History of the manufacturer
Philco, Philadelphia Stg. Batt. Co.; USA
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| Name: | Philco, Philadelphia Stg. Batt. Co.; USA (USA) |
| Brand: |
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| Abbreviation: | philco |
| Products: | Model types Others Tube manufacturer |
| Summary: |
Helios Electric Company Philco Corporation
Born in 1892 as Helios Electric, Philco's journey began with carbon-arc lamps and batteries. By 1926, they had become a radio giant, innovating with AC-powered models and exporting globally. UK operations flourished, producing TVs and more. Transistor technology and home appliances like air conditioners and foam-insulated refrigerators marked further progress. However, ownership changes in the 60s and 70s led to a decline. Though acquired by Philips in 1981, the independent Philco ceased to exist. Despite this, their legacy of innovation in radios, appliances, and TVs lives on in various brands worldwide. For Philco’s UD Model number Codes, see Link |
| Founded: | 1893 |
| Production: | 1926 - |
| History: |
Company Timeline:
Early History In 1892, Thomas Spencer and his brother Frank G. Spencer got together with Frank S. Marr and two business associates to start a small company at 1310 Filbert Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The business was created to manufacture carbon-arc light lamps. The brothers originally decided to name the business ‘Spencer Company’. Later in the founding year, they purchased the rights to use patents and manufacturing methods from Helios Company, a German manufacturer. Spencer Company was then renamed Helios Electric Company. Frank S. Marr was made the firm’s President. Thomas Spencer was positioned as the factory plant Superintendent. The first year for Helios Electric Company was financially unsuccessful. They had gained exceptional publicity in published articles in Electrical World but were unable to translate that into product sales. In August 1893, the company was forced to close factory floor operations for two weeks. By 1895, they had made a turnaround. Advertisements in Electrical World claimed that Helios dominated the carbon arc lamp market. They stated that more Helios lamps were in use than all other makers combined. In the same year, they were able to move from their Filbert Street location to 1229 Callowhill Street. Unfortunately, carbon arc light sales would begin to steadily decline until the market hit a standstill in 1899. The resulting turmoil of the economic downturn pressured the company to make survival decisions. They continued to change locations while refraining from liquidating the company. By 1905, Thomas Spencer was no longer involved in the company. Helios finally reformed the company on July 25th, 1906. Helios Electric Company became the Philadelphia Storage Battery Company. The factories were refocused to produce storage batteries for automobiles. Under the new name, Marr remained the company’s President. The new board of directors was made up of Edward Davis, the treasurer, E. Earle Everett, the new plant superintendent, Edward Yarnall, and Mr. Witmer. Philadelphia Storage Battery Company continued to produce car batteries and later car starting batteries for nearly two decades. During this time, they hired a new engineer, James M. Skinner. Frank S. Marr died on December 1, 1916. Edward Davis succeeded him as president. Davis restructured the company with stock options available for company executives only. This new motivation pushed the company to further success. By 1919, James M. Skinner had become vice president and General Manager. He initiated a new marketing campaign using massive advertisements across publications like the National Geographic Magazine. This campaign also included a renaming of the company to Philco. Philco: A Saga of Innovation, Expansion, and Evolution (1892-1970s) Philco's story is more than just a brand name; it's a saga spanning decades, continents, and technological revolutions. In 1892, Helios Electric Company illuminated streets with carbon-arc lamps and powered early electric vehicles with batteries. The visionary James M. Skinner took the helm in 1906, transforming them into the Philadelphia Storage Battery Company and eventually, in 1919, into the iconic Philco. The 1920s saw Philco's international ambitions blossom. Argentina, Canada, and Great Britain became manufacturing hubs, fueled by licensing agreements that disseminated American technology across the globe. This era cemented Philco's reputation as a global player, setting the stage for its revolutionary product diversification. The 1930s marked Philco's rise to dominance in the radio industry. The "Socket Power Battery Eliminator" eliminated clunky batteries, capturing a staggering 30% of the American market. Driven by Skinner's leadership, Philco didn't stop there. They revolutionized home comfort with air conditioners, introduced the first foam-insulated refrigerator, and entered the burgeoning television market, forever changing the entertainment landscape. Their innovation continued with the first home freezer and the groundbreaking two-door refrigerator/freezer with automatic defrost. Even the transistor revolution saw Philco's contribution to the T7 Transistor radio Through the 40s and 50s, Philco released:
However, the 1960s and 70s witnessed a transition in Philco's ownership. Ford acquired the brand in 1961, leading to the "Philco-Ford" era. Further changes followed with GTE-Sylvania, White Consolidations Industry, and finally, Philips, who secured the US rights in 1981. While Philco International went to Electrolux, the independent Philco ceased to exist. Though the independent journey ended, Philco's legacy lives on. Their impact on consumer electronics is undeniable. From early innovations like air conditioners to pioneering foam-insulated refrigerators, their mark on modern conveniences is profound. Today, the Philco brand may carry different owner names, but it serves as a constant reminder of the company's historical impact, reminding us of the spirit of innovation and global ambition that fueled its rise. Pilco subsidiaries around the world Main sources: |
| Country | Year | Name | 1st Tube | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | 31/32 | Komb. 290 | 35 | 80 [373146] Ch=90 |
| USA | 33/34 | 16RX (16, 16A) [Early] | 77 | The model 16 series were high-end multiband radios. The early chassis used in 1933-34 h... |
| USA | 34/35 | 60B [Version 3] | 6A7 | The Philco model 60 series included nine versions over four years, all using similar 5-tub... |
| USA | 33 | 261 | 6A7 | Export model |
| USA | 46 | 46-806 Tropic Radio | 14J7E | This model uses a ballast resistor. The plastic cabinet has a walnut finish. |
| USA | 48 | 49-602 [battery-line operated] | 1R5 | Colors:Maroon,Ivory,Tan or Green; Selenium Rectifier CR100. |
| USA | 49 | 49-500 Transitone | 7A8 | Color: Walnut. AM: 540-1620KC |
| USA | 31/32 | 112A Highboy [Early] | 24 | Models 112 and 112A were high end superheterodyne radios for the 1931-32 model year and... |
| USA | 31 | 211 Radio-Phonograph | 24 | Model 211 uses the chassis of model 111 (50-60 Hz). Models 211 and 211A are radio-phonogra... |
| USA | 31/32 | Komb. 312 | [373146-1208] Ch=112 | |
| USA | 31/32 | m.Pl.-Wechsler 312 | [373146-1208] Ch=112 | |
| USA | 31 | 50 Baby Grand [Common] | 24 | Model 50 was Philco's lowest price radio in late 1931, probably the last TRF model offered... |
Further details for this manufacturer by the members (rmfiorg):
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Philco Suffix-Letters (Cabinet styles)
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Gary Cowans
02.Feb.24 |
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Philco Suffix-Letters (Cabinet styles): Reproduced from an original by Ernst Erb. B - Baby Grand (cathedral or tombstone) C - Compact (table model) D - Console with doors F - Console, no legs H - Highboy J - Console, no legs K - Console, no legs - we don't know the difference to J L - Lowboy LZ - Lazyboy (chairside) LZX - Lazyboy, separate speaker with Inclined Sounding Board (1933) MB - Moderne Baby Grand (Model 60MB only) P - Portable (Model 80P only) PF - Radio-Phonograph PX - Radio-Phonograph with Inclined Sounding Board RX - Chairside, separate speaker with Inclined Sounding Board (1933-37) RX - Console with Mystery Control (1939-42) S - Model 66S Tombstone T - Table model X - Console with Inclined Sounding Board XF - Console, inclined control panel, vertical sounding board (1938-40) XX - Console, inclined control panel, Inclined Sounding Board (1938-40) Philco used "run numbers" for minor changes and Codes for major chassis changes. Code 121 should never be marked because it is the first version, followed by 122. |
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RMorg Model Number and Date System for Philco
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Thomas Albrecht
20.Aug.08 |
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Recently there has been some renewed activity to make our database for Philco more complete. Many new schematics have been uploaded, new models added, and missing information provided for existing models. Our goal is to make the database as complete as possible for Philco models, since Philco was one of the largest U.S. manufacturers of radios, and Philco radios are widely collected -- both in the U.S. and internationally.
There are, however, some challenges with respect to dates and model numbers for Philco. After discussion with Konrad Birkner and Ernst Erb, a decision has been made to adopt the following guidelines for Philco models:
1. Dates: Philco used a "model year" designation not unlike that used for automobiles. In the June of a given year, Philco would introduce, ship, and sell the following year's models. For example, in June of 1938, Philco started selling its "1939" models. Furthermore, starting with the model year 1937, Philco included the model year in the model number. For example, model 37-610 was part of Philco's 1937 "model year," which means that it was actually introduced in June 1936. This practice of including the model year in the model number continued until the mid 1950s, when the numerical year was replaced with a single letter indicating the model year.
Although it would be particularly tempting to simply use the "model year" as the model date in RMorg, we have instead adopted a more historically accurate practice of showing a beginning date which is the actual year of introduction (the "model year" minus one year) and an end date which is the same as the "model year." Most models were produced under a single model number for only about one year, so this approach correctly spans the actual time period a model was produced and sold. In cases where we know a model was produced for a longer time period, the second date should be the actual final year of production.
As an example, under our system, model 37-610 would be shown as a 1936/37 model. When entering or making changes, "1936" is entered in the first year box, and "1937" in the second. Although most models currently listed for Philco do not yet show this system (most simply show the model year), an effort is now underway to update this for all Philco models.
2. Model numbers: Philco used model numbers that are often followed by a suffix of one or more letters to indicate cabinet style (and sometimes color). In RMorg, we list radios with significantly different cabinet styles as separate models, even if the chassis inside is identical. Therefore it is important to include the letter(s) of the suffix to distinguish different models in RMorg.
An unfortunate issue is that Philco often omits the suffix in its service literature. Likewise, on the radio itself, the suffix might not be shown at all, or was added with a rubber stamp next to the tag or plate on which the model number is shown. As a result, it is very common to find Philco radios with apparently identical model numbers (without suffix), but very different cabinets!
As a concrete example, consider Philco model 37-630T and 37-630X. On the inside of the cabinet for these radios, you will commonly find a paper label with "37-630" shown as the model number, and possibly with a "T" or an "F" rubber stamped on the cabinet nearby. It is easy not to notice the letter, and it is often missing altogether.
Understandably, a collector, having read the paper tag, is usually convinced that his model is simply "37-630" and will look for this model in RMorg. In fact he has either the table model (-T suffix) or console (-X suffix).
Although one can come up with a variety of systems to address the situation, for RMorg, we have adopted the following approach:
a.) If there are multiple cabinet styles for a given numerical model number, we will have a separate RMorg model for each one, with the model number suffix properly included. In parentheses, the model number without suffix will also be included as an alternate. The model number without suffix will not be shown as a separate standalone model.
As an example, we will list the following two models:
37-630T (37-630)
37-630X (37-630)
But we will not list a third model without suffix:
37-630
The above approach accomplishes two goals: (i) the number of models listed accurately reflects the actual number of physically distinct models produced by Philco, and (ii) a search on the model number without the suffix will correctly bring up both candidate models which apply, with visual confirmation of the model number without suffix as it might appear on the radio.
b.) In cases where there is only one cabinet style for a model number, the following applies:
Correct field for model number:
The Philco model number should be placed in the first field, which is called "model name." The second field ("model type") should usually be left blank.
Philco chassis codes:
Philco often includes a chassis code on its radios and in its service literature. Code 121 is the most common, which simply refers to normal production or "first run." Higher number codes like 122, 123, and 124 often refer to later runs with slight changes in component values or circuit design. In other cases, higher number codes are used for chassis that are slightly modified for a different cabinet style (such as a change in speaker).
Chassis codes (especially code 121) do not normally need to be included in the RMorg model number or chassis number. If the code has significance that should be documented, a comment in the "Notes" field is generally best.
Thank you for your attention to the above. If we all make an effort to follow this system, we can have a highly consistent, complete, and accurate database for Philco models in RMorg.
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Status report updating and completing Philco models
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Gidi Verheijen
19.Jun.06 |
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Enst Erb asked me to report about the status of updating and completing the Philco models in the radiomuseum database. |
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Thomas Bavis
20.Jun.06 |
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You may find the '30s-50s Philco Service information on my web page of interest. You will need the DjVu browser plug-in from Lizardtech.com to view or print them. http://www.audiophool.cjb.net/Philco.html |
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Gidi Verheijen
20.Jun.06 |
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Dear Thomas, This Philco Service Information is a great help. Thanks for your kind reply. Gidi |
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Ernst Erb
05.Jul.06 |
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Interesting: If you type the term Philco models into Google-Search this article comes first of 500 thousand - but if you type the term Philco Radio or Philco Radios we are lost completely. Philco Radios are quite well known and nice collecting items. therefore it is vital for us to list each Philco radio with its details if possible. Who can help us in this respect? If you can, please write to Gidi Verheijen. Thank you, Thomas Bavis, that you offer some data to be looked up in your database for Philco Radios. Hans Amberger is doing a wonderful job for Zenith in looking for pictures. If you like to do something similar for Philco Radios, please write to him. He can show you how he manages to get a lot of approvals to use pictures from eBay sellers or homepages. Please also don't forget to write a courtesy line if you use pictures from other source and that you have the approval. Have you a Philco radio which is not yet in our data base or has no photo? Please change this. It is easy if you first click the blue info button. |
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unknown model of PHILCO
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Nikolai Koutcher
30.Jul.05 |
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Dear collegues! I have the wood cabinet of radio with record player marked PHILCO Tropic. I ask you to help me to identify this model of radio. The necessary picture is implied. Best regards, Nikolai   
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