40 Radio Question

[40 FourDrDlx]

Philco or Zenith? How do you tell the diff.?

 

[4dFord/SC]

I believe the Zenith has a recess or "split" on the bottom for the cowl vent lever.

 

[Kube]

Philco or Zenith? How do you tell the diff.?

Here's a picture of both. The fronts are nearly identical. The Zenith is a deeper radio and does in fact require the groove to allow space for the cowl vent handle.

 

[40 FourDrDlx]

Thanks Guys, Mine is a Zenith then.

 

[4dFord/SC]

Thanks Guys, Mine is a Zenith then.

Zenith seems to be far more common than Philco.

 

[Fibber Mcgee]

Was there a reason for the two makes of radio? My 41 has the Philco but they appear almost identical,it seems like you would only need one manufacturer for your radios.

 

[Marv]

I do not know why but 39 had zenith and Philco also. marv

 

[Kube]

Was there a reason for the two makes of radio? My 41 has the Philco but they appear almost identical,it seems like you would only need one manufacturer for your radios.

Two reasons most likely; to eliminate or reduce the chance of parts shortage and to keep costs low (competition amongst suppliers).

 

[Marv]

I thought Philco was owned by Ford. Marv

 

[Kube]

I thought Philco was owned by Ford. Marv[/QUOTE
hmm... hadn't thought of that.
I still think Ford would have utilized an outside supplier for the same reasons I posted earlier. Cost (might actually have been cheaper to outsource) and to be reasonably certain Ford didn't run short of units.
We all know Ford made tires but bought from Goodrich, Goodyear and Firestone in 39 & 40. In this case I am fairly certain Ford was "covering the bases" and making darn certain he didn't run out of tires (rubber) with the pending war.

 

[alt63bird]

How to tell the difference? My radio has the 'Zenith' logo stamped into the back case of it. Over the past 33 years I've had a few Zeniths, but never a Philco.

 

[Fibber Mcgee]

That makes since Kube. It sounds like there were more Zeniths than Philcos.

 

[40 FourDrDlx]

How to tell the difference? My radio has the 'Zenith' logo stamped into the back case of it. Over the past 33 years I've had a few Zeniths, but never a Philco.

That would have been too easy, but I saw no ID on it when it was out. I was pleased it was a Zenith because that was always a favorite brand of my fathers. He sold & repaired Zenith home radios (and later tv's) from the late 30's thru about 1970. After retirement he started collecting & restoring vintage radios, mostly Zeniths.
A little off topic but here's one of his I kept, a 1940 Zenith model 8S463.
I show my '40 Ford & '40 Zenith to my grandkids and tell them these were "hi-tech" in their day!