American tube radios...

[cfz2882]

...Canadian made also -thread for "foreign"radios coming later Guy at work has recently gotten interested in old tube radios-especially 1930s era.He bought a mid-1930s GE in working order that someone recapped and checked the tubes: in under picks of the recapped chassis,looked like all the original carbon resistors are still in place and those usually drift up in ohms when they are very old...Will see how it plays when he gets it I have dabbled in these radios since pre-teen years and have a bunch-a few in clock-radio form. Several small AA5s have found me recently and all worked well enough no repair action was done.one of these AA5s was actually a 4-tube 1957 Sears Meteor and works really well :tube rectifier in this Meteor, but selenium rectifier often used-starting around 1942 in series string ac/dc radios. American tube radios were mostly done by 1965. The guy at work was aware of the potential "hot chassis" safety hazzard and i told him about fire hazzard potential of radios with interlock cord plug if those get wet a few times too many and arc fault across the interlock pins.

 

[phillymatt53]

While it's a known fact that resistors in old equipment do tend to drift out of tolerences, and affect performance, a good repair tech will go over them during the restoration and replace any deemed faulty.
It only takes a short time to do this procedure, but the benefits and reliability are worth it.

Radios that I've restored, both for customers and my own collection, have been thoroughly gone over.
In addition, for those "hot chassis" sets, I change out the line cord to a polarized version, as well as wiring them so that the chassis is at ground potential all the time, and the "hot" side of the cord goes to the power switch.
Sometimes, if i determine it's suitable, I'll even add a fuse to the set.
It brings the set up to current Safety Codes.

Doing restorations is a time consuming process when done properly.
Yes, I'm very "picky" about my work, and consider not to have to deal with any liability suits labeling me as the culprit for sloppy work.

I've had hundreds, thousands, of pleased customers over the decades, for which I'm proud of serving, and insuring that they enjoy their vintage stuff for a long time.

This is only a PART of my "restored" home collection.....
Some of those radios are now quite valuable, judging from the prices I've seen on various websites.

 

[RCAWhirlpool]

Third shelf down last radio far right I had one best little AM FM radio lasted for years
Fourth shelf last one on the far right my parents had one. Think it was a RCA or a Zeinth. Again a great radio think the tube when out in the 80s

 

[cfz2882]

I have one like top right and like the clock radio middle shelf,and one similar if not same as big radio middle shelf :series string AMFM Japanese from about 1963

 

[phillymatt53]

Third shelf down last radio far right I had one best little AM FM radio lasted for years
Fourth shelf last one on the far right my parents had one. Think it was a RCA or a Zeinth. Again a great radio think the tube when out in the 80s

Third shelf down last radio far right - is a 4 band am/fm/mb/vhf Emerson portable that I picked up at a flea market.
Fourth shelf last one on the far right - is an RCA Victor am/fm transistor model. - I use it daily for background music in my home office, where those shelves are mounted at.
To the immediate left of it is a Zenith am/fm tube set, a fine performer too.

 

[phillymatt53]

I have one like top right and like the clock radio middle shelf,and one similar if not same as big radio middle shelf :series string AMFM Japanese from about 1963

The big white radio with the glare on its dial and 4 knobs, is a Panasonic 740 tube set - excellent sounding set.
The clock radio to its right is a rare pink 1950's GE clock radio, I've seen it going for $199 on auction sites.

 

[wayupnorth]

I still have a blue Crosley Dashboard radio that was left here when this place became mine. As far as I know, it still works.

 

[phillymatt53]

This is a 1957ish RCA Victor compact consolette that I modified years ago.
The record changer is from a 1963 stereo console, the cabinet was repainted satin black, and the mono tube amp was custom designed by me, along with the triple speakers on the front panel.
The thing KICKS butt for its size.

I still have a blue Crosley Dashboard radio that was left here when this place became mine. As far as I know, it still works.

 

[phillymatt53]

I still have a blue Crosley Dashboard radio that was left here when this place became mine. As far as I know, it still works.

They're quite popular, have it restored though.