Philco Jr. model 80 Cathedral Radio
The Philco model 80 was released in 1932 as a low cost option in Philco's yearly model line. The set was competetivelty piced at an economical $18.75 (appriximately equivalent to $350 in 2019) including parts and tax. At the time, this made it one of the least expensive sets on the market. As a concequence, it also sold very well for the company.
For the time, this was considered to be a 'bare bones' set. There are no frills or extra niceties about it. Upon it's release, Philco was critisized for undercutting the competition and attempting to start a price war at a time when many companies were struggeling to keep their doors open. However, that was not really the case. This was intended to simply generate extra foot trafic in their stores. It was hoped that potential customers would see the better models offered and would isntead purchase those over this one. This plan backfired on Philco. The 8B would up selling near 200,000 units while it was being produced. This eventually sparked the creation of an entire new 'under $20' market segment for home radios at the time.
The chassis is an AC powered superheterodyne radio. The electrical design was bare bones, and definately built to a price point. In this radio there is no IF stage meaning it only required four tubes, there was no AVC or even a simple tone control. While there is no IF stage present here, there is a regeneration circut on the second detector.
This model uses four of what were at the time high effeciency 6.3v tubes.
The type 36 tube was a 6.3v sharp coutoff screen-grid tube which was similar to the 2.5v 24/24A tetrode that it replaced in the Philco lineup. Also, the 80B was one of ther very first sets touse the new type 42 tube which was the first power pentode to be indirectly heated at 6.3v and the first to use cylindrical electrode construction.