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My Vintage Radio Collection

LizzieMaine

Bartender
Messages
33,697
Location
Where The Tourists Meet The Sea
More like recreating them as they once were -- I've got playlists of appropriate recordied programming loaded onto a series of three second-hand Mac Minis picked up for peanuts on Ebay, and they play thru Itunes using an automation/scheduling app called "Daypart." The audio feeds from each Mini into one of the transmitters, each set to a different frequency, and it's basically a set-and-forget proposition.
 

decojoe67

One of the Regulars
Messages
298
Location
Long Island, N.Y.
Here's a nice little bakelite radio that would've been perfect for the kitchen. It's a 1948 Bendix model 111. Bendix, who made many other products, made a slew of streamlined bakelite radios in the late '40's. A nice feature was the cabinets opened bottom design that went over the chassis. This made for a smooth looking radio from the front and back. They use the reliable All-American-5 chassis'.
1948 Bendix 111.JPG
 

vitanola

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,254
Location
Gopher Prairie, MI
I was at a phonograph auction this weekend. Phonographs and gramophones were not too bad, prices generally were soft. Radios, however, were giveaway prices in many cases. I do t much care for post-1933 stuff, but at nearly free for restored working examples I had to make room. That Scott All Wave 15 in my last post came from that phonograph sale. It was ridiculously cheap, and restored, which a beautiful chromium
Plated chassis and a Jensen speaker with the cast basket. Then there were these:
 

decojoe67

One of the Regulars
Messages
298
Location
Long Island, N.Y.
A couple of small finds.
The first one is beautiful little 1948 Automatic Radio Tom Thumb "Buddy". It's AC/battery with a a beautiful maroon swirled plastic and alligator case with gold toned metal metal parts. The knobs are translucent red and the dial reminds me of early auto radio dials. It works like a champ on batteries.
The second is circa 1947 Carron "Amplified" 78RPM-only phonograph. I like it's rather severe machine-age Khaki-colored hammer-tone painted metal cabinet. It has a teardrop design with speaker on top and cooling vents on the curved side. It's been restored with a modern cartridge that's kind to my 78's!
1948 Tomb Thum Buddy open.JPG
1948 Automatic Radio  Tom Thumb Buddy.JPG
1948 Carron.JPG
 

decojoe67

One of the Regulars
Messages
298
Location
Long Island, N.Y.
DSC00190.JPG
Here's a small brown bakelite 1939 RCA Victor model 45X1 "Little Nipper". There's was a slew of similar wooden and bakelite versions of this set including a very valuable catalin version. These might be small, but are great performing AA5 radios.
 

decojoe67

One of the Regulars
Messages
298
Location
Long Island, N.Y.
....and another 1939 RCA Victor "Little Nipper" model 40X50. This is a wood version in "modern-blonde" The finish, which would be very popular after WWII, was rarely seen on a radio in the pre-war days. It's a little set, but the cabinet and performance are of good quality.
DSC00191.JPG
 

decojoe67

One of the Regulars
Messages
298
Location
Long Island, N.Y.
This is a not often seen 1933 American Bosch 370-X mini deco console. It has a quality 7-tube "Vibro-Power" chassis with 4-bands and good size speaker. The unusual things about it are the, very modern for the time, slide rule dial, which shifts up/down for shortwave, the 45 degree mounted chassis, and the two-piece hinged control cover. It's small, but has a quality feel in and out with nice veneers. I just did a basic clean-up with it for now. It plays very well.
DSC00206 (1).JPG
DSC00205.JPG
 
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decojoe67

One of the Regulars
Messages
298
Location
Long Island, N.Y.
Here's a 1930 Echophone model S-4 "Bantam". These were the first "cathedral" model radios produced, which were known as compact or midget sets. Compared to the heavy "railroad-tie" radios that came before with external speaker, these really were compact. Much smaller and drastically lighter. The clean, simple design further emphasized this. The tuner is a lit metal drum type. The odd thing about these is the rear toggle on/off switch, which is factory correct. Echophone radios had been manufactured in Los Angeles, but by mid-1930, when this model was produced, they were manufactured in Chicago.
1930 Echophone S-3.JPG
 
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decojoe67

One of the Regulars
Messages
298
Location
Long Island, N.Y.
1929 - the stock market crashed and the hugely successful radio company, Atwater Kent, offered their last "casket" style radios, the model 55 with matching F-4 external speaker. They were offered in two-tone green or red. It's a high quality heavy, all metal cabinet and speaker. The speaker actually was not meant to be placed atop the cabinet. It covers a beautiful brass medallion and sits wobbly on the convex surface. It was meant to be put on a table. This set works well as-is after 92 years. Yes, unbelievable!
DSC00212.JPG
 

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