This gorgeous Art Deco radio sounds as good as it looks (see video demo). This 1936 Philco 610T is the original “Big Bullet”. This radio has a premium grade five-tube, 3-Watt output chassis, and it is a fantastic performer!
Includes: Radio, Bluetooth Adapter, Bluetooth Receiver, Small Wire Antenna, and Instructions.
History - This model first appeared in January 1936 and sold for USD $45. Philco’s 610 series had several models with different cabinet styles - including console floor models. This model 610T is the tabletop version with a round left side, with a speaker opening that combines a round lower half with several horizontal bars in the upper half, somewhat resembling a small Greek 'sigma. Philco sold over 15,000 of these units when new.
Today, this attractive radio is sought after by collectors but seldom found in this condition. We acquired this one in early 2021 from a collector who had not restored it. The cabinet was in fair shape and the chassis was not working. Everything got a full restoration and upgrade.
Cabinet – The cabinet got a complete restoration. The original walnut veneers had only a few chips which we fixed. To restore it we stripped the entire finish and conditioned the wood with pre-stain. The walnut veneer then got a clear maple stain. We used a fair amount of sanding sealer and grain filler to build the finish back up. The front piping pin stripes and footer were toned with period correct ebony and the entire cabinet was sealed with a flat statin lacquer. 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 (center), fine/coarse tuning (upper middle) and volume (right). The result is this handsome looking radio that will last many, many years into the future.
Dial – The very stylish Art Deco dial is quite an impressive sight - especially in a dim or dark room. The amber color dial exhibits the broadcast scale at the bottom and two consecutive bands on top. As you select a band the ‘Glow Beam Indicator’ lights up the frequency you tune. The letters and numbers 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 and free & clear of any chips, breaks or cracks. We kept the surrounding black escutcheon original to keep the overall antique 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 replacing all the capacitors, checking, and replacing resistors and wires where needed. It now plays very well across the dial and all bands even with the simplest of antennas. All tubes were checked and replaced where needed with NOS (new old stock) tubes. We disassembled and lubricated the main tuning capacitor gears and concentric tuning mechanism for smooth tuning operation. A new power cord and voltage dropping resistor was installed for electrical safety and new silicone rubber chassis mounts were added for better vibration isolation. We added an auxiliary input and switch to the back and aligned the radio for excellent AM and good Shortwave reception. The Police band on these 610 models was a poor design and basically mirrors the AM band.
Speaker – Even though it performed well, we had the all-original 5 ¼ -inch speaker reconed. It is now better than new. The result is clear audio across the entire audio frequency range. This radio produces exceptional bass tones for its size and the 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, analogue sound to any music or recording you choose. The quality of the sound is excellent. You will have the best of “digital” and “analogue” combined.
Year of Manufacture: 1936
Band Frequency Ranges:
AM Broadcast Band..............530 – 1720 kHz
Police Band……………………….….2.3 – 2.5 MHz
Shortwave Band………….…………...7 – 18 MHz
Dimensions: 17"W x 13"H x 9"D
Weight: 22 pounds
See demo video here: youtu.be/x-JIuP3pXQI
Includes: Radio, Bluetooth Adapter, Bluetooth Receiver, Small Wire Antenna, and Instructions.
History - This model first appeared in January 1936 and sold for USD $45. Philco’s 610 series had several models with different cabinet styles - including console floor models. This model 610T is the tabletop version with a round left side, with a speaker opening that combines a round lower half with several horizontal bars in the upper half, somewhat resembling a small Greek 'sigma. Philco sold over 15,000 of these units when new.
Today, this attractive radio is sought after by collectors but seldom found in this condition. We acquired this one in early 2021 from a collector who had not restored it. The cabinet was in fair shape and the chassis was not working. Everything got a full restoration and upgrade.
Cabinet – The cabinet got a complete restoration. The original walnut veneers had only a few chips which we fixed. To restore it we stripped the entire finish and conditioned the wood with pre-stain. The walnut veneer then got a clear maple stain. We used a fair amount of sanding sealer and grain filler to build the finish back up. The front piping pin stripes and footer were toned with period correct ebony and the entire cabinet was sealed with a flat statin lacquer. 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 (center), fine/coarse tuning (upper middle) and volume (right). The result is this handsome looking radio that will last many, many years into the future.
Dial – The very stylish Art Deco dial is quite an impressive sight - especially in a dim or dark room. The amber color dial exhibits the broadcast scale at the bottom and two consecutive bands on top. As you select a band the ‘Glow Beam Indicator’ lights up the frequency you tune. The letters and numbers 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 and free & clear of any chips, breaks or cracks. We kept the surrounding black escutcheon original to keep the overall antique 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 replacing all the capacitors, checking, and replacing resistors and wires where needed. It now plays very well across the dial and all bands even with the simplest of antennas. All tubes were checked and replaced where needed with NOS (new old stock) tubes. We disassembled and lubricated the main tuning capacitor gears and concentric tuning mechanism for smooth tuning operation. A new power cord and voltage dropping resistor was installed for electrical safety and new silicone rubber chassis mounts were added for better vibration isolation. We added an auxiliary input and switch to the back and aligned the radio for excellent AM and good Shortwave reception. The Police band on these 610 models was a poor design and basically mirrors the AM band.
Speaker – Even though it performed well, we had the all-original 5 ¼ -inch speaker reconed. It is now better than new. The result is clear audio across the entire audio frequency range. This radio produces exceptional bass tones for its size and the 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, analogue sound to any music or recording you choose. The quality of the sound is excellent. You will have the best of “digital” and “analogue” combined.
Year of Manufacture: 1936
Band Frequency Ranges:
AM Broadcast Band..............530 – 1720 kHz
Police Band……………………….….2.3 – 2.5 MHz
Shortwave Band………….…………...7 – 18 MHz
Dimensions: 17"W x 13"H x 9"D
Weight: 22 pounds
See demo video here: youtu.be/x-JIuP3pXQI