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Yes, tenite is quite an unstable plastic. If the bezel was cracked or badly warped I would've have passed on the set. This particular RCA dial so quintessential 1930's!I have the console version of that set in my office. It's rare to find them with the bezel intact -- it's Tenite plastic, and it shrinks and warps if the set is stored in a hot place like an attic.
The Radiola 20 is a very nice '20's set. One of the best in my opinion. I'm not only a vintage radio/TV collector, but a big fan of the great old radio shows. People don't know what they're missing by not listening to them. When I play my sets, I broadcast these old shows to them with my little AM transmitter from the Net and it's like going back in time, not to mention great entertainment. There are literally thousands to enjoy. The writers for shows like Suspense, The Whistler, The Inner Sanctum, and Escape were top notch. Not to mention all the great radio comedians.I happen to have a RCA Radiola 20, with the battery compartment stand! I would put up a snap, but mine is packed at present. A friend fixed it years ago and I was playing around with it late one evening when I came across a station playing old radio programs from the 1930's & 1940's! It was really neat to listen to programs that the original owners would have possibly heard.
The Radiola 20 is a very nice '20's set. One of the best in my opinion. I'm not only a vintage radio/TV collector, but a big fan of the great old radio shows. People don't know what they're missing by not listening to them. When I play my sets, I broadcast these old shows to them with my little AM transmitter from the Net and it's like going back in time, not to mention great entertainment. There are literally thousands to enjoy. The writers for shows like Suspense, The Whistler, The Inner Sanctum, and Escape were top notch. Not to mention all the great radio comedians.
You're right about battery supplies being the best and cleanest performance. I do use an AC eliminator, the ARBE III, just because it's convenient. Yes, good WD-11 tubes are very pricey and, because of their delicate nature, best used only for display anyway. My set uses replacemement 864's that are pricey too, but cheaper and give top performance. It must be said that to have set like this working is a substantial investment. Forget book value - it's purely a labor of love. I have no regrets when I turn it an enjoy it!I have the carcass of one of those Radiolas out in my garage -- got it at a yard sale probably forty years ago, and soon found out how hard it was to find WD-11 tubes in the pre-internet era. I think there's a family of mice living in it now, but someday I may dig it out and see what can be done.
Best battery radio I ever owned was a Crosley 51, which I rigged up to a Hot Spark electric fence battery and a B battery I got on special order thru the engineer at the radio station where I was working. Excellent long-distance reception, and the audio, thru headphones, wasn't bad at all. I never liked using AC power supplies with it, and I haven't seen a Hot Spark battery in decades, so it's packed away in the attic...
I just got the set today and automatically hooked it up to the DU-WA, being glad to finally use it! I must admit I'm cheating a bit using my AM transmitter, so I'm getting, as expected, excellent results. I haven't yet disconnected the DU-WA so I can't compare the performance without it. I did notice a little decrease in volume bringing the slide controls on the unit down. It likely is aiding in signal strength. I've actually seen these DU-WA's fitted as a crystal set itself! One is shown in the first volume of Ed McMahons radio guide book.How does the Du-Wa work for you on distant signals? I have one but I've never tried it.