Dave's Collection

[davy1063]

I just thought I'd share a bit of my collection with you all. First up is my 1950's RCA 45-EY-2 phonograph. I've had this since I was a kid and believe it or not, it still works. Ith has one hell of a hum though (capacitor probably dried out) so that will need some attention soon.

 

[davy1063]

Here's the next in the collection:

My 1971 Roberts 771X tape deck with the famous Crossfield recording system. It still works beautifully. This was the brother of the Akai M9 tape deck. Alongside of this is my 1971 Panasonic TR-005 (Orbitel) television that my Aunt Helen bought for me for my 8th birthday. It was a victim of an electrical storm and sat in my parent's basement for 20 years before I re-discovered it, took it apart, went through it transistor by transistor and got it to spring back to life.

 

[davy1063]

Next up is...

My Dad's Silvertone table radio from who-knows-when. I really should ask him sometime. Yes it too still works along with the green "Magic Eye" tuning meter. Next to that is one of the original Sony Watchman portable TVs. Behind that is a Motorola portable AM/FM radio, and up front is a small Magnavox televison/radio. They all still work and I'm open to any information anyone has on the Silvertone radio.

 

[davy1063]

and lastly...

My 1974 Tandberg reel to reel tape deck. This too has the Crossfield heads and sounds fantastic. This is still in use to this day..

 

[appnut]

Very cool!!! Very nice!!!

 

[volvoguy87]

Silvertone.

Silvertone was the Sears brand (Airline was the MW brand). I don't know what company made your radio, but it looks like a VERY nice one in its day (dare I say TOL?). I'll bet the knobs are power/volume, tone, tuning, and band (AM/broadcast, and shortwave. I have no idea what knob #5 does. The tuning eye is a really nice feature, certainly not found on the cheaper sets. I would be quite confident in saying it's a pre-war radio.

Post the model number and I'll try to find it in my radio book. The model number should be either on the back or the bottom. In the likely instance that your radio never had a back (at that time they often didn't), look inside the cabinet for a model tag.
Hook up some copper wire for an antenna, ground the set, and wait until nightfall and see what far off stations you can tune in.
I have about 30 radios myself, and one of these days I need to get or build a very low-powered AM transmitter so I can play my ipod and listen to music throughout my house on my radios.

Nice set,
Dave

 

[toggleswitch]

F.Harry Stowe

thank you!

 

[rickr]

Silvertone radio is from about 1935. I have the console model that uses the same dial and wooden knobs. Will post a pixs of it later today.

Love the rest of your vintage electronics also. The tv is so cool! <:

 

[rp2813]

I had a Magnavox console from the 40's and it had one of those tuning eye things also. I think it was an actual tube of some kind with a green tip. So it's just a guess but maybe at the time those Silvertone models like yours were being marketed by Sears, they were rebadged Maggies.

If you haven't already been there, you can get more info on these items through the forums on either "audiokarma.org" or "antiqueradios.com"

 

[bajaespuma]

I had forgotten about those wonderful Tandberg tapecorders. What great machines they were and what great industrial design.

 

[retroguy]

How cool is this?

I love the ad to go with the TV. Glad you were able to repair it!

 

[little-edie]

and that bakelite arm...

just love the 45 player. i seem to recall a hum in ours too! we'd plug ours into dad's RCA clock radio.....the sound was abysmal, but that's all we had.

 

[kenwashesmonday]

Silvertone model 1955 (1936)

The extra knob is variable bandwith. Cables move iron cores inside the IF cans. Nice radio. I rebuilt one for someone last year.

Ken