The Smiling Hippo...

[gadget73]

I think the Philco name is still owned by Phillips actually. They probably use it on that retro garbage, like the Crosley nameplate gets abused.

[Jeffhs]

Originally Posted by gadget73

I think the Philco name is still owned by Phillips actually. They probably use it on that retro garbage, like the Crosley nameplate gets abused.

Now that the Zenith Radio Corporation is history, I wouldn't be surprised if some day some Japanese or Korean electronics firm would start using the lightning-bolt Z logo, and the Zenith name itself, on replica radios, phonographs, etc.--if they haven't started doing so already. Depends on whether the Zenith name and logo are in the public domain or are still owned by LG.

Magnavox is now a division of Philips, and has been for some time. Their 1990s televisions used to have the Philips-Magnavox branding on them; I had a "Magnavox" branded VCR in the late 1980s-'90s, but I'm not sure whether or not Philips had bought them out by then. I do know that most if not all of today's "Magnavox" branded VCRs, however, are rebadged Funai junk that won't last longer than a year, if that long, and if you're lucky. I don't know about Magnavox-branded DVD/VHS players, but I'd guess they are built by Funai as well, with cheap plastic parts in the drive mechanisms, like everything else these days.

[radiotvnut]

Originally Posted by Jeffhs

Now that the Zenith Radio Corporation is history, I wouldn't be surprised if some day some Japanese or Korean electronics firm would start using the lightning-bolt Z logo, and the Zenith name itself, on replica radios, phonographs, etc.--if they haven't started doing so already. Depends on whether the Zenith name and logo are in the public domain or are still owned by LG.

Magnavox is now a division of Philips, and has been for some time. Their 1990s televisions used to have the Philips-Magnavox branding on them; I had a "Magnavox" branded VCR in the late 1980s-'90s, but I'm not sure whether or not Philips had bought them out by then. I do know that most if not all of today's "Magnavox" branded VCRs, however, are rebadged Funai junk that won't last longer than a year, if that long, and if you're lucky. I don't know about Magnavox-branded DVD/VHS players, but I'd guess they are built by Funai as well, with cheap plastic parts in the drive mechanisms, like everything else these days.

Philips bought Magnavox no later than '81. Maybe late '70's. I read somewhere where it might have happened as early as '75. We had an early 80's 19" Magnavox TV that was actually a NAP set. Your Magnavox VCR from the late '80's was probably built by Panasonic. We had a mid '80's Magnavox / Panasonic VCR and that thing was very well built. To my knowledge, all of their VCR's since the mid '90's have been built by Funai and I know the current DVD/VCR units are built by Funai. These are total pieces of garbage and I've gotten so I won't even pull the top off of one to try to repair it.

[auplater]

More stuff than you really wanna know.... check it out

http://philcoradio.com/

btw: might wanna swap out the filter caps so it doesn't blow up.

John L.

[Sandy G]

Muchas Gracias for the Philco link ! Yep, mine'll undoubtedly need new caps-Found out the "Hard Way" the cord was no good...(grin)

[Snade]

Talk about a perfect nickname - Smiling Hippo. That totally nails it.

Pretty cool looking radio, my friend. Congrats.