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Antique Radios

n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
edited February 2010 in General Discussion
Anyone have one, or more?

As with many antiques, they fascinate me and I find myself drawn to the style, workmanship and the history/nostalgia that they represent.

I am the proud Pappy of a third, as of today.

I picked up a beautifully maintained, perfect working order, Zenith table-top model, born in 1942.

There is something about listening to either shortwave or Broadcast on a radio of this approximate vintage that is just, well, cool.
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    n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
    edited November -1
    See you are among the afflicted also. [:D][:D]
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    Bubba Jr.Bubba Jr. Member Posts: 8,197 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I had one just like that second one when I was a kid. I poked around the inside of it and blew it up. That's when I learned that screwdrivers and electricity don't play well together.[:0]
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    Old-ColtsOld-Colts Member Posts: 22,700 ✭✭✭
    edited June 2020
    I'm down to two; this Zenith is my favorite!

    PB Picture removed.

    If you can't feel the music; it's only pink noise!

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    Hunter MagHunter Mag Member Posts: 6,611 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    lt I posted this one, 1937 RCA here last night in another thread. Maybe you've seen it here before? I also have a table top 1932 Air Castle, no photos of it yet. My father has the grand collection of about 50-75 radios. His house/basement is just full of them. [:p]

    Old Colts get those "weeds" off the top of that Zenith, you might scratch it.

    PICT0005-1.jpg

    Here's a better pic of the tuning eye.

    PICT0015-1.jpg
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    Old-ColtsOld-Colts Member Posts: 22,700 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Hunter Mag
    Old Colts get those "weeds" off the top of that Zenith, you might scratch it.[:D][:D]

    At one time I had a RCA similar to yours, but without the tuning eye. It had a large drum antenna in the back that revolved for fine tuning; it was the finest sounding old radio I've ever heard, but someone wanted it really bad so I sold it!

    If you can't feel the music; it's only pink noise!

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    john wjohn w Member Posts: 4,104
    edited November -1
    Now were talking. I love buying them and restoring them electronicly and cabinet work. I have 2 consoles and about 8 desktops all no later than 1940. I love the cabinet work and the woods they used to make the overlays and venier. The consoles i have are a stromberg carlson 1938 and a philco 1936 and the tabletops are stewert warner, a few silvertones, zeneth and a few admirals and a zeneth bomber pertable and a few others i am sure i forgot. I eventually want to display them all on one place but the house is small but after i remodel some day soon i will get them all out in one place
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    Hunter MagHunter Mag Member Posts: 6,611 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    There were so many back then, but then again that was the TV of the day.
    I'll see if I can remember to snap a pic of my air castle tomorrow.

    We need more pics in this thread. lt, you have a camera?
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    n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Old-Colts
    I'm down to two; this Zenith is my favorite!

    Zenith-1004GBGa.jpg


    Me likey, a lot.[:)]
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    n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Hunter Mag
    lt I posted this one, 1937 RCA here last night in another thread. Maybe you've seen it here before? I also have a table top 1932 Air Castle, no photos of it yet. My father has the grand collection of about 50-75 radios. His house/basement is just full of them. [:p]

    Old Colts get those "weeds" off the top of that Zenith, you might scratch it.

    PICT0005-1.jpg

    Here's a better pic of the tuning eye.

    PICT0015-1.jpg
    Me likey this one too.[8)]
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    iwannausernameiwannausername Member Posts: 7,131
    edited November -1
    I've got the radio from Dad's '63 Porsche to put in my '65 Porsche (Blaupunk Sapphire). I think it works, but don't have any 6v speakers to test with.

    Planning on taking out the guts and putting in a mp3 player board w/ laptop hard drive. Keep the classic look, put the real music in it.
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    gearheaddadgearheaddad Member Posts: 15,096 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Old-Colts
    I'm down to two; this Zenith is my favorite!

    Zenith-1004GBGa.jpg

    I hope you are thinking of a give away!!!!
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    Sav99Sav99 Member Posts: 16,037 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have an old Admiral table top model. AM and shortwave. Also says on the dial, Aviation, Amateur, Police, Emergency. It works but I haven't turned it on in years.
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    He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 50,956 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Don't have a one, but here is a fun place you guys may like:

    http://www.radiolaguy.com/
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    Old-ColtsOld-Colts Member Posts: 22,700 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
    quote:Originally posted by Old-Colts
    I'm down to two; this Zenith is my favorite!I hope you are thinking of a give away!!!!The shipping would kill me! [:D]

    If you can't feel the music; it's only pink noise!

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    Hunter MagHunter Mag Member Posts: 6,611 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Old-Colts
    quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
    quote:Originally posted by Old-Colts
    I'm down to two; this Zenith is my favorite!I hope you are thinking of a give away!!!!The shipping would kill me! [:D]

    Winner pays shipping?[B)] On 2nd thought count me out too. [B)][;)]
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    SP45SP45 Member Posts: 1,758 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My father was an avid collector until he died almost ten years ago. I used to go searching with him all the time. New England is the place to look. Thats where most were manufactured. I kept about a dozen of the ones I liked and sold the rest. I sold about 300 as well as several truck loads of parts and over 3000 tubes from the 20s on up. I took one complete pickup truck load of 78 records to the dump. Radios are like cars everyone has a timeframe they are interested in. My fathers was 20's and early 30's although he had some of everything.
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    Colonel PlinkColonel Plink Member Posts: 16,460
    edited November -1
    Gorgeous.
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    spasmcreekspasmcreek Member Posts: 37,724 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    got a zenith long distance table model 3 band dial that was where we stacked the red rags at the store...from the 40's till i brought it home...asked dad one night if it worked ..he said yep..we strung up a wire for antenna listened to quito, ecuador & lots of places...only thing is oil filled capacitors apparently have dried out & everything is toned by 60 cycle hum...don't know if replacements are available..
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    savage170savage170 Member Posts: 37,455 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My mom still has 2 from the late 40's or early 50's and an old transistor from the late 60's the oldist one is a belmont
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    bojangies46bojangies46 Member Posts: 382 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Here's mine--1935 Zenith Tombstone Radio---works good-Tunes American and Foreign Stations,Police,Aviation and Ships at sea

    1935Zenithtombstone.jpg
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    Hunter MagHunter Mag Member Posts: 6,611 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Bojangies if I'm not mistaken your sweet zenith there is worth a few $$$.
    Very nice!!! [:p]
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    bojangies46bojangies46 Member Posts: 382 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Hunter Mag
    Bojangies if I'm not mistaken your sweet zenith there is worth a few $$$.
    Very nice!!! [:p]

    They sell for 250 to 500 dollars according to the web--just a neat old radio
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    Hunter MagHunter Mag Member Posts: 6,611 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by bojangies46
    quote:Originally posted by Hunter Mag
    Bojangies if I'm not mistaken your sweet zenith there is worth a few $$$.
    Very nice!!! [:p]

    They sell for 250 to 500 dollars according to the web--just a neat old radio

    OK I thought it was considerably more, 1k(ish).
    I'll bet yours is closer to the $500 range.
    Yes you have to love them!! Quality at it's best.
    I love WWI-WWII era radios and firearms. [:p]
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    bojangies46bojangies46 Member Posts: 382 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Hunter Mag
    quote:Originally posted by bojangies46
    quote:Originally posted by Hunter Mag
    Bojangies if I'm not mistaken your sweet zenith there is worth a few $$$.
    Very nice!!! [:p]

    They sell for 250 to 500 dollars according to the web--just a neat old radio

    OK I thought it was considerably more, 1k(ish).
    I'll bet yours is closer to the $500 range.
    Yes you have to love them!! Quality at it's best.
    I love WWI-WWII era radios and firearms. [:p]


    Me too--anything thats old-[:)][:)]
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    spasmcreekspasmcreek Member Posts: 37,724 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    mines got a different cabinet but the dial & knobs look the same as bojangies46
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    dongilldongill Member Posts: 2,640
    edited November -1
    Hallicrafters S40B circa 1947, still works!
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    spasmcreekspasmcreek Member Posts: 37,724 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    i-net is so handy...turns out it is a zenith 7-s-232 made in 1938...a 7 tube robotdial (shutterdial) with an original price of $74.95....7-9 & scarce 12 tube models are quite collectible...fun
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