Philharmonic Speaker Value

[Henry Tessier]

Hi,

 I am considering selling a pair of 5B63 speakers. They look good but I have never heard them as the Philly I picked up has no power supply. I have read that the value is in the $400-$600 range. Is that a correct figure? 

                                                         Thanks,

                                                                Henry

[Scott Seickel]

Pictures?  Are these the tweeters that plug into the crossover chassis?

[Henry Tessier]

They are the tweeters mounted to the cabinet front. (circa 1938) I received this in some disarray and am not sure where the speaker harness plugged in. The power supply chassis is missing and only the pedestal speaker was plugged in. The Tasman cabinet is a mess and I confess I did not give the radio much attention given these issues.

I had heard differing stories giving the value of the speakers  and thought I would inquire so that I might price them correctly should I offer them for sale.

                                                    Thanks,

                                                       Henry                             

[Kent King]

There are a couple versions of the tweeters for the Philharmonic, earlier ones have more value than some of the later ones. Also - you mention a Tasman cabinet...the large Tasman, big enough to hold the Philharmonic, is a relatively unusual cabinet and well worth restoring. A few pics of the speakers and the cabinet would be very helpful. I know I might be interested in the cabinet, with or without a set.

Kent

[Scott Seickel]

If you have the 15" pedestal speaker, the tweeters plug into it-  if they are the correct tweeters for the set.  It could be all mis-matched, and that is not uncommon.  Photos would help us tell you exactly what you have. 

$400 to $600 is the correct range for any flavor Philharmonic tweeters in very good tested condition on Ebay.  The last pair I recall on Ebay went for just over $300, but were untested and sold "as is".  A private sale would be notably less, but save you the Ebay commission and headache, along with the 1099 to the Gov't.   The tweeters that sell for the big money are the earlier AW23 field coil tweeters, not the Philharmonic tweeters.  

As Kent said, if the cabinet is a true Philharmonic Tasman, it is uncommon and worth saving, even if it is one of the more plain looking cabinets. 

[Henry Tessier]

Thanks for the replies.  I will check and see if I have some pictures. I know the cabinet is in the shed. The chassis and speakers are in different locations around the cellar/shop but I may have some pics. Currently I don't have the space to put it all together.

                                      Henry

[Henry Tessier]

Hopefully these pics will upload

[Henry Tessier]

Here's a couple of the tweeters 5B63. I do have a local person who is interested in the cabinet. The pics don't really depict how bad it is. I have it blocked up as it is missing a wheel I think on one side . Veneer is peeling etc however the front panel is in ok shape.

                                                      Henry

[Kent King]

I can tell from the speaker plug on the 15in speaker that you have the right cable...hopefully the silver crinkle finish tweeters (same finish as the large spkr) are what you have. The cracked dial glass isn't a huge issue, repros are available. That cabinet is DEFINITELY worth saving.

Kent

[Kent King]

Didn't see 2nd post - yes, you've got the right tweeters there. You are in the right range...keeping the set together would be best for the history. That would be a wonderful set once restored.

Kent

Kent King said:

I can tell from the speaker plug on the 15in speaker that you have the right cable...hopefully the silver crinkle finish tweeters (same finish as the large spkr) are what you have. The cracked dial glass isn't a huge issue, repros are available. That cabinet is DEFINITELY worth saving.

Kent

[Scott Seickel]

I agree with Kent, the pieces all should stay together.   Power supplies come up, so missing it is not a great big deal.  As for the cabinet, even with it heavily delaminating, it probably can be saved.  I can count on one hand the amount of these Philharmonic Tasman cabinets that I have seen in the last dozen years. 

Where are you located?

[David C. Poland]

Yep - Including mine, only the 4 th large TASMAN I am aware of. A California collector has a nice one.

Was a less expensive cabinet but seldom seen, whereas the similarly priced Warrington is very common.

A very stately Walnut veneer console.

You have the "standard" pointer dial Philharmonic - introduced Spring 1937 Pointer dial  version production continued through most of 1938. Radio Daze carried most repo version glass dials. Some dials had station call letters for east coast, west coast or Chicago stations above the broadcast band.

I agree, you have a restorable console. Mine required extensive work, having evidence it had sat in nearly a foot of water and required a lot of work on the base. The base is mounted from the bottom to the cabinet with screws. So it can be removed, repair missing or bad wood and shaped to match the other side, then reattached. Some veneer repair. To keep the original color, use solvents to remove the finish and rebuild a new finish.

The glass dial has the dial graphics, and the green color is from a backer made of green plastic which needs to be preserved.

[Henry Tessier]

David,

 Thanks for the comments . The biggest problem is the previous owner could not find the power supply and the only ones I have seen are  junk or overpriced for me. I have been on the fence for a while trying to decide whether to part it out or hold on. I do know a fellow who wants the cabinet but I told him I just haven't decided yet.

                                                              Henry