The Smiling Hippo...
 

...Got one of these, a Philco model # 49-900-121, AKA "The Smiling Hippo". Of course, it don't work, but cosmetically, it's superb. Should be a good performer, as it has 6 tubes, which means an RF stage. Kind of a neat little set, pickle-shaped dial. After I put Ze Elbow Grease to it, the bakelite oughta GLOW... (grin)-S.

a Philco Hippo eh? I hear good things about them, and they do look neat. Does that use octals or those goofy Philco loctal tubes?

Goofy loctals. An answer to a question nobody asked...

Where do you find that stuff, Sandy? Those "hippos" are cool!! IIRC, Philco developed loctals for possible military applications. Lock the tube into the socket instead of using hold-down clamp thingys. I have quite a stash of loctals in my tube inventory, since my RME-45 is chuck full of 'em!

I always thought the loctals were developed for use in car radios.

nice radio, I've never heard of them called hippos before, it does kinds look like one, logan

Well, I yanked the AC cord off it-Was broken & had wires showing where it went into the chassis. Typically, a lot of these old guys need their cords replaced...They get dry-rotted & aren't safe. I figger this l'il feller dates from 1948-49. The Loctals were sposed to stay "in" better than regular old tubes, but there was one rattlin' around inside this l'il fella when I opened him up...Wasn't broken or nothin', just worked loose, I guess. Typical dirt/dust on the inside, but I'm not gonna take the chassis out-the funky dial has part of the tuning mechanism attached to it, & to the case, & I don't wanna bust something...I don't think you can skip down to the local hardware store & order parts for these anymore, like you might could have in 1950...I think "Philco" is nothing more than a name that is owned by some faceless conglomerate in China, that dumps cheaply made junk over here now.

I keep looking for the pics...:dunno:

Wow, whatta riot...
Is this what it looks like??

http://audiokarma.org/forums/attachm...1&d=1213922474

Yep. That kinda looks like it-except mine has no phono, & is natural bakelite-dark mud brown.

Well, for once it's not BLACK plastic crap...

I thought that might be the case when I found other pics, but this one had the nice open mouth and little tusky looking things I just had to post it :D

This more like it???

http://audiokarma.org/forums/attachm...1&d=1213922989

THAT'S IT !! (grin)

I love it, can I come over and see it in person?