• Country
• United States of America (USA)

• Manufacturer / Brand
• Philco, Philadelphia Stg. Batt. Co.; USA

• Year
• 1933/1934

• Category
• Broadcast Receiver - or past WW2 Tuner

• Radiomuseum.org ID
• 118866

Click on the schematic thumbnail to request the schematic as a free document.

• Number of Tubes
• 11

• Valves / Tubes
• 77 78 78 78 37 78 77 42 42 42 80

• Main principle
• Superheterodyne (common); ZF/IF 460 kHz

• Wave bands
• Broadcast plus more than 2 Short Wave bands.

• Power type and voltage
• Alternating Current supply (AC) / 115 Volt

• Loudspeaker
• Electro Magnetic Dynamic LS (moving-coil with field excitation coil) / Ø 10 inch = 25.4 cm

• Power out
• 10 W (unknown quality)

• Material
• Wooden case

• from Radiomuseum.org
• Model: 16B 16/16A-121 [Version 1] - Philco, Philadelphia Stg. Batt

• Shape
• Table-Cathedral-Type (upright, round top or gothic arch, not rounded edges only).

• Dimensions (WHD)
• 16.5 x 19.5 x 12.8 inch / 419 x 495 x 325 mm

• Notes

• The first Philco 16B was introduced in June, 1933 as a 1933-model-year radio.  It is an 11-tube, 5-band cathedral-style radio that used the early chassis 16-121 with an 80 rectifier tube.  It had dual-IF amps and a squelch circuit that could be disabled with a switch on the right rear of the cabinet.

   

  General Notes about the Philco Model 16 radios:

  The model 16 series were high-end multiband radios. The early chassis used in 1933-34 had five bands covering 520 kHz to 23 MHz, and also included a QAVC ("quiet automatic volume control") squelch circuit to silence noise between stations (with a switch on the side and a control on the back to adjust the QAVC). The late version (1934-35) of the chassis covered a similar tuning range, but with only four bands, and eliminated the QAVC feature. Both the early and late chassis used a type 80 rectifier tube for the more compact 16B models, and a type 5Z3 for larger models. Both chassis included a shadow meter (tuning aid). Both chassis also were available in a version for 25-40 Hz power, and these chassis are marked as "16A" (where the -A suffix is a chassis suffix, not to be confused with the cabinet suffix on the main model number).
  
  The chassis codes are as follows:
  
  Code 121: early chassis with 80
  
  Code 122: early chassis with 5Z3
  
  Code 123: unknown
  
  Code 125: late chassis with 80
  
  Code 126: late chassis with 5Z3
  
  Code 127: unknown
  
  There were fifteen versions of model 16 in different cabinet styles over a three year span: four versions of the 16B cathedral/tombstone, three versions of the 16L lowboy, four versions of the 16X floor-type console, three versions of the 16RX chairside, and a special 16CPX chairside.
  
  Version 1 (1933-34) of model 16B was a cathedral (early chassis); version 2 (1934) was a gently peaked tombstone (early chassis); version 3 (1934) was a slightly updated tombstone with a somewhat more steeply peaked top (late chassis); version 4 (1935) is a flat-topped shouldered tombstone (late chassis).
  
  The early version (1933-34) of the 16L lowboy has four vertical bars through the speaker opening and an arched control panel (early chassis). The middle version (1934) has V-shaped bars in the speaker opening and hexagonal knobs (early chassis). The late version (1934-35) had the same cabinet as the middle, but with the late chassis.
  
  Version 1 (1933) of the 16X console had a large open speaker grill on an inclined sounding board (early chassis). Version 2 (1934) had three round vertical bars in front of the speaker opening and patterned moulding around the top of the cabinet (early chassis). Version 3 (1934) had a more "modern" style with three square vertical bars in front of the speaker and no moulding around the top (early chassis). Version 4 (1934-35) kept the same cabinet, but used the late chassis.
  
  The early version (1933-34) of the 16RX chairside had a control unit on legs with a top that swiveled to reveal the controls and a large separate speaker cabinet (early chassis). Version 2 (1934) had a more modern design, the control unit having no legs (or very short) and the speaker cabinet having a lightning bolt pattern on the speaker grill (early chassis). Version 3 (1934-35) kept the same cabinet, but used the late chassis.
  
  The 16CPX was a special chairside model commemorating the "Century of Progress" and is rare or nonexistant today. The modern-style cabinets had veneers of Madagascar ebony and myrtle burl, with catalin and stainless steel trim. Only 750 units were manufactured. The 16CPX has the early chassis.

  Stein "Cathedral & Tombstone Radios" lists only 2 bands.

• Price in first year of sale
• 75.00 $

• Source of data
• Philco Radio 1928-1942

• Circuit diagram reference
• Rider's Perpetual, Volume 4 = ca. 1934 and before

• Mentioned in
• Collector's Guide to Antique Radios (6th edition)

• Literature/Schematics (1)
• Machine Age to Jet Age II (Philco 1928-36 Wiring Diagrams, Parts Lists, and Essential Service Data)

• Literature/Schematics (2)
• Cathedral & Tombstone Radios (page 190.)

• Literature/Schematics (3)
• Philco Folder for 1933/34.

• Author
• Model page created by Konrad Birkner † 12.08.2014. See "Data change" for further contributors.

• Other Models

• Here you find 4041 models, 2218 with images and 3690 with schematics for wireless sets etc. In French: TSF for Télégraphie sans fil.
  All listed radios etc. from Philco, Philadelphia Stg. Batt. Co.; USA