Betty Blade Red 1950 Philco Model 51-631 AM Portable Vacuum Tube Radio Excellent Condition! Sounds Great!
DESCRIPTION: Tabletop tube AM radio manufactured by Philco in 1950 in excellent physical condition. Rare color and rare model. Portable radio.
SOUND QUALITY: Picks up AM stations around the dial without need of external antenna attachment.
CABINET CONDITION: Cabinet is original molded blended red colored plastic. All original factory molded colors through and through. Not repainted no touch up no over spray. No chips, or major scratches. There is a long crack on the left front sidee that doesn't not continue to the edges. The top handle solid golfd colored steel or brass..
DIAL LIGHT: No dial light not designed with one.
KNOBS: Factory original volume and tuning knobs are in excellent condition. The tuning dial works fine no slipping or sticky spots. Volume knob has broken attachment post that has been reglued and is sturdy. Tuning knob is excellent condition. Both are operationally excellent.
POWER CORD: Original power cable is securely attached no breaks, splits, or exposed wiring. Stores inside radio battery cavity when not in use.
INTERNAL ELECTRONICS: All paper and wax capacitors have been replaced with modern equivalents so this radio has another 50+ years or more of playing time! The tubes are working fine. All out-of-spec resistors have been replaced with modern correct value and voltage equivalents. There is no loud or pervasive hum. There is no loud or pervasive static between stations. The set has been aligned according to factory specifications. All wiring has been thoroughly checked for possible bridging and weak solder connection. The radio has been thoroughly cleaned and inspected.
BATTERIES: Battery size for this radio is no longer available through major retail stores. There are battery reproduction companies that may build batteries which fit.
BACKING BOARD: Color molded back cover is in excellent condition with hairline crack on top center edge not continuing to bottom edge
HINGES: Back cover hinges are in excellent condition with not broken, cracked, or chipped mounts or hinges.
FACTORY LABELS AND STICKERS: No missing internal factory labels. Readable factory printing.
PROVENANCE: Previous owner identity is Betty Blade. She (He) typed out a label and glued to inside back cover. So cute! Was sold or donated to Ed Schulz at Bartons Auto in Alpha IL in the 80s or 90s, then sold to Retro Radio Farm in 2022. See story about that here. What a journey!
COLOR: red
YOUTUBE VIDEO here
DIMENSIONS: Approximately 9" x 3.5" x 6" (l x w x h)
WEIGHT: 4lbs 6oz
ADD BLUETOOTH: See pricing and info here
ADD Smart Speaker: See pricing and info here
ADD DIAL LIGHT: See pricing and info here
Webpage menu of upgrade services here
Product: antique radio, vintage radio, retro radio, vacuum tube radio, AM radio, art deco, mid-century product.
Category: radio
Cabinet construction: plastic
Period: 1950s
Country of manufacture: USA
Electronics: Mounted circuit board or chassis. Vacuum tube circuit.
Vacuum tubes: tested and working. Amplifier, converter, detector, pre-amplifier, rectifier