This is not so much a presentation of a collection. These have all collected me. Each has given me an opportunity to tinker, to learn, and to restore. With the lone exception of the Grigsby Grunow speaker they all work very well today. I'll get to that speaker some day. There were millions and millions of radios sold during the 20s, 30s, and 40s. Most of mine are relatively common place even now, making the collection worth more as a source of enjoyment than as an investment, but that's what a hobby should be about, right? I get a kick out of preserving my little corner of the past and I hope you enjoy a tour.
I've recently begun to document a few interesting cases, and will continue to do so. I wish I had from the beginning.
Case studies (geek heaven)
Atwater Kent 35A
A rusty old Atwater Kent Model 35 was hauled out of storage. There were thrills and spills, demons and dirt, coils and crud. It was a more challenging repair than expected for such a simple radio. My first repair article.
RCA Radiola 26
Early in 2009 with a recession knocking away paying work, I decided to finish repairs on a radio acquired years ago, a 1925 RCA Radiola 26. It looked good, with original finish on the inside. A refinish job on the outside was not bad either. It just needed some electronic work.
Atwater Kent 55 empty cabinet
In the summer of 2008, an Atwater Kent Model 55C found its way into the back of our car. This radio was sold in many cabinet designs. Radios were more like fine furniture in those days and different furniture designers made cabinets for the same radio chassis. This radio was a mess top to bottom. The chassis is finally done while the cabinet is awaiting time and good weather. A writeup of the chassis work will be posted when it is done.
The Gallery
Complete cabinet reworking was required for a few cases where the original finish was largely destroyed. Some suffered extensive damage from previous owners (Westinghouse WR169, American Bosch Model 28), some were superbly cared for (Amplion speaker, Radiola Model 26). Some pieces have serious flaws, (GE GD60, Emerson portable), some are rare (GM "Pocket Portable", GE K105), some are beautiful (I like them all!), some are decidedly none of the above.
Image:
On the backburner, Atwater Kent model 82. This project has been stagnant for years now, waiting for the right piece of veneer to cross my path. The chassis is done. The cabinet, though, is going to take some effort. Part of the wood veneer on the arch is gone, a support piece is missing inside at the back of the arch, and the finish is weathered and damaged. It will require a complete refinish. I included a couple of shots of the chassis on my bench, taken before I started work. Notice the filth, rust, and broken potentiometer mount. They don't wire them like THAT anymore, thank goodness. It is hard to see from the photo, but much of the colored wire insulation is extremely brittle. A slight bend will shatter it.
Chassis pre-repair
Not pictured: Weston Model 40 art deco wood table radio (once the cabinet is fixed it will be a NICE piece!), Silvertone 7054 radio, Silvertone 7056 radio/phono, a large round metal speaker from the late 20s, Zenith upright with wavemagnet speaker (bought for 10 bucks from a guy in a pickup truck trying to clear out his garage, a couple of unremarkable wood table radios. Honestly, I've been too busy with work these days to take on anything more. There is also another Bosch Model 28, completely unrestored and unfinished. Larry Williams (member of California Historical Radio Society) and I have assemble transformer values and other useful circuit information not otherwise documented about this model of Bosch. He owns THREE of them, that wild and crazy guy. I hope to make the information available on this site, but for now please contact me if you have need of it. Also applies to Bosch Model 29.
