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 Older Radios getting harder to fine

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FrankB
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FrankB


Join date : 2010-11-22

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PostSubject: Re: Older Radios getting harder to fine    Older Radios getting harder to fine  I_icon_minitimeAugust 21st 2019, 5:43 pm

Wildcat,
 Today's "junk" radios are tomorrow's collectables.

 I have never regretted buying dozens of defunct AA5's. I have used tubes, knobs, speakers, output transformers, etc.  from them. I mean, literally half a van load for .25-2.00 each was a pretty good deal, considering that even if 1 tube or knob in the set was good, the radio paid for itself. (This was about 20 yrs ago, to be honest).

With germanium xistors failing from "whiskers" my stash of junquers (snob lingo Smile) is providing more "unobtanium" parts all the time.
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wildcat445
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wildcat445


Join date : 2014-08-16

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PostSubject: Re: Older Radios getting harder to fine    Older Radios getting harder to fine  I_icon_minitimeAugust 21st 2019, 3:41 pm

I like buying "junk", common radios nobody else wants.  I bought a pickup load at an auction one time for $17.

_________________
Often in error, seldom in doubt.

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ve1arn
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ve1arn


Join date : 2010-11-23

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PostSubject: Re: Older Radios getting harder to fine    Older Radios getting harder to fine  I_icon_minitimeAugust 17th 2019, 4:05 am

Frank.... That's the whole thing about finds. It doesn't have to be the holy grail for us. It just has to be that one item in who knows how many, that makes the day for us.

I believe I had the same feeling as you when I found that new, still in the wrapper NT98D cavity magnetron a few years back. The seller, who was selling off the estate on an old ham that passed away, knew it was some kind of tube, but not sure of any specifics. I was the same, but figured if the price was right, it would look cool with the other tubes in my display. His price was $2.00. When I eventually found out what it was.......... man, what a feeling!. Very Happy
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FrankB
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FrankB


Join date : 2010-11-22

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PostSubject: Re: Older Radios getting harder to fine    Older Radios getting harder to fine  I_icon_minitimeAugust 17th 2019, 1:14 am

From my own experience, I find the 2nd hand stores, especially run by older folks that specialize in bric a brac are good for cheap radios.
 The Emerson Catalin I have came from a place where they knew nothing about radios. In fact I scored an entire car load for dirt cheap from there.

 They set the price. Dirt cheap, but a lot for a Bakelite set that needed a total go thru.

 Now I was honestly unaware that it was a Catalin set. Something about the look of it said "Hmmm, this radio case doesn't look really right- take a chance".
 Now I had never seen a Catalin set up front and personal, & thought it might actually be an odd Bakelite set.

It was in good condition, (Only a crack on the bottom corner of the case), and I looked it up on the internet when I got home, by model number. What a surprise. it was my first Catalin!!

 It came at a good time, as I had been quite ill and was feeling quite punk that day. it sure lifted my spirits when I found out it was really a Catalin. (Yeah, it is likely the most common Emerson Catalin they made- but it was a real Catalin!).
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atwaterkent
Senior Member 75+ Posts
Senior Member 75+ Posts



Join date : 2018-06-17

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PostSubject: Re: Older Radios getting harder to fine    Older Radios getting harder to fine  I_icon_minitimeAugust 15th 2019, 6:27 pm

Hi Chas! When I started out I was collecting AK electrics in steel boxes, models 37,40,44 and so on. After I bought a battery set I got hooked on them. I've sold my electrics except for three table tops and one console. I am a history addict and a strong part of the attraction to battery radios is the history behind them. I find them more interesting because of what would be considered crude design by later standards. Like you I don't buy them to make money, I buy the ones that interest me and the older and rarer the radio the more it usually interests me, and the more it usually costs. Lots of knobs and dials are a plus in my book, the guy who designed the Federal 61 knew just what I was looking for. LOL!! I enjoy seeing and learning about later radios, but now I only buy battery radios and am seldom tempted by any other type. I'm about out of room, so now I only buy upgrades for my collection and then sell a more common one to make room.
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chas
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chas


Join date : 2017-04-09

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PostSubject: Re: Older Radios getting harder to fine    Older Radios getting harder to fine  I_icon_minitimeAugust 15th 2019, 4:44 pm

I have always collected because I like the radio and the price was right. I do not specifically look for an investment radio at a bargain price so I can later even much later sell for a profit.

I have always set aside some 2k or so just foir my hobby. So, it is money down the toilet. If I get anything back, fine, it does not matter to me...

I got this "learned" behavior from getting my first collection from an estate clean out. Every radio, all 26 of the 20's battery sets were free, included Majestic "B" supplies, magazines and cartons and cartons of tubes. It took three trips with what was then called a "Beach Wagon", a 50's era SUV...  Smile

Think about it, I have had these radio 10 years longer than they were made, Some 55 years.

Strangely, some HAVE deteriorated, despite being in a 70 deg. dry home... Rubber has hardened, lacquer dried and flaked, pot metal has grown, twisted and cracked more.

I am after 65 years of collecting , still, STILL! Looking for a Musselman kit radio from the 20's. None have been seen, no advertising found. This was the brand of radio my Dad and his brother assembled for sale in his brother store...

In the 90's my wife and I did a LOT of yard sales, a dozen or so a week and the country auctions. Got loaded on 40-70's table sets, generally for $10-25$ each. Took them all, (mistake), learned soon how mundane most were but also how hard it was to get knobs and clock parts for the clock/radios. So, sell off the clock radios. The last one went in an ebay auction, long ago. I always got my money back for them.
So, I never, ever, take a clock radio into the collection. I also took the transistor radios too, (another mistake). Generally, the transistor sets were at the same auctions and yard sales for a 1 to 10 dollars. Never, found the Regency TR-1, but did get a lot of early Sony and some great boxed sets from flea markets. I do have a few novelty sets. I don't have a strong attraction for transistor sets. They exist because of my "hunter/gather" passion...  Never pass by a pair of headphones, speaker driver or pocket voltmeter...

I suppose if any radio "falls" into my lap for cheap money I will still go for it.

Happened at a County Art Show in Westport last Fall. Nice little wooden set, unmolested Smile, they could not get a 20 for it after two days. I got it for a 10'er at 4:30pm Sunday. Hey, the fever never really goes away it just cools a bit...

Chas
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atwaterkent
Senior Member 75+ Posts
Senior Member 75+ Posts



Join date : 2018-06-17

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PostSubject: Re: Older Radios getting harder to fine    Older Radios getting harder to fine  I_icon_minitimeAugust 14th 2019, 7:22 am

Most of my collection is high end radios and the only place to find them is online. I do have some common radios that I enjoy listening to and restoring, but the prices of common radios are falling and I fear in the future many will end up in a dumpster. The high end radios seem to be holding up price wise, at least in general. I rarely see antique radios in antique shops around here, once in a while I will see a cheap plastic radio for sale but that's about it.

If you're interested in early 20s radios, I have a new online museum and I invite all of you to visit it at roaringtwentiesantiqueradiomuseum.com, I hope you enjoy it.
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FrankB
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FrankB


Join date : 2010-11-22

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PostSubject: Re: Older Radios getting harder to fine    Older Radios getting harder to fine  I_icon_minitimeMarch 1st 2012, 11:36 pm

Typically I have no problems in finding old radios around here.

One secret is to haunt 2nd hand/ antique store where they buy entire estates.

A last year I filled my car to the top - and the top of it too- with radios for $50.00.
I took home 30-50 radios total, inc. some tape recorders & transistor radios.
The catch was I had to take the entire lot- many of which had damaged cabinets and missing knobs; the majority of which was plastic table radios & clock radios.
They set the price & in all honesty, I'd have given several times what they asked for them, had they wanted me to make an offer on the lot. There are a few really collectable ones in them.

The batch was well worth the price, as from a parts aspect, the tubes, speakers, output transformers, etc. provided me with a wealth of parts.

One day I'll go thru them & sort them out as to which need knobs, cabinets, etc and try to advertise for what I need. There were several Zenith radios in the batch, and some sell on EvilBay for well into the hundred dollar range.

Now this stuff was just the "dregs" to the store owners and they were glad to make some money from what they would normally have to toss in the dumpster at some point.

Don't be afraid to ask the store owners for a lot deal on their "junk radios".

BTW this is the same store I got my 1st- and only so far- catalin radio a year earlier for $20.00.
One small crack & a chip on it. Yeah- its the commonest one out there, but its MINE!!! Very Happy and for a killer price too. They had no idea it was catalin, and to be honest, neither did I. I had never seen one close up until them & the brown case- which I took initially for bakelite- did look a bit "off". Something told me "GET IT!" .
I took the chance & got it when the owner said $20.00.
I got it home & looked on the 'net & was pleased to see it was indeed catalin. Shocked Cool I was floating for a bit at the killer deal I had gotten.

BTW this was not a "low end" store either. Most of their prices onthe wood cabinet radios they had in stock as "as is" were high to say the least.

The deals & radios are out there. I am sure the deals are available up North there too. Eh? Smile Wink

This is the 2nd batch of radios I have obtained this way, by offering to buy the entire lot.

The 1st batch included a complete Eveready console radio in it. Repwood cabinet & all complete, between excellent & good cond too; and a complete down to the original set of tubes in it, 1942 Zenith chassis, speaker & knobs- less cabinet. I got that entire lot for less then what the Eveready would have normally sold for. oh, & a 6E5 and 50A1 NIB too!
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ve1arn
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ve1arn


Join date : 2010-11-23

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PostSubject: Re: Older Radios getting harder to fine    Older Radios getting harder to fine  I_icon_minitimeNovember 17th 2011, 2:47 pm

Nice looking radios.

I have noticed that while prices seem to be increasing, the shipping costs are close to legalized extortion. Mad

My range of interests have also moved to collecting AM only transistor sets as well as tube type AM and FM sets partly because of this, but also because these sets like you posted are the ones I was using when growing up. So there's a bit more nostalgia in these for me than the older sets. I have built up close to 30 of these so far and have grown quite fond of them. Especially the clock radios. Dunno why though. Laughing

Keep us informed as to how you make out with these too.

Cheers for now, Bob
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PostSubject: Older Radios getting harder to fine    Older Radios getting harder to fine  I_icon_minitimeNovember 17th 2011, 12:37 pm

Hello all. Have not posted for awhile. Trying to get back in the mode. I have been noticing prices of radios are getting higher.

I have bought many on Ebay but seems after adding shipping it gets expensive. I have started to pick up the 60's and some 70's plastic table radios at good prices. Probably not a great long term value and most have printed cicuits and many with clocks but they still are fun to get working again. Here are a couple I picked up at an auction for a few bucks.


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