Well ok folks I swore up and down here (see my other guides to 1920s battery radios) that I would NEVER,NEVER,NEVER get into collecting 110 volt antique radios. I confess. I have bought a few of these modern "superheterodyne monsters". I have a further confession. They are a lot of fun. No more battery eliminator required just plug it in and pray.

The first one I bought here on e-bay was a Bosch 1928 model 28 TRF 110 volt radio. I bought it also because of the beautifull mahogony cabinet. I fiqured what the heck even if it doesnt work its a beautiful piece for display.  Heres the surprise.

It worked right out the gate. Beautifull tone and only a warmup period required to hear it. Oh yes I used the dim bulb apparatus at first for safety, it worked with low volume. Upon plugging directly into 110 outlet the volume increased tremendously. No ground was required on this radio. Simple long wire antenna. I should probably go in and change a few caps....but for now it sits atop my desk in permanent display. I refinished the case and gold plated the tube cover. What a beauty. Cost about $150 with shipping. Ok now I was hooked. Or was it beginners luck?

Next radio purchased as RCA 1930s tombstone from estate treasures with "buy it now". Less than $100. Oh and its a short wave. I always wanted a antique shortwave you see. It arrives in fully working condition with beautifull cabinet. I refinished the cabinet with some Formbys lightly just because I like to do that but, this thing works on short wave perfectly. The old band switch was a little "cranky" but if you get it where you want it and leave it alone its great. Not worth serious surgery on the old beast. Beautifull radio. my special thanks to estate treaserez here on ebay. Its on display now as well.

Thats when I discovered my first Philco radio. I bought a much more modern  Philco radio made in 1949. This radio is absolutely beautiful veneer. It worked right out the gate as well. I did repaint the gold knobs and put on a clear coat. It stood out in the display. I then bought a Philco 1948, and a Philco 1942 with feet. Each radio worked after simply reseating the tubes after shipment.

I was hooked on Philco.

The next purchase was a Philco model 70 cathederal. I knew it would be pricey and it was. Over $300. Thats a lot of radio for me as this is a hobby and I work for a living. Thats when disaster struck. The carefully chosen fully restored radio arrived severely broken with the speaker blasted all the way through the front of the radio. I was heart broken because......you guessed it...after replacing the broken 80 tube and reseating the rest of the tubes ...the chassis still worked!!!!!!!!! I refused federal express insurance payment in lieu of desperately trying to fix the radio. I bought a scroll saw at Loews and using photos of the radio before shipment put it together again like a giant jigsaw piece by piece. Every little shard of wood was wood glued together to make a pattern in a new piece of oak. I cut out the new front in oak, It took a week. When re-placed in the radio with staining and finishing the radio looked as good as new to me. Its not a photo finish front now its real wood...maybe an improvement of sorts. It sits proudly on display now. It is the centerpeice of my collection.

For now I am exploring the Philco large consoles. Monsterous beasts they are, taking a huge place in the house. Their beautifull veneer is scratched and stained with age. I once in a while will find someone in Utah kind enough to deliver one of these beasts to me for restoration .I always remember what they have been through over the years. I wonder which family homes they set in the past reporting the latest world war II news etc to some anxious family who had a loved one overseas  when short wave was the only way of communication and the skys were not filled with things called satellites and the closest thing to a cell phone was a hastily wired field telephone.

I have purchased on e-bay lots of test equipment. Teltronix O scope, Rf and AF generator, DMM, and a tube tester of course. They usually sit idle. These old radios are a testament to American manufacturing. Those who are still around that worked in this industry can be proud of the products they produced.

With any luck we will get them to hang around for the future generations to see.

For further info edisonsite.com

Best Regards

Phil

philtechltd