View Full Version : The great little '30 Philco "Baby Grand" consolette


decojoe67
04-30-2017, 12:42 PM
I just did a trade to acquire this one. It's got a very nice original finish that came out beautiful after a few hours of refreshing. It was missing one small knob, so I put two non-original subs in temporarily. The trim on the bottom appears to have a patch in the photo, but is actually a natural tone variation of the veneer. The chassis was restored and plays loud and clear although about the quality of a good late '20's set with a good cone speaker. You can see just how small it is in contrast to the other sets. Very cute radio!
http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m554/decojoe67/DSC00581_zpsyzx4dkay.jpg (http://s1131.photobucket.com/user/decojoe67/media/DSC00581_zpsyzx4dkay.jpg.html)

Findm-Keepm
04-30-2017, 03:02 PM
Gorgeous!

decojoe67
04-30-2017, 03:34 PM
Gorgeous!
Thank you. I've seen this model in books for years, but never realized just how small it is, which really makes it appealing. I actually had it on top of my kitchen table to detail the cabinet!

old_tv_nut
04-30-2017, 07:17 PM
Beautiful! I feel like my house is not fancy enough to display a piece like that!

decojoe67
04-30-2017, 08:08 PM
Beautiful! I feel like my house is not fancy enough to display a piece like that!
Thanks. It has it's nearly 90 years worth of minor bruises, but it's amazing what a few hours of buffing with various products can do. As long as a wood set has most of it's original finish and no severe gouges/scratches, it's just a matter of some elbow grease to make a jewel out of it!

Titan1a
04-30-2017, 08:22 PM
Not quite a baby grand. More like a consolette. Very stylish! I like my 37-665B Philco. Playing now courtesy of Walter Beers.

decojoe67
04-30-2017, 10:20 PM
Not quite a baby grand. More like a consolette. Very stylish! I like my 37-665B Philco. Playing now courtesy of Walter Beers.
Actually in 1930 only Philco called both the 20 cathedral and the 20 consolette the "Baby Grand". It's a simple pleasing design that has nice details, especially the birds-eye maple veneer in front.
By the way the 37-665B is a nice set too. You just got to love '30's Philco radios!

dieseljeep
05-02-2017, 11:46 AM
Actually in 1930 only Philco called both the 20 cathedral and the 20 consolette the "Baby Grand". It's a simple pleasing design that has nice details, especially the birds-eye maple veneer in front.
By the way the 37-665B is a nice set too. You just got to love '30's Philco radios!
That's a real early model, using 71A's in the output stage.

decojoe67
05-02-2017, 05:25 PM
That's a real early model, using 71A's in the output stage.
Yes. It sounds something like my '28 Radiola 60. Good, but basically "tinny" sounding.