Old Radios

[Pop_Rivit]

I thought I might share some photos of my radio collection. In the "old school" thread in General and Off Topics there were a number of people who mentioned their old radios, and I'd enjoy seeing what others have as well. I have close to 50 pre-1980 radios and these are some of my favorites.

My 1933 Philco Cathedral with the "tuning eye". This sits in the eating area in our kitchen and is used nearly every day. It's been restored and recapped. The clock is mid-1800's German, and was given to my wife by a German neighbor when she (as a child) lived in Germany while her father was in the service.

A later 1930's GE and an RCA Golden Throat. Both have been recapped.

An early 1940's GE. This sits in our foyer and I use it a couple times a month. It's been recapped and polished. The bakelight is in perfect condition.

A 1949 Zenith TransOceanic G500. This sits in our living room and is used nearly every day. Its case is in original condition and it's been recapped.

An early 1950's Zenith TransOceanic H500. This sits in my office and is used several times a week. It has never had any restoration work done, and I'm planning on recapping it and doing some restoration to it when time permits.

A 1959 Zenith TransOceanic 1000 that sits on my dresser. I use this every day.

A mid-60's Zenith TransOceanic 3000. The first Zenith TO to have FM. I'll often take this one outside with me if I want to listen to the radio while sitting on the deck on a summers evening.

My early 80's Zenith TransOceanic 7000. This one is a bit scratchy and I need to have some alignment work done to it. It works, but not as well as I'd like.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Very cool!

Thanks for the photos. When I was growing up listened to many different stations on the AM band. Then I got into DX and Amateur radio so listened using those type of rigs.

Now with the internet love listening to other radio stations using my tablets/computer all over the world. Not the same thing as real radios but still fun.

Take care, Bill

 

[btanchors]

I enjoy collecting and playing with old radios as well, although my interests are more oriented towards communications receivers from the 50s, 60s, and 70s:

 

[simple_gifts]

I had an 80's Zenith like that.

 

[JHZR2]

That's a lot of radio listening!

 

[Kestas]

I have a:
- 1941 Philco upright with the five presets labeled with Detroit radio stations (works)
- 1950s Zenith upright radio/record player (works)
- 1940s Admiral radio/record player
- two 1952 RCA TVs that worked when I bought them.
- 1950s tabletop Philco radio (works)
- DuMont oscilliscope

I also have a Hickock tube tester and a collection of about 300 tubes that work. I also have a small collection of radio and tv knobs.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: btanchors
I enjoy collecting and playing with old radios as well, although my interests are more oriented towards communications receivers from the 50s, 60s, and 70s:

That is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Oil Changer]

What is "recapped"?

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: btanchors
I enjoy collecting and playing with old radios as well, although my interests are more oriented towards communications receivers from the 50s, 60s, and 70s:


Now that's a battle station.

 

[Turk]

Great thread and FANTASTIC pictures!!

Here's a picture of my Parents old Motorola International Short Wave and Standard Broadcast (AM) that I used to tinker with and got it going...

Can you help define a year range & possibly a price? It has the guts in it.

Thanks!

 

[Kestas]

Originally Posted By: Oil Changer
What is "recapped"?

I just looked it up on Google. Essentially it means that all capacitors are replaced to restore the radio.

http://antiqueradio.org/recap.htm

This is the information I need to move forward with my antique radio hobby, which has been in a stalemate for the past 25 years. (Thanks, Pop_Rivit)

 

[GMFan]

An old radio that sits on the workbench in the garage which I listen to when changing my oil. I think my father actually built this one in a kit but I could be wrong about that. He has a bunch of other radios he built from kits but maybe this isn't one of them. All original I believe. Anyone know how old it is? I'm guessing late 60s. He has a bunch of radios he built from kits up in the attic somewhere.

edit: After a quick google search I've found it's a Panasonic Model 782

 

[GMBoy]

NEAT STUFF!!

 

[Spazdog]

Cool thread.

Somewhere, at my mom's house, I have a late '60s/early '70s Panasonic 9v transistor radio.

It's beat to death and taped back together in places

I know. That doesn't mean much. Not nearly as impressive as a nice as the above. But when I was a kid, that was the best thing.

I could lay in bed at night with the cheesy little white cord single earphone in and listen to ballgames after my bedtime.
I could hang it from the wriststrap from my bike's handlebars and listen to the rock station wherever I went.(when AM radio had rock and roll)
I could tune to the country station and listen quietly while fishing with my grandfather. If I said anything, he would tell me I was scaring the fish but apparently Roger Miller and Patsy Cline didn't scare them a bit.

All I ever needed was a fresh blue and yellow Rayovac 9v battery.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: Kestas
Originally Posted By: Oil Changer
What is "recapped"?

I just looked it up on Google. Essentially it means that all capacitors are replaced to restore the radio.

http://antiqueradio.org/recap.htm

This is the information I need to move forward with my antique radio hobby, which has been in a stalemate for the past 25 years. (Thanks, Pop_Rivit)


Great link. The old paper capacitors are not only unreliable, but can be a fire hazard along with the power cord. Recapping an antique radio doesn't diminish it's value (even though the new capacitors are modern rather than paper). It's a safety issue, and even if working they should be replaced.

 

[UncleS2]

Beautiful radios & great photography!

My favorite is the big 1940's Zenith TransOceanic. If those had FM, I would be forced to own one.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: tpitcher
Great thread and FANTASTIC pictures!!

Here's a picture of my Parents old Motorola International Short Wave and Standard Broadcast (AM) that I used to tinker with and got it going...

Can you help define a year range & possibly a price? It has the guts in it.

Thanks!





Now that's an interesting old radio and worthy of restoration.
Wooden case and the style dates it to the 1930's, before the use of bakelite. It's after the cathedral era (early 1930's) and before the bakelite era (about 1939). I'd put it between 1935 and 1938.

As it stands it's probably worth about $100. Restored, because of the wood case it's in the $300-$400 range.

Think of the history that came out of that speaker. FDR fireside chats. World War II news. Your parents sitting on the porch listening to a ball game on a summers evening. It's a great old radio and worthy of being preserved.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: btanchors
I enjoy collecting and playing with old radios as well, although my interests are more oriented towards communications receivers from the 50s, 60s, and 70s:

Wow. One of the things that I always wanted to do (and never had time to pursue) was communications radio/ham radio. You have a fantastic collection.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: GMFan
An old radio that sits on the workbench in the garage which I listen to when changing my oil. I think my father actually built this one in a kit but I could be wrong about that. He has a bunch of other radios he built from kits but maybe this isn't one of them. All original I believe. Anyone know how old it is? I'm guessing late 60s. He has a bunch of radios he built from kits up in the attic somewhere.

edit: After a quick google search I've found it's a Panasonic Model 782

If I remember correctly the Panasonic 782 was mid-1950's. In my opinion it's under-appreciated, much like the table models from the 1970's. Not a lot of value, but they sound fantastic.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: Kestas
I have a:
- 1941 Philco upright with the five presets labeled with Detroit radio stations (works)
- 1950s Zenith upright radio/record player (works)
- 1940s Admiral radio/record player
- two 1952 RCA TVs that worked when I bought them.
- 1950s tabletop Philco radio (works)
- DuMont oscilliscope

I also have a Hickock tube tester and a collection of about 300 tubes that work. I also have a small collection of radio and tv knobs.


You should post photos. I've seen a few pictures of radios that are city-specific like your 1941 Philco, and it sounds like you have a very nice collection.