Product Description

This superb reference book profiles Philco, the leading radio manufacturer during radio's "Golden Age." In addition to illustrating many of Philco's radio receivers, it provides background on the company. Specifications for each model are given. The text is divided into a year-by-year look at Philco's radio line from 1928, when the company began to make radios, to 1942, when World War II put a halt to radio production. This newly revised edition is an invaluable source for the radio collector. Anyone who remembers radio's "Golden Age" will enjoy taking a nostalgic trip through its pages. The photographs and specifications will prove a valuable aid in identifying a particular Philco model.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #76542 in Books
• Published on: 2006-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 185 pages

About the Author
Ron Ramirez has been interested in radios nearly all his life. He accumulated a diverse collection of radios dating from the twenties through the forties before he encountered the Philco sets. Ultimately, Ron specialized in Philcos and sold or traded off all his other sets. He currently owns forty Philco sets dating from 1928 to 1937. He lives in Kentucky with his wife, Linda, and his two daughters.

Customer Reviews

This book is a "must-have" for collectors of anitque radios
Ron Ramirez (Mr. Philco to radio collectors) has compiled one of the finest books of its type. Focusing solely on Philco radios, he traces the evolution of the Philadelphia Storage Battery Co. from its roots to PHILCO, one of America's leading manufacturers of home radios. The book is organized chronologically by model year and includes a photograph and text explanation for virtually every Philco radio ever manufactured. Each chapter begins with a detailed description of the key features of the new models, how Philco responded to the fierce competion of the day, and the company's marketing strategies for the new year. The photography is outstanding with the vast majority of the pictures representing the best available examples of original or restored radios. The author wraps up the book with a listing by year of all Philco models, their tube configurations, and a "rarity" scale. While an excellent technical reference and history book, it also presents an interesting insight into how the Art Deco school of design influenced even radio cabinetry of the period. Highly recommended!

A "Must Have" for the serious Philco collector
This is one of my favorite reference books. The pictures are great and especially helpful when you are trying to restore an old disgarded Philco to it's former beauty. Packed with interesting history and trivia. Values listed in the book tend to be on the conservative side, but then again most reference books tend to do this. If you love old radios and their history, this is a "Must Have" for your book shelf. (PS. His website is pretty neat too)

What year and model is grandfather's radio...?
As the follow-up edition to Ron's earlier book on PHILCO, this continues to be the definitive reference for antique radio collectors and mass media historians. PHILCO (short for "Philadelphia Storage Battery Company") was the name synonymous with affordable radios for nearly three decades...along with the well-known "cathedral" style radio of the 1930s and 1940s.

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the family radio was the last household item to be sold for rent and food money.

I recommend picking up your copy before this edition goes out of print.