Tom Albrecht's Radio and TV Attic

Admiral 5R35N (1955)
This attractive little Admiral has been repainted in its original red color. By the mid 1950s, the older browns, blacks, and ivory colors of Bakelite sets were giving way to brighter colors and new materials. Admiral followed this trend by offering this model in several different colors. The five-tube All American Five (miniature tube version) chassis has been fully restored with all paper and electrolytic capacitors replaced, a strong set of tubes, rebuilt IF transformers (to prevent "silver mica disease"), and a full alignment to get it performing like new. The knobs and back are original, and the original cord is in good condition and safe to use. Small and light, so shipping will be inexpensive. 10-1/4"W x 5-1/2"H x 6"D. $145.00. (1310171)

ON SALE
until
November 15

Atwater Kent 84 (1931)
Atwater Kent made beautifully engineered radios with quality construction and cabinets. This model 84 is a six-tube early superheterodyne. Like most A-K sets, it has a heavy gauge metal chassis with nickel plating. This radio has been well taken care of over the years -- its chassis is wonderfully clean and free of any rust or corrosion. The cabinet still has its original finish in very nice condition. Even the original felt feet are in nice shape. Knobs, dial, and escutcheon are original; only the grille cloth appears to have been replaced by a previous restorer with a pattern similar to the original. A previous tech did a beautiful job replacing capacitors and power cord and adding a safety fuse (something I rarely say about previous restorations by others), and I further improved things with a new rubber roller for the tuner, a replacement vintage volume control, the correct value padder capacitor for proper dial calibration, and a meticulous alignment so it performs like new. You'll appreciate the quality of this radio. 19"H x 15-1/2"W x 9-1/2"D. Was $695.00, now $495.00. (1310165)

ON SALE
until
November 15

Candle ATR-80A (1961)
Cute salmon-colored eight-transistor radio with original box, instructions, leather case, earphone, earphone pouch, and strap. It is all original and works very well. The leather case has somewhat self-destructed over the years, and the plastic case of the radio has two minor imperfections: a chip where the back engages the top, and a short crack in the middle of the top of the back (both defects visible in top/rear picture). The clear dial cover also has some residue that is visible in the front view. This model is unusual in that it can also operate on AC power; however, the original AC power cord is missing. 6"W x 3-3/4"H x 1-1/2"D. Was $95.00, now $65.00. (1310158)

Emerson G-1707 (1963)
This Emerson is the same age as I am, but seems to have aged much better than I! It's an unusual FM-only radio with an upright cabinet design. The five-tube (plus silicon rectifier) chassis has been fully restored with electrolytic capacitors replaced (it has no paper capacitors), rebuilt IF transformers (to avoid "silver mica disease"), a strong set of tubes, and a full alignment to get it performing like new. The black button below the dial is a two-position tone control. The original white power cord is clean and safe to use. The small black wire on the back is the FM antenna, which can be positioned for best reception. Dual 4-inch speakers provide ample good quality sound. 12"W x 9"H x 5-1/2"D. $95.00. (1310169)

Motorola 6T26M (1957)
This Motorola looks great with its late 1950s styling and is a great performer to boot. The six-tube chassis has an added RF amplifier stage for top-notch sensitivity. Dual speakers provide ample good quality sound. The tone control is a more than the usual treble cut control; this one provides a continuous contour between true bass- and treble-boost. The chassis has been fully restored, with all new capacitors, new resistors where needed, a strong set of tubes, a full alignment, and rewiring of the switch for improved safety with the newly installed polarized power cord. The Bakelite cabinet is in nice condition and has a good shine. Knobs, dial, and back cover are original, and the original label is in good condition on the bottom. Lighted dial. 14-1/2"W x 7"H x 7"D. $145.00. (1310168)

Motorola A2W15 (1959)
This inexpensive Motorola table radio was a popular model for kitchens and bedrooms. Its trendy molded plastic cabinet and simple printed circuit board simplified manufacturing. One place Motorola splurged a little on this radio is the speaker, which is a relatively high quality 5-inch speaker, where others used cheaper 4-inch versions. This radio is in excellent working order, having had its paper and electrolytic capacitors replaced, a strong set of tubes installed, IF transformers rebuilt (to avoid "silver mica disease"), and a full alignment for best performance. The original ivory power cord is clean and safe to use. A nice example of a popular mid-century radio for your collection. 11"W x 6"H x 5-1/4"D. $85.00. (1310170)

ON SALE
until
November 15

Philco 90 Cathedral (1931)
Philco's model 90 is the quintessential cathedral that everyone recognizes and loves. Designed by Edward Combs, it set the course for a very popular design trend in the early 1930s. It was also an advanced superheterodyne when it was introduced. Imagine the joy that buyers had when operating a radio like this compared to the 1920s radios they were replacing -- this Philco would have been a giant step forward in sensitivity, sound quality, and simplicity. It was also reasonably priced for its time; no wonder that Philco sold a zillion of these. This is the "middle" model with a single 47 output tube and AVC. The chassis has been fully restored with new capacitors, new resistors where needed, a strong set of tubes, and a careful alignment so that it performs like new. The power cord has been replaced with a modern vintage-style cord (keeping the original plug) and a fuse has been added for improved safety. The dial has some pencil markings from the 1930s showing west coast stations of the time. I've left the markings as part of the history of this radio; you can easily remove them with an eraser if desired. The cabinet has been nicely refinished. Knobs, dial, and escutcheon are original; grille cloth and speaker have been replaced. 18-3/4"H x 17-1/4"W x 12"D. Was $950.00, now $750.00. (1310164)

Zenith 6-D-525 "Toaster" (1941)
This Zenith from 1941 is more than just another table radio. Both inside and out, this radio has a lot to offer. I was rather surprised to find it has a shielded loop antenna -- something often seen on the best consoles, but almost never on table radios, which usually have unshielded loops. A shielded loop is the best built-in antenna for reduced static and noise. The six-tube circuit also has an extra RF amplifier stage for superb sensitivity. The cabinet is special, too -- it's an Ingraham design with solid walnut sides and top with deeply sculpted air ventilation slots that give this radio the nickname "Toaster." This one has its original finish and looks good. It also has its original back (which is rare) and original knobs. Electrical restoration included everything that matters: new capacitors throughout, new resistors where needed, a strong set of tubes, a full RF/IF alignment, and rewiring of the switch circuit for best safety with the new polarized cord. It's a great performer. Lighted dial. 12"W x 7-1/2"H x 7"D. $265.00. (1310167)