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decoflair
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Post subject: Short history of a Philco Hippo from $20 to $545 Posted: Oct Tue 10, 2017 1:03 pm |
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Joined: Apr Fri 03, 2009 10:32 am Posts: 3003 Location: Westhampton, New York
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Last edited by decoflair on Oct Tue 10, 2017 5:27 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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wiscojim
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Post subject: Re: Short history of a Philco Hippo from $25 to $545 Posted: Oct Tue 10, 2017 1:13 pm |
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Joined: Sep Fri 07, 2007 2:27 am Posts: 6222 Location: Grand Chute, Wisconsin
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Very enlightening, thanks for posting this.
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forumuser
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Post subject: Re: Short history of a Philco Hippo from $25 to $545 Posted: Oct Tue 10, 2017 5:16 pm |
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Joined: Apr Thu 12, 2007 3:24 am Posts: 2185 Location: Milwaukee WI
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Thats quite a jump in price. Since I stopped selling on ebay I have seen a few of my radios sold at swapfests show up there and gain sometimes double-quadruple my selling price.
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Radio Fixer
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Post subject: Re: Short history of a Philco Hippo from $25 to $545 Posted: Oct Tue 10, 2017 5:22 pm |
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Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 3309 Location: Nr London, England, SS1 3PT
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Gwcoty
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Post subject: Re: Short history of a Philco Hippo from $20 to $545 Posted: Oct Tue 10, 2017 5:56 pm |
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Joined: Jul Tue 12, 2016 10:43 pm Posts: 248 Location: Summitville IN, 46070
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This is off topic but how did they get the bakelite to shine up that nice? Is it painted or what? I have tried on numerous of my radios and can get nothing close to that. Again sorry for the off topic response but this has always perplexed me!
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decoflair
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Post subject: Re: Short history of a Philco Hippo from $20 to $545 Posted: Oct Tue 10, 2017 7:08 pm |
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Joined: Apr Fri 03, 2009 10:32 am Posts: 3003 Location: Westhampton, New York
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Gwcoty stated: Quote: This is off topic but how did they get the bakelite to shine up that nice? Is it painted or what? 1) MAAS Metal Polish (Use 0000 steel wool) The bakelite casing needs to be thoroughly cleaned of decades of soot, dirt, grime, spots, grease and, sometime, specks of paint before any type of shine has a chance of being renewed. 2) After the MAAS Metal Polish treatment "LUSTRA" is applied and allowed to totally dry. It is a lot of time consuming elbow work to remove this product from the bakelite after it has dried. However, the LUSTRA really enhances the shine. The other two items are used if and where necessary. For example, the Johnson Wax may be needed to be mixed with the MAAS Metal Polish to help remove difficult spots, stains, and paint specks. [img] Attachment: DSC_0005.jpg [/img]
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Chas
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Post subject: Re: Short history of a Philco Hippo from $20 to $545 Posted: Oct Tue 10, 2017 9:28 pm |
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Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 14379 Location: S. Dartmouth MA 02748-1225 USA
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Gwcoty wrote: This is off topic but how did they get the bakelite to shine up that nice? Is it painted or what? I have tried on numerous of my radios and can get nothing close to that. Again sorry for the off topic response but this has always perplexed me! I inquired of a local radio seller how he got the shine. Knowing that any time spent beyond 5 minutes he considered hard labor... Mayonnaise, apply, wipe excess, take picture... Most anything he sold was "polished" with same mayonnaise... And thats the truth 
_________________ Smith's Ale Gives Strength, Smith Bros. Brewers, New Bedford MA
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decoflair
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Post subject: Re: Short history of a Philco Hippo from $20 to $545 Posted: Oct Tue 10, 2017 10:39 pm |
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Joined: Apr Fri 03, 2009 10:32 am Posts: 3003 Location: Westhampton, New York
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Quote: Most anything he sold was "polished" with same mayonnaise... Easy enough to try at least once.
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Radio Fixer
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Post subject: Re: Short history of a Philco Hippo from $20 to $545 Posted: Oct Wed 11, 2017 8:19 am |
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Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 3309 Location: Nr London, England, SS1 3PT
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Some use a spray gun and gloss lacquer them. Not quite as much a cheat as the mayonnaise but still awful.
Gary
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fifties
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Post subject: Re: Short history of a Philco Hippo from $20 to $545 Posted: Oct Wed 11, 2017 8:25 am |
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Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 33296 Location: SoCal, 91387
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Staging the radio also contributes to higher bids. Notice the difference between the first auction vs the next two AFA picture angles, showing the dial lit, etc.
_________________ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\He Who Dies With The Most Radios Wins//////////////////
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ea327
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Post subject: Re: Short history of a Philco Hippo from $20 to $545 Posted: Oct Wed 11, 2017 3:06 pm |
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Joined: Aug Mon 20, 2012 12:39 am Posts: 813 Location: Lake in the Hills, IL
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It's interesting that none of the sellers have any photos of the workmanship (or lack of) on the inside.
_________________ Eric Lake in The Hills, IL Member: ARCI, Philco Phorum, ARF Radiomuseum.org
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AuroraOldRadios
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Post subject: Re: Short history of a Philco Hippo from $20 to $545 Posted: Oct Wed 11, 2017 6:58 pm |
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Joined: Jul Sun 09, 2006 3:11 am Posts: 6479 Location: Aurora, CO 80013
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ea327 wrote: It's interesting that none of the sellers have any photos of the workmanship (or lack of) on the inside. "Don't ask, don't tell"
_________________ Me transmitte sursum, Caledoni! Dan B
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decoflair
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Post subject: Re: Short history of a Philco Hippo from $20 to $545 Posted: Oct Wed 11, 2017 8:56 pm |
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Joined: Apr Fri 03, 2009 10:32 am Posts: 3003 Location: Westhampton, New York
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AuroraOldRadios stated: Quote: Don't ask, don't tell" One of the sellers has this radio listed for sale that shows the inside of the radio's body. [img] Attachment: s-l1600%20(1).jpg [/img]
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rja2907@comcast.net
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Post subject: Re: Short history of a Philco Hippo from $20 to $545 Posted: Jan Thu 18, 2018 8:15 pm |
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Joined: Apr Wed 13, 2016 1:23 am Posts: 145 Location: Independence, MO
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Please! Tell me how this is done. I've tried selling on E-Bay but without success. My radios were recapped restored -----and I thought displayed but Who knows buyers now a days
Jim
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mgrant
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Post subject: Re: Short history of a Philco Hippo from $20 to $545 Posted: Jan Thu 18, 2018 11:30 pm |
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Joined: Nov Mon 06, 2017 7:45 pm Posts: 558 Location: Sherwood, Oregon
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wiscojim
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Post subject: Re: Short history of a Philco Hippo from $20 to $545 Posted: Jan Fri 19, 2018 2:44 am |
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Joined: Sep Fri 07, 2007 2:27 am Posts: 6222 Location: Grand Chute, Wisconsin
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rja2907@comcast.net wrote: Please! Tell me how this is done. I've tried selling on E-Bay but without success. My radios were recapped restored -----and I thought displayed but Who knows buyers now a days
Jim Any chance there is an old auction of yours available for us to see an example of your listings? It's easier to critique when we know where you are starting from. .
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SkyKing
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Post subject: Re: Short history of a Philco Hippo from $20 to $545 Posted: Jan Fri 19, 2018 4:18 pm |
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Joined: Apr Sat 11, 2015 5:30 pm Posts: 873 Location: West Point, PA 19486
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rja2907@comcast.net wrote: Please! Tell me how this is done. I've tried selling on E-Bay but without success. My radios were recapped restored -----and I thought displayed but Who knows buyers now a days
Jim I've documented my failure on ebay. http://analogdial.com/ebay/ebay1.htmlI didn't know about MAAS and "Lustra" at the time. Maybe I'll try again someday.
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decoflair
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Post subject: Re: Short history of a Philco Hippo from $20 to $545 Posted: Jan Fri 19, 2018 7:10 pm |
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Joined: Apr Fri 03, 2009 10:32 am Posts: 3003 Location: Westhampton, New York
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Quote: One thing that surprised me was that repairing a radio to sell it has no psychological reward. I'd rather keep it or give it to somebody who would appreciate it. I find that restoring a radio to my personal abilities is a great reward. There is great appreciation when I turn-on a radio after it has gone through the process of replacing the electronic components and hearing that radio play clearly and static free across the broadcast band. In that regard, this is a rewarding hobby.
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SkyKing
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Post subject: Re: Short history of a Philco Hippo from $20 to $545 Posted: Jan Fri 19, 2018 11:08 pm |
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Joined: Apr Sat 11, 2015 5:30 pm Posts: 873 Location: West Point, PA 19486
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decoflair wrote: Quote: One thing that surprised me was that repairing a radio to sell it has no psychological reward. I'd rather keep it or give it to somebody who would appreciate it. I find that restoring a radio to my personal abilities is a great reward. There is great appreciation when I turn-on a radio after it has gone through the process of replacing the electronic components and hearing that radio play clearly and static free across the broadcast band. In that regard, this is a rewarding hobby. I agree! Notice I wrote restoring it to sell it. I just didn't get that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you bring an old radio back to life, because I knew I wasn't going to have it in a week or two. Maybe I'd feel differently if I knew I'd make $10 an hour. I think my mistake was starting the bidding at $1.99.
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decoflair
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Post subject: Re: Short history of a Philco Hippo from $20 to $545 Posted: Jan Sat 20, 2018 1:24 am |
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Joined: Apr Fri 03, 2009 10:32 am Posts: 3003 Location: Westhampton, New York
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Quote: I agree! Notice I wrote restoring it to sell it. I just didn't get that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you bring an old radio back to life, because I knew I wasn't going to have it in a week or two. Maybe I'd feel differently if I knew I'd make $10 an hour. I think my mistake was starting the bidding at $1.99.
Yes, I understand, Skyking. I know the feeling.
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