NOSTALGIA RADIO ATTIC
USA

Go to Greg VanBeek's Nostalgia Radio Attic

ABOUT ME

I've been fascinated by antique radios from the time I was just a toddler and discovered my Great Grandparents' 1940 Coronado console sitting in the corner of their front room. In 1980...at age 8...I became the owner of this console, and my dad (who studied radio and TV repair at MATC in the 1960's) was able to get it singing again. I was hooked! I learned from him how to properly restore the chassis' and it's been a hobby of mine ever since. I have just over 100 radios in my personal collection but have restored and sold several hundred more over the years. I'm a member of the Wisconsin Antique Radio Club, the Antique Radio Club of Illinois, the Mid Atlantic Antique Radio Club, the New England Antique Radio Club, and the Antique Wireless Association. I host a weekly radio show titled Nostalgia Radio Time, which is a mix of some of the finest music from legendary performers and personalities of the greatest generation, along with complete vintage broadcasts from the golden age of radio. Heard each Sunday at 9 AM (ET) over New York's 920 WON and each Wednesday at 9 AM (ET) streaming over YUSA red on the Yesterday USA Super Station. Nearly a full year worth of episodes are available on demand here. Follow my Nostalgia Radio Attic Page on Facebook here.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE:

Please read and understand all before proceeding!

All radios have been electronically & cosmetically restored.  They have had preventive electrical maintenance so they perform as well in the foreseeable future as they do when first received.  This means all under chassis components, as well as tubes, are tested and replaced as needed.  Once a buyer agrees to purchase a radio, the buyer accepts all responsibility and liability for the safe use and operation of the radio.

I try to describe condition accurately so you have no surprises.  However, if you are an expert in a particular radio that I am selling, you may spot details I do not.  If you know of certain things to look for with a set, please ask and I'll be happy to try to find out and also to learn something I did not know.  If you are very particular about certain features or condition issues, please ask.  My goal is to remove any discrepancy in expectation up front.

General
Prices: Radios are priced according to several factors including condition, desirability, and today's market.  If you think my price is too high and would like to make a reasonable offer please feel free to do so.
If I do not accept your offer, please do not be offended.
Prices shown do not include shipping and handling costs.  Local in person pick up is encouraged (I'm 120 miles north of Chicago/35 miles north of Milwaukee) Also, please feel free to contact me with questions or if you would like additional pictures.

Payment Options: Payment MUST be in US Funds
1) Postal Money Order or Bank Cashier's Check
2) PayPal -- preferably sent as "friends/family"
3) Cash (in-person local pickup only)
4) NO personal checks, direct credit card payments, wire transfers, Venmo, or Cryptocurrency are accepted.

How to Purchase
If you are interested in purchasing a radio, please read all the text about the radio, look closely at the pictures and read all of the Terms and Conditions.  If you have any questions, please ask them as I want you to be confident in your purchase.
When you are ready to purchase, send me an email with Want To Buy and the radio title in the Subject line of the email.  If you require the radio to be shipped, provide your name, mailing address and phone number (a phone number is required for shipping).
I will sell to the earliest email received stating the intent to buy.  Your email stating you intend to buy constitutes a sale.  I will reply with an email confirming the ship to address, quote the shipping and handling cost, and a request for your payment preference.  Shipping cost and carrier are non-negotiable.  I do not pad the shipping cost, but do include a marginal fee to cover packing materials.  If the price I quoted you is vastly more than the actual cost to ship, I will refund the difference.

Prep, Packing and Shipping:
All radios are retested and cleaned at time of sale and are certified to be working when packed.  A video will be taken just prior to packing to verify the set was functioning as it should when it left here.
Radios will be securely packed.  They will be double boxed most often (when necessary).  I have shipped dozens and dozens of radios over the past decade and it's extremely rare to have one arrive damaged.  Not to say it can't happen, but I do everything I can on my end to ensure the radio arrives in the same condition it left here.  They WILL take some effort to unpack when you receive them!
Shipping will be via Fed Ex Ground if to a commercial address or Fed Ex Home Delivery.  It is the safest and fastest method I've found for shipping valuable radios.  They require a street address AND a phone number to ship to.  The tracking number will be e-mailed to you as soon as the radio has been shipped, along with a video link of the set operating just prior to boxing it up.

Warranty.
Due to their age and in many cases primitive design, I cannot warranty any parts or guarantee performance of the antique radios I sell.
Because of the age and delicacy of vintage electronics and the roughness of modern shipping companies, it is possible, that even with the best packing, a working radio may arrive in non working condition.  A lot of jostling in shipping can make tubes loose and connections become unconnected.  These are some of the unforeseen results associated with shipping.  I have no control over how the shipper treats the package.  I can make no warranty as to working condition upon receipt or for any period thereafter due to the continuing age and in some cases deterioration of the existing original components.  I cannot and will not be held liable for shipping related damage, and will not be offering an automatic full refund should a set arrive in damaged condition as you find with major online retailers and auction sites.  I'm not a large corporation.  Everything from restoration to packing and shipping is done by me alone.

Your radio will be securely packaged when it leaves here.  If you feel your radio has been damaged during shipping, most carriers require that you return it to them, along with the original packing materials, for inspection.  If your radio is physically damaged in shipping, a claim process will need to be initiated.  Save all original packing materials and paperwork as Fed Ex will ask you for them.

After the sale I want you to be happy with your new radio.  If there's a problem with it, or if it arrives non functioning, I will work with you to troubleshoot the problem and do whatever I can to make it work and make it right.  As I will be, I ask that you also please be kind, courteous and respectful in your communications.  I know how frustrating it is to receive something not in the same condition as it was when shipped, but name calling, threats, and insults are not helpful and will not be tolerated.  I love repeat customers and want your experience with me to be a favorable one.

Electrical Dangers:
All vintage radios I sell should be treated with caution. These old radios have very high voltages and you should never put your hands inside the back of the radio and never attempt to perform any type of maintenance or repair and consult a qualified repair service for any electronic service on the radio.  The electrolytic capacitors can retain high voltage for long periods of time, even when the radio is not plugged in, you should never attempt to perform any service.  Do not place where children can get in the radio and don't leave your radio on when unattended. Due to their age there exists the possibility of shock or electrocution if repair or restoration is attempted by someone without proper equipment or training.  I am not responsible for any damage or physical harm due to the operation of electronics I sell.

A word of caution regarding the 3.5 mm cord attached to the radio... I've had so many requests to add a cord to allow users to plug into the headphone jack of their iPhone, iPod (if you're old school like me), MP3 player or Bluetooth device and stream audio of your choice through the audio amplifier section of the radio that I now add it at no additional cost to every radio I sell where the circuitry allows.  I have added it to dozens of radios over the past few years and have never experienced anything resembling a shock, zap, tingle, etc.  The risk of such is very low.  However, I feel it must be noted that under the right circumstances there is a potential low voltage (120VAC wall socket voltage) shock hazard should the cord be plugged into something metal, and you're holding that device with one hand and touching something else metal (or leaning against it) with your other hand.  So the best way to ensure zero risk of any sort of shock is to only use one hand when using a device that the radio cord is plugged into if you're unsure, and to avoid leaning on or sitting on something metal as you do.  As noted on the warning label attached to the cord, keep the piece of shrink tubing on the end of the 3.5 mm plug when not in use for added peace of mind.  Use of this cord is at your own risk.  I do not like altering the circuitry of these radios like adding switches, ports to plug cords into, transformers, etc.  By doing so, you're erasing their originality.  Yet I recognize the desire for some to have listening options beyond the mostly talk radio that can be found on AM radio today.  This cord is a simple add-on that uses only two wires and can easily be de-soldered and removed, thus keeping the integrity and originality of the radio intact.

Use and Operation:
This is a tube powered radio, and takes a while to warm up.  Do not be alarmed when you turn the set on and don't hear anything right away!  It can take between 20-30 seconds before you'll hear sound from the speaker.  This is not a defect of the radio, just how long it takes the vacuum tubes to light and warm up.  To receive stations, you'll need an antenna.  Some sets have a built in AM antenna which will be indicated in my listings, but many require a long wire antenna to be connected to the back of the radio where it says ANT (antenna); a long piece of wire at least 6 to 10 feet long should be sufficient to receive your local stations.  You will need a longer (25 to 75-ft) wire to pick-up shortwave signals.  Connecting a ground wire to earth-ground at the GND terminal in the back may reduce static on some radios.  Isolate the radio from devices that cause static such as dimmer switches, computer monitors, fluorescent lights and microwave ovens.  Most all of the radios I sell ONLY receive the AM or standard broadcast band.  Some sets will also have a short wave band, and/or Police band so your listening options will be limited.  The Police band is obsolete today (though you MAY pick up an occasional short wave station on it).  Short wave works best at night.  Do not be alarmed if you don't receive stations on the short wave band.  There aren't a lot of stations using that band these days.  It was far more popular when the set was new.  It is always a good idea to unplug the radio from the wall outlet when not in use, and to not play the set during a thunderstorm.  Keep in mind this is an antique, with circuitry and wiring that dates back over 80 years.  As such, the set should not be relied upon to play all day on a daily basis.  Think of it as an antique car: it is fun to go cruising, but you wouldn't want to use it as a daily driver.  Playing the set a few hours each day is best.  Computers, androids, WiFi, TV's, etc. will cause interference on the AM band, and fluorescent or LED lights will cause buzzing.  This is normal. Remember none of these things existed back in the 1930's!  To use the 3.5mm cord, tune the radio to a place on the dial where no station can be heard.  Remove the shrink tube cover from the end of the cord, and plug into the headphone port of your device.  Turn the volume level all the way up on your device, and use the volume knob on the radio to regulate the sound.  Always replace the shrink tube plug cover when not in use.