Philco Model 49-603 1949 “portable” radio. PHILCO is a contraction of “Philadelphia Storage Battery Company.” This lovable little Broadcast Band radio is covered (front and back) in genuine leather! The frame is made of dark, brown Bakelite.
This radio only played in the open-back configuration, so that an AC line cord could power it. It is not An AC/DC receiver, so there were no silly batteries to replace! Tube complement: 35W4, 50B5, 12AT6, 12BA6, 12BE6
It is an easel case, so the radio, when opened, stood like an easel on two wide footed (radio length) legs. The reason it will not close when playing, is to avoid overheating of the electronic components. A melt-down of the case would not occur. Remember that your Mom’s clothes iron was made of black Bakelite. “They” say a perforated steel cage protected fingers from electrical shock when open. The metal cage seems to be fairly well (150K) isolated from one side of the AC line and perfectly isolated from the other side of the AC line. The last photo shows the playing configuration.
In December of that same year of 1949 Bell Laboratories (who rejected my job application in 1973 – imagine!) announced development of the transistor. In 1954, Texas Instruments of Dallas, Texas and Industrial Development Engineering Associates (I.D.E.A.) of Indianapolis, Indiana, launched the 4-transistor “Regency TR-1.” I have seen the original schematic of the REGENCY (before that marketing name was created) sketched on a cafeteria napkin at Texas Instruments in Dallas. That napkin became the foundation for a Texas Instrument patent! I got a Texas Instruments patent, too, but not that one….
