A recent thread on ID'ing a Philco radio bar led me to wonder how many models there may still exist.
Willie on EBAY has a nice one up now with an early RCA chassis in it and some even had Zenith radios.

Here is mine, a model 535, (with a 37-11 10 tube chassis) with lower doors and full of glass wares:







Here's another one I am working on a radio trade to acquire later this month. It has a tiny 4 tube radio in it but is in super condition and full of the glassware. If you have not seen one of these in person, they are very large and heavy.

I had the privilege of restoring the radio on this beauty, wish it were mine.
It's been in the same family since purchased new!

I have quite a few photos on my website http://www.radiobars.com

To: Lou, I am loving the outside of your radio. Yours looks near mint and I had not seen that model before! Thanks for sharing that photo with us!!!!!

Lynn

My showpiece with complete set of glassware and accessories.

Dale

Lou: which chassis did the set you restored have?

Bruce: love the set with the 37-11 chassis!!! That is an uncommon variant of an uncommon radio. With respect to the one with the four-tube chassis, it amazes me that folks would spend the cash on a nice bar radio with a low end reciever installed!

Dale

VERY VERY NICE. 8 shot glasses in the back row. Higher End Radio!!!

YEAH
John k9uwa

Thanks, John. As they've said "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas", only this RadioBar didn't. Came with everything except 1 shot glass, which I had to pay $70 for to complete the set. Hauled everything to OKC when I moved.

Dale

WOW! ~drooling~

+1

That is the nicest Radio Bar I have ever seen!!!

BR,

Terry

Definitely some real beauties out there. Mine came, unfortunately, without original glassware, but remains the family favorite. Chassis is from a model 39-7 "cone-centric"

Short story on this piece from the original owners grandson. His grandfather came to this country with 10 cents in his pocket and worked in a lamp factory. Saved his $ until he could start a lamp factory of his own. When he had "made it" he bought this piece to celebrate in '39. A real American success story.

During the war, the gov't made him disable the S.W. and I received it with the bandswitch soldered together.

regards, Bill

Great story, Bill. Glad to hear that hard work paid off. Every once in a while I see some glassware on eBay at decent prices.

Dale

Great story! Classic American success story is right! Beautiful radio bar you have there as well, my friend.

I didn't know people couldn't listen to shortwave during WWII - what about BBC and all that? Listening for news about the war? I know HAM activity was suspended for security reasons, but what was the harm in listening to commercial broadcasts?

Paranoid government.

During WWII, the government was suspicious of foreigners who moved to the US. Particularly if they were German or Japanese decent.

-Steve

Ah, yes...the old double standard. Only "real Americans" could listen to shortwave, then, not Fritz or Yoshi. Are there any articles about this sort of thing available? Aside from the "relocation camps" for the Japanese-Americans, I mean?

After a couple shots of the good stuff - it'll sound like a Philharmonic........

There were posts about these conversions a while back and it's an interesting research topic. BTW, the gentelman was of Italian origin and I picked up the radio from his grandsons lamp store...

regards, Bill

http://billsradioden.shutterfly.com/

Here are a couple Radiobars we worked over a couple years ago. First one has a couple wrong glass items in it and a couple empty holes. Later the owner found the rest of correct glassware to fill it out.





John k9uwa