Mike Boessen's Radio Attic

Atwater Kent 46
Next up for shelf clearing is this fairly unique Atwater Kent 46. The paint is fairly good on it. No idea its condition. It is being sold "as is." It is very heavy (about 35#). 18"W x 8"H x 11"D. $50.00. (1680119)

Atwater Kent 82 (1932)
The AK 82 has to be counted among the most beautiful cathedrals ever made. The cabinet is stylish and ornate, with the signature spiral pillars, and their unique indented button blocks at the top. 18 coats of lacquer and three sanding operations produced a very nice, slick finish. Receiver performance is quite good, and the sound from the perfect 8-inch speaker is deep and rich. I finished the inside, rear and bottom. All new caps, including stuffing the originals, resistors and new wire as necessary. Full alignment. A nice, evenly illuminated dial. One small veneer repair at the bottom rear that is less than perfect. The model 82 had one of the very first efforts at AVC, employing a "control tube" to vary the gain of the first two stages. It will take some getting used to, but the sound is worth it. For knock-down, drag-out, eye catching curb appeal, you will be hard pressed to beat this radio. I put a great deal of effort into this beauty. I hope you will agree it was worth it. AKs were among the best radios of their time, and this one is a great example of that commitment to quality. Requires an external antenna. 19"H x 15-1/2"W x 10"D. $1,200.00. (1680109)

Atwater Kent 856 (1935)
As beautiful as it is rare, this Atwater Kent 856 from 1935 is a real eye catcher. AK also gave it some cool features, like a dial that lights the selected band, and a two-speed tuner that you can switch from high to low without removing your hand from the knob. The front is ornate and fitted with gorgeous booked veneer. The chassis is a very good performer with amazing sound from the perfect 8-inch speaker. This came to me with two coats of lead based white paint on it. After 12 hours of scrubbing I got 99.9% of it off, but damaged the front veneer in one spot (see photos). It really isn't terrible, and you don't notice it if you are not looking for it. The gloss finish is the slickest I have ever done. 18 coats were needed to cover up the grain after cleaning the white paint. While it retains a few specks and dings, it is crazy nice. A lot of people would call it piano finish. I replaced all the caps, most of the resistors and most of the rubber wiring. A full set of tubes that all test new for long service life. This thing was ruined when I got it, but now it is pretty much a show stopper. $849.00. (1680104)

Brunswick 5KR (1928)
Next on the shelf clearing project is this Brunswick 5KR. Looks like a Radiola 18 with different pants on. I believe the tubes all test good, but not sure. Very heavy, roughly 40 pounds. This is being sold "as is." 28"W x 9"H x 9-1/2"D. $50.00. (1680118)

Crosley 66TC (1945/1946)
When I opened the box on this Crosley 66TC, I have to say I didn't like it. Stained too dark, no contrasting tint, and, grille cloth, well, I don't know what they were thinking. I stripped it, tinted the edges and trim, put on 18 coats of lacquer, gave it two sanding operations and installed some luxurious brown grille cloth with gold accent thread. I think the result is a real eye popper! The camera made the grille cloth too light. It is a deep, chocolate brown color. The back is in unusually nice condition. My usual meticulous chassis restoration and a full set of high testing tubes produced a very good performing radio. The sound from the perfect speaker is very good and reception is the same. A couple of pretty good veneer patches and a few other minor flaws in the very nice cabinet. All in all I think it is a real standout among 66TCs now. I hope you think so too. Internal antenna with screws for external. Cable for mobile devices. 16"W x 10"H x 8"D. $499.00. (1680114)

ON SALE
until
May 11

Crosley 154 (1933)
This adorable little Crosley 154 came to me in absolutely horrible condition, but it is the only example of this radio I am aware of, so I wanted to restore it. The front veneer was in very bad condition, but I spruced it up the best I could. A lot of flaws remain in the otherwise nice finish after 80 years of obviously hard living. The photo finish is gone from the lower left and right columns. The speaker is not original and has a couple of patches by a previous servicer. I had to paint the chassis. Crosley employed regeneration in the IF circuit to give it the gain of a five-tuber. It has the 1930s style antenna volume control, so you have to turn it up to pick up weak stations. The gold sparkle in the luxurious Brown Lurex grille cloth doesn't show up in the photos but is very elegant. While it has some shortcomings, this radio is extremely rare. None has ever sold on the attic, and the one on Radio Museum is this one. Despite its blemishes, this really is a little cutie, and if you're a Crosley guy, I'm betting you don't have one of these. Requires an external antenna. 12-1/2"H x 10"W x 8"D. Was $299.00, now $259.00. (1680106)

ON SALE
until
May 11

Detrola 146 (1937)
My latest offering from the Motor City is this attractive, fairly large Detrola 146 table radio. It came to me with a previous restoration over several deep "witness marks" on the top. I was afraid to sand through the veneer, so I cleaned it up and put 15 coats of lacquer over it. A poor attempt at veneer replacement on the lower trim forced me to replace that with American Walnut. The resulting finish is slick, shiny, and gorgeous. A full set of high testing tubes, all new capacitors and resistors as necessary. I stuffed the original filter caps. The speaker was replaced by a previous servicer. It has a couple of small patches. The sound is outstanding! Requires an external antenna. It must be a good one. My Sweetheart tried to get me to let her keep it! 18"W x 11"H x 9"D. Was $459.00, now $425.00. (1680080)

General Electric J62 (1940/1941)
The unique and attractive J62 "jewel box" was a very good seller for GE and quite a few have survived. This one had been stripped, stained and varnished when I got it. You can't strip wiped on stain, so I touched it up the best I could and put ten coats of lacquer and two sanding operations on it. Still some grain and joints showing. I was able to remove most of the stain from the latticework and grille to give it back some contrast. The last guy left the GE logo, so there was nothing I could do about that. The back cover has a small piece broken off near the bottom. All that said, the chassis is well made and a fairly good performer. The sound is surprisingly good from the perfect 5-inch speaker. Receives well on the internal antennas, with a terminal for external. I made a cable for the phono jack. As with the original, you tune off-station and connect your mobile device. My usual thorough restoration, with all high testing tubes for long service life. Despite its minor shortcomings, this is still a very nice little radio. Broadcast and short wave. 15"W x 10-1/2"H x 8-1/2"D. $299.00. (1680116)

ON SALE
until
May 11

Knockout Regenerative Receiver (circa 1928)
From a little off the beaten antique radio path comes this unique and interesting little Knockout regenerative receiver. During my research of this set, a vigorous discussion ensued as to whether it was a factory made radio, a kit radio, or just homemade. In any case, it really is quite a "knockout." When I got it, the original bus style wiring had been removed and replaced with modern wire. I removed all of that and rewired it with period appropriate 12 gauge bus wire with a lot of help and parts from my new friend Chas. It is fitted with a high testing UX-201A tube, and works quite well. It works well with a 4.5V to 6V "A" cell and a 24V "B" cell. This can be four "D" cells and three 9V batteries. Requires high impedance headphones of roughly 2000 ohms. For an additional $35 I will include a period appropriate set of those. I know this radio isn't for everyone, but I hope someone will take a shine to it. If you are not familiar with regenerative receivers, you should do some research before buying this set. 12"W x 8"H x 8"D. Was $159.00, now $149.00. (1680035)

Majestic 5A410 (1946)
Once in a while a friend or relative will show up at my shop with a family radio that was left after the passing of a relative. They never want to spend any money on them but just can't get themselves to throw them away. This little Majestic 5A410 is one of those. I, too have a hard time throwing them away. I took a quick look at it, pulled the chassis and restored it before noticing a small crack in the case. Too late now. I repaired the crack as best I could. It doesn't look as bad as it does in the picture. The radio is a very good performer on the internal antenna, with a clip for an external if you want more distance. The sound is pretty good from the perfect 4-inch speaker. Fully restored and aligned, with a full set of high testing tubes. I've seen these sell for as much as $250. That little crack will save you a bunch of money! The Majestic logo on the back says "Mighty Monarch Of The Air." How can you resist that? Broadcast only. 12"W x 8"H x 7"D. $159.00. (1680111)

ON SALE
until
May 11

Minerva W-710 (1947)
I had never heard of Minerva corporation of New York until I saw this little gem at an antique mall a while back. The W-710 outclasses a lot of radios in its market segment with an extremely well made, hand rubbed solid Walnut cabinet, a dedicated RF amplifier tube, a flywheel tuner control for speedy tuning, and a large, 6-inch speaker for excellent sound reproduction. The six-tube chassis is a good performer, receiving fairly well on the internal antenna with an external wire for more distant stations. A large, attractive dial lets you tune without your reading glasses. I touched up a previous cabinet job and overcoated it with five coats of Lacquer. The resulting finish is very nice, with a few minor flaws and one small crack in the upper right corner. One small, 1/2" repair to the speaker cone. Minerva was a small company, but don't let that deter you. This is an attractive, well made and very good performing radio. Very few of these have survived. Only one has sold on the Attic. Minerva was the goddess of wisdom and art. I'm sure it would please her if you help me save her namesake radio! 15-1/2"W x 9-1/2"H x 8-1/2"D. Was $199.00, now $179.00. (1680097)

ON SALE
until
May 11

Philco 48-206 (1948)
Can you say Naugahyde? That's what they called the vinyl covering on this radio back when I was a kid. Whatever you call it, it is in very nice condition on this Philco table radio from 1948. A little bit of staining on the top, but all in all quite nice. Simple, attractive in a leather kind of way, and resistant to scuffs and scratches! I replaced all the capacitors, most of the resistors, and put a good set of tubes in it. Picks up local stations on its internal antenna, but has an external antenna wire which is grounded to the back of the set but can be used if you want to get more distance. I have added a cable for your mobile devices. Not a particularly old set but fairly uncommon. A good choice if you would like to add something unique to your collection without breaking the bank. 14"W x 8"H x 7"D. Was $179.00, now $159.00. (1680041)

ON SALE
until
May 11

Philco 50-520 (1949-1950)
Here's a nice looking little Philco table radio from the early 50s, perfect for someone who wants to get into antique radio on a budget. The styling is simple, yet attractive. The chassis is unique in my experience, employing three tube types: Octal, Loktal and seven-pin mini. I gave it a full set of high testing tubes, replaced caps and resistors as necessary. The cabinet has a few flaws, but is very nice. The camera made it a little whiter than it actually is. The color is the correct, original beige. Receives fairly well on the internal antenna. External antenna wire for distant stations. I had to make the back cover. The cabinet has been refinished. All in all, an attractive little radio and a price to match! 10-1/2"W x 6"H x 5-1/2"D. Was $99.00, now $79.00. (1680070)

ON SALE
until
May 11

Philco 80 "JR" Mini Cathedral (1932-1933)
Money was tight in the early 30s, and a lot of poor performing four-tube radios were produced to address that issue. The "JR" was Philco's entry into this market, but they pulled a trick out of their hat by adding regeneration to the IF stage, giving it the gain of a five-tube receiver at a four-tube price. The cabinet is in very nice condition with only a few minor specs and dings. I gave it an extremely slick finish with 14 coats of nitrocellulose lacquer. There was some staining in the front veneer, but I was afraid to keep sanding. Not quite as bad as the camera makes it seem. The Photo Booth made the sides a little lighter than they actually are, and are closer in tint to the top photo. I had to paint the chassis. A full set of good tubes. All of the Philco capacitors were stuffed with new ones to maintain originality. Resistors replaced as necessary and a full alignment. The speaker is perfect and the sound is decent. The receiver sensitivity is better than most four-tube radios. Taken all together it is a pretty darn nice little radio, and not one you see every day. 14"H x 12"W x 8-1/2"D. Was $349.00, now $299.00. (1680076)

Radiola 18 (1928)
Time for some shelf clearing. This radio is unrestored and is being sold "as is." The original finish is fairly nice and would probably present well with a little touch-up. Missing the volume bezel. Some tubes in it, no idea if they are good. Has a ziplock with parts labeled "Radiola 17 parts" inside (see photo). Very heavy (approximately 40 pounds. 27-1/2"W x 8"H x 9"D. $50.00. (1680117)

ON SALE
until
May 11

RCA 55X (1941)
I guess World War II was in our sights already, and maybe brass was already being rationed, but, come on RCA, no escutcheon? Beyond that, this 1941 RCA 55X was a top-of-the-line AM table radio. Popular with collectors, it is one of very few in its time that had two speakers! As a result the sound quality is quite good and projects very well. Solid wood cabinet with walnut veneer front. RCA had this tinted almost black to cover up a dark spot in the solid wood top. I don't like tinting them that dark, so the flaw in the wood shows up. It doesn't look as bad as the camera made it. I gave it a full set of good tubes, replaced all the caps and resistors as necessary. Full alignment. Receiver sensitivity is good on the internal antenna, but there is a wire provided for an external antenna. I have provided a switch and a cable for your mobile devices. I had to make one of the speaker grills, the back cover, and I had to replace the veneer on the front. A nice slick finish, with 14 coats of lacquer. All in all, a fairly unique, good looking, good performing, and I think, a very cool AM radio from one of the biggest radio companies in the world. 17"W x 7-1/2"H x 6-3/4"D. Was $299.00, now $259.00. (1680056)

RCA 128 (1934)
Among all the 150 plus radios I have restored, this RCA 128 shouldered tombstone is among the best made and best looking. The chassis is very robust and well designed. The cabinet is very attractive. A nice slick finish with 15 coats of lacquer. I removed the worthless middle band and installed an FM converter, a big and expensive project. Now you just select band "B" and tune. You'll have to make notes of where your stations are. The sound is nothing less than outstanding from the perfect 8-inch speaker and receiver sensitivity is among the best I've seen. My usual meticulous chassis rebuild, with all high testing tubes for long service life. There was a paint blob on the top that I couldn't get fixed. It isn't near as bad as it looks in the photo. A few other minor dings and specks, but overall a gorgeous radio. The shouldered tombstone is a unique design, but had some shortcomings. I reinforced the very weak design of the arch and shoulder joints. This is a very top of the line radio and will be a standout in any collection with the unique, elegant cabinet and the FM feature that you don't see every day. It has a wire antenna for FM. Requires an external antenna for AM. 20-1/2"H x 17"W x 12"D. $1,095.00. (1680112)

Stewart-Warner 9003B (1947?)
For knock down, drag out, eye popping curb appeal, it will be hard to beat this very rare Stewart Warner 9003B table radio. The large cabinet is extremely well made and complex in its design. The chassis is well designed and is a good performer on broadcast and both short wave bands. The internal antenna works quite well for local stations. The dial glass was an expensive reproduction. The original speaker was missing, and I had to replace it with a permanent magnet speaker, which has been reconed and is perfect. The sound is very good. New grille cloth pretty similar to the original. There are some tiny cracks in the left and right edges of the top, and a few other blemishes and veneer repairs in the otherwise very nice cabinet. Not piano finish by any means, but pretty well dressed with eight coats of lacquer. I have fabricated a mobile device cable to utilize the original Stewart Warner phonograph jack. None has ever sold on the Attic. I am very deep into this one expense wise, I hope someone will think the asking price is worth it. 20"W x 12-1/2"H x 10"D. $499.00. (1680084)

ON SALE
until
May 11

Trav-Ler T502 (1947)
I purchased this radio on eBay, presuming it was an Air Castle model 328. The cabinet and chassis are identical to an Air Castle 328. The confusing part was that the rear cover is clearly stamped "Model T502." Eventually I was able to identify it as a Trav-Ler T502. Turns out Trav-Ler supplied this radio to Spiegel to sell under their Air Castle brand. The finish was terrible so I repainted it in the proper ivory color. The camera made it a bit lighter than it actually is. A few minor flaws in the otherwise perfect finish. It has a nice, brightly lit dial. The radio came to me with a full set of Hytron tubes that all test new or better. I replaced all of the capacitors and most of the resistors. Full alignment. Receives well on the internal antenna, but has external antenna wires for more distant stations. The back cover leaves a bit to be desired, but I repaired it the best I could and left it for originality. Original grille cloth. The knobs are showing their age, but are presentable. Broadcast only. The best I can tell, this is the only radio of this model in existence. If rare is your thing, this is your radio! 10"W x 6-1/4"H x 5"D. Was $149.00, now $129.00. Was $149.00, now $109.00. (1680091)

Truetone D-727 (1937)
The guys at Detrola conjured up a very nice radio for Western Auto to add to their Truetone lineup in 1937. One of the most feature packed table radios I've ever restored. The ornate, attractive cabinet is stuffed with a very good performing Detrola 175 chassis. I gave it a gorgeous, slick, nearly perfect finish with 15 coats of lacquer and two sanding operations. Eight channels of motorized automatic tuning, and a bright new tuning eye. New dial and dial glass. It has a nice, big, professionally reconed speaker driven by push-pull outputs. Meticulously restored chassis with all high testing tubes and a full alignment. Broadcast and two short wave bands. Requires an external antenna. This is a very nice example of this popular model. People are going to notice it! 21"W x 12"H x 9"D. $995.00. (1680108)

ON SALE
until
May 11

Tuska 228 Regenerative Receiver (1924)
By the mid-1920s most AM radios were of the TRF type. Tuska went with the Regenerative design and was fairly successful with it. The Tuska 228 is considered by many to be near the pinnacle of the regens. At 97 years old, this one is in pretty nice condition. The cabinet is as I found it. For $60 additional I will refinish it. I have equipped it with four 01A tubes, three NOS and the other 80%. Receiver sensitivity is quite good for its time, and the volume is surprising for a radio of this design. The included speaker has no markings on it but works well. The two large knobs are not original. Some of the wiring is not original. I corrected a major oversight of the design and provided an on-off switch. Operating one of these is a combination of art, science, and magic. If you are not familiar with regenerative receivers, do some homework before buying this. I ran it with one 6V and five 12V gel cells (total cost about 75 bucks) and it performed well. 24"W x 7-1/2"H x 8"D. Speaker is 24"H with a 10-1/2" diameter horn. Was $349.00, now $309.00. (1680063)

Zenith 4-B-132 (1936)
When you think of farm radios, you think small, flimsy cabinets, little tinny speakers and big, expensive throw away batteries. Zenith decided to lay that image to rest when they designed this gorgeous 4B132. Nothing about this says "Farm Radio." The cabinet is stylish and elegant. It has a large 6-inch, perfect speaker, a well-designed chassis with a tone control that actually works! Unlike your average farm radio the sound is outstanding! On par with any similar AC set I have ever heard. They designed it with a vibrator like a car radio so it can run off a standard 6V car battery. You could even take it to the beach with your 1937 Duesenberg! The finish is slick and gorgeous, with a few minor dings from 80+ years of living. Several less than perfect veneer repairs. Fully restored chassis. New vibrator, and a full set of high testing tubes. When you look at this, don't think Farm radio. This is 'way better. The 4B132 is the much more rare version of the tombstone style 4B131. Requires external antenna and a 6V battery available on eBay for about 20 bucks. 13-1/2"W x 11-1/2"H x 9-1/2"D. $299.00. (1680107)

Zenith 5-S-228 (1938)
This pint sized little 5-S-228 tombstone sold well for Zenith in 1938, despite what, in my opinion are kind of odd proportions. That said, they put some really attractive veneer on the front and top of the cabinet, making a very good looking radio. It is fitted with a very good performing five-tube chassis sporting broadcast and the "real" shortwave band. I gave it a very slick finish with 15 coats of lacquer and two sanding operations. Still has a few dings and specks, but overall is gorgeous. My usual very meticulous chassis restoration with all high testing tubes for long service life. If you buy this radio, you will have one of the nicest examples around. Requires an external antenna. 16"H x 10-1/2"W x 10"D. $399.00. (1680120)

ON SALE
until
May 11

Zenith 5-S-319 (1939)
Once in a great while I get my hands on one of these things, and the whole time I am restoring it, all I can think is "what a sweet little radio." This is one of those. Everything about this little 5S319 epitomizes Zenith's exceptional mastery of style, technical expertise, and quality that made them a leader in AM radio for over 50 years. One of the nicest looking and best-performing table radios I have ever restored. I see now why they are so highly prized by collectors. This one came to me in fairly sad condition. I had to do several veneer repairs, some better than others. I replaced all of the capacitors and resistors, gave it a full set of high testing tubes and a gorgeous, slick finish with 15 coats of nitrocellulose lacquer. The knobs and pushbuttons are reproductions. The grille cloth is not original. I removed the dangerous 6X5 rectifier tube and replaced it with a solid-state rectifier. I will be glad to supply it with the tube type if you want, but if it shorts and burns up your transformer, I can't fix it for free. 13"W x 9"H x 7-1/2"D. Was $699.00, now $649.00. (1680051)

Zenith 6-S-528 (1941)
Zenith cranked out a lot of radios with this basic chassis in them. For some reason, the smaller 6S527 is much more common. This one had a previous refinish job that was a little less than perfect, but I didn't want to strip it and lose the woodgrain pinstripes, so I doctored it up the best I could and put eight coats of lacquer over it. The result is a nice slick finish and a fairly good looking and good performing radio. The tint is a little darker at the bottom front, but not as bad as the camera made it look. The speaker has one patch by a previous servicer, but sounds very good. A full set of high testing tubes, all new caps, including stuffing the electrolytic, resistors as necessary and replaced most of the rubber wiring. After alignment, it receives Broadcast fairly well on the internal "wave magnet" antenna. There are screw terminals for shortwave and more distant stations. Remember the old Zenith slogan? "The quality goes in before the name goes on." 16"W x 8-3/4"H x 7-1/2"D. $349.00. (1680099)

Zenith X519 (1955)
When I was a kid my grandfather "fell heir" as he used to say, to a clock radio with a bad power cord. My mom told him I needed an alarm clock to get me up to milk the cow before school. So, we jumped in the car, headed to Western Auto, tested the tubes, bought a couple, and a new power cord. From then on I woke up to the country classics on KFAL 900 every morning. If you have memories like these, this little Zenith X519 is just the thing to bring them back to life. The cabinet is very nice. The front panel graphics are in great shape, and everything works! I cleaned and lubed the clock, recapped the chassis, fitted it with all high testing tubes, and gave it a full alignment. Reception is excellent on the internal antenna, and the sound is surprisingly good. A couple of the clock knobs have a little rash, but present fairly well. Here's your chance to rack up a bunch of good memories for under a C-note! I bet you'll be glad you did. 12"W x 7"H x 5-1/2"D. $99.00. (1680110)