This listing is for a vintage Philco model 90 "Baby Grand" cathedral radio. It was made in the 1930s, as opposed to the newer "R90" reproduction made by Philco-Ford in the 1970s. Based on our research, this is the the second version of the Model 90, introduced in October, 1931, which uses a single type 47 tube for audio output and has AVC to equalize the volume when switching between stations. The Philco is a good candidate for a restoration project. It powers on and produces a loud hum but doesn't pull in any stations. The cabinet has some scuffs, scratches, chips and wear from use. There are some holes in the grille cloth and the power knob is missing but you can still turn the shaft. The light bulb that illuminates the dial needs to be replaced. The decorative trim on the back has come off and is damaged. The interior looks complete but is very dusty from storage. The cloth insulation on the power cord has some fraying and minor damage. For these reasons, the radio is selling as-is for parts or repair only. Please see the photos below to see everything that is included, and contact us with any questions before bidding. We have a low opening bid and no reserve price so don't miss your chance to win!
The bolts that hold the guts to the wooden case are missing, so this will need to ship in 2 boxes to insure safe arrival. The eBay shipping calcultor does not work for multiple boxes, so the shipping price shown is ONLY AN ESTIMATE! Please wait to pay until we have a chance to send an invoice with accurate shipping to your zip code. Thank you!
"The Philco model 90 Baby Grand, introduced in June of 1931, continued the line of successful Philco compacts that had begun with the model 20 Baby Grand almost a year earlier, in August of 1930. Its robust, no-nonsense but classical demeanor has made it today one of the most famous and widely recognizable of all vintage radios. The original list price was $69.50, complete with tubes (though some stores charged more [...]). The cabinet design, patented in February of 1931 by Edward L. Combs, was shared with several other Baby Grands, including the models 21 and 70. However, the 90's cabinet is the largest of them all and is immediately distinguishable because of the vaulted mouldings around its base, compared with continuous mouldings on each of the other models. The model 90 uses Philco's 9-tube Balanced Superheterodyne chassis, which was in the middle of their 7, 9 & 11-tube chassis line introduced for 1931/32. This same chassis served for both the model 90 lowboy & highboy."