Antique Radio Page: Comments

Comments
Your suggestions and questions are welcome!

Before asking a question, please read the FAQ below.
Submit a comment

Frequently Asked Questions:
Question 1: I have an old radio. What's it worth?
     A question with many answers. There's a philosophic answer and a "price guide" answer. For example, consider the following wooden tombstone:
Majestic 59 "Studio" (1933)
     This radio is listed in four of my price guides. The values given range from $75 to $425. I have seen it offered for sale in good condition at $40, and in worse condition at nearly $600.
     So what's it worth? I won't even try to give a philosophical answer to this question. As for the "price guide" answer, you have to combine your own opinions and desires with the values in the guides. If you think the Majestic is absolutely ugly and undesirable, you might think the answer is closer to $75 (or less). If you absolutely love the "look" of this radio, you might think the answer is closer to $425 (or more).
     Another important factor is condition. If the tombstone above had water damage, missing veneer, no knobs, and a rusted chassis with missing parts, it could be worth hardly anything. Other factors affecting value are rarity, demand, and where a radio is offered for sale.
     The bottom line is: what's the radio worth to you? What do you like?
     If you're going to collect antique radios, I suggest buying every price guide you can get your hands on, even those out-of-print. At least the guides will give you a starting place for value, and they usually feature many pictures. The photographs are very useful for radio identification.
     By the way, if you do ask me (or anyone) about a radio, a question like: "I have an old Automatic wood AM radio; can you tell me more about it?" is too general. A better question would be:

     "I have an Automatic brand wood table radio, AM only, model 720. It has a square dial on the right with two knobs underneath, and a speaker grille on the left with a cloth covering and a criss-cross pattern. It uses six tubes: two 12SK7s, a 12SA7, a 12SQ7, a 35L6, and a 35Z5. Can you tell me more about it?"
     A good description is essential in finding more information about an old radio. The brand and model number are particularly important. Model numbers are usually printed on a paper label, then glued or stapled to the inside or bottom of a radio cabinet. The model number is also sometimes stamped on the back or bottom of the cabinet. Tube lineups can help narrow the search for obscure or off-brand radios.
Question 2: How old is my radio?
     This question is usually asked along with the one about value. A detailed description, with brand and model number, can help here, too. Most price guides give a date for a radio. The more radios you look at, though, the better you will be able to judge approximate age. Visit the galleries at this page and the other great radio collections on the web to expand your knowledge of radios from different eras. Many of the books I list will help you, too. One in particular, "Guide to Old Radios, Pointers, Pictures, and Prices," 2nd edition, by David & Betty Johnson, gives a nice introduction to dating radios by how they look and how they're built.
Question 3: I have an old radio that doesn't work. How can I get it repaired?
     There are some on the web offering repair and restoration services. I also suggest contacting a radio club in your area. Even if you're not interested in collecting radios, most people in radio clubs are very helpful and more than willing to help someone get an old radio repaired or restored.
     You can also learn to repair radios yourself. There are many old and new books on repairing radios; a good starter book is "Antique Radio Restoration Guide," 2nd edition, by David Johnson.
Question 4: Where can I get a part/knob/tube for my old radio?
     Again, a good place is a nearby antique radio club. Many radio enthusiasts have boxes (sometimes garages) full of old parts, knobs, and tubes. You can also contact Antique Electronic Supply and request a catalog: Antique Electronic Supply, 6221 S. Maple Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85283, (480) 820-5411.
Question 5: Where can I get a schematic for my old radio?
     Between Rider's manuals and the "Photofacts" published by SAMS, you can find almost any radio schematic. Your first stop should be the public or university library in your area; many have Riders and you can simply photocopy the schematics you need. The next step is—you guessed it—a local radio club. Radio club members may often be willing to let you copy a schematic from their collection of manuals for free. Finally, there are many who offer schematics for sale on the web.
Question 6: My restribulator's filament voltage is erratic, especially when I apply a bias to the fratzenwuffer input electrode. Should I wrap the 0.25 amp lead with frizzle wire and connect it to the output of the transmogrifier, or should I just bypass the capacitor with a Freiberg circuit?
     An obvious technical question. The best place to get an answer for technical questions related to antique radios is the rec.antiques.radio+phono newsgroup. There are many enthusiasts out there much more qualified to answer technical questions than I. While I can successfully repair my own radios, I feel you'd get a better answer from the experts in this newsgroup.
Question 7: Do you have a list of radio-related web sites?
     I'd like to maintain such a list, but I don't have the time right now to keep it current. There are many other antique radio enthusiasts out there who maintain decent lists of web sites. I'd start with Antique Radios Online. Not only do they have a nice list, but also other resources like free classified ads.
     These are the questions I am asked most frequently. You should also check out the FAQ for the rec.antiques.radio+phono newsgroup; it contains a wealth of information for both neophytes and experts alike.
     My advice for anyone seeking information is to first check out the web, find radio related books that interest you, and contact a local radio club. If you're going to start collecting antique radios, you should definitely join a club. A club is the single best place to begin learning about antique radios.