, bright, analog sound to any music or recording you choose. The quality of the sound is excellent. You will have the best of “digital” and “analog” combined.
Year of Manufacture: 1937/1938
Band Frequency Ranges:
Longwave Band .............150 - 350 kHz
AM Broadcast Band........530 – 1720 kHz
Shortwave Band……….…….5.7 – 18 MHz
Dimensions: 17"W x 13"H x 9"D
Weight: 22 pounds
See video demo on YouTube here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gWnIOqY0l0
History - This model first appeared in the fall of 1937 and sold for USD $60. It used the same cabinet as the battery powered 38-623T and the 38-624T, except this model is the export AC version. As such, it has extra shielding for the tubes and could be set up to run on 220-volt power. With a round left side and a speaker opening that combines a round lower half with several horizontal bars in the upper half, it somewhat resembles a small Greek 'sigma.'
Collectors seek out this attractive radio today but seldom find it in this condition. We acquired this one in early 2020 from an antiques dealer. The cabinet was in OK shape. However, the chassis was not working and needed a full restoration and upgrade.
Cabinet – The cabinet got a complete restoration. For the most part the original multi-colored veneers have stood the test of time but there were a few small abrasions. We stripped the entire cabinet, toned the front and top piping pin stripes and footer with period-correct brown and sealed the entire cabinet with a flat matte lacquer. The abrasions are barely noticeable now. We added an exact match Philco reproduction grille cloth and retained the original control knobs. The knobs, from left to right, are on/off/three-point tone control, band switch (lower center), fine/coarse tuning (upper center) and volume (right). The result is a handsome looking radio that will last many, many years into the future.
Dial – The amber dial faceplate was faded, and we had an exact replica made at considerable expense. All the letters and numbers are now clearly visible and will last many years. The very stylish Art Deco Globe dial is quite an impressive sight - especially in a dim or dark room. The dial exhibits the broadcast scale at the bottom and two consecutive shortwave bands on top. As you select a band, the ‘Glow Beam Indicator’ lights up the band and the frequency you tune. The letters and number are very legible because the faceplate is a brand-new reproduction of the original. The ‘Glow Beam Indicator’ light shields are original. The cabinet dial glass is free and clear of any chips, breaks, or cracks. The surrounding brass escutcheon has been stripped and refinished to keep its like-new look well into the future.
Chassis – For its age, there was no damage and only minimal, small spots of rust. We cleaned the steel chassis exterior and added rust inhibitor or paint to stop future corrosion. We went through the entire underside of the chassis and replaced all the capacitors and checked and replaced resistors and wires where needed. All tubes were checked and replaced where needed with NOS (new old stock) tubes. Unlike a lot of restorers, we went so far as to remove the RF deck, refurbished it with new capacitors, and added new grommets to keep it isolated from the main chassis. We disassembled and lubricated the main tuning capacitor gears and concentric tuning mechanism for smooth tuning operation. We also removed and cleaned the volume control pot. The radio now plays very well across the dial and all bands even with the simplest of antennas. A new power cord was installed for electrical safety and new silicone rubber chassis mounts were added for better vibration isolation. We added an auxiliary input and switch on the back and aligned the radio for the Bluetooth adapter.
We did not set up or test the power supply for 220-volt power, so it should only be plugged into a 120-volt outlet.
Speaker – Even though it performed well, we had the all-original 5-1/2-inch speaker cleaned and reinforced. The result is clear audio across the entire audio frequency range. This radio produces exceptional bass tones for its size, and its great sound will fill the room.
Bluetooth - Additionally, this radio has been fitted with our custom Bluetooth / MP3 adapter which allows you to switch between the radio or your smartphone or music device. Access your streaming audio service or the playlist on your smart device to provide classic tunes and bring the warm, bright, analog sound to any music or recording you choose. The quality of the sound is excellent. You will have the best of “digital” and “analog” combined.
Year of Manufacture: 1937/1938
Band Frequency Ranges:
Longwave Band .............150 - 350 kHz
AM Broadcast Band........530 – 1720 kHz
Shortwave Band……….…….5.7 – 18 MHz
Dimensions: 17"W x 13"H x 9"D
Weight: 22 pounds
See video demo on YouTube here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gWnIOqY0l0