Any Radio folks among the phono collectors??

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schweg
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Any Radio folks among the phono collectors??

Post by schweg »

I attended a nearby auction where there was a Pooley console and VV-VIII. They were OK but kinda the same old stuff. There was also an interesting radio. It was so nice, and the price was right, so even though I have no idea how to work on it, I couldn't resist. I found one page posted on the internet that gives a little info on it- on the left, (although somewhat blurry). It's dated Aug 1929 as shown on the paper tag. So, anybody have any idea if this is worth some restoring?- likely I'll take it to a specialist. I didn't plug it in. A guy I work with has a few radios and warned me not to although he thought it was a neat one..

I appreciate any comments from all those with more knowledge than me (that's probably most of you)..and I promise not to stray across the phonoline like this again!!

Steve
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larryh
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Re: Any Radio folks among the phono collectors??

Post by larryh »

Its a beauty for sure! I have always been interested in Radios but totally at a loss as to how to fix them. That isn't going to change. One reason I kept my mechanical machines besides liking them was that even when some shops were still around that said they could fix them, often already the excuse was that there were no parts available. Even when they did make them work it was very temporary and shortly they were humming loudly or not playing at all. So after owning a number of them that were very nice, I parted company with them.

Now days people are around that actually do specialize in the repair of them, but its a very limited group and usually no one any where near where I am that can fix it right. With the internet parts are available that used to be thought non existent. I hope your able to find a reliable repair person that won't butcher the innards as some will be prone to do. It would be wonderful to actually have it working well again. I was at a sale near here about a year ago and they had a quite wonderful early RCA radio and record player combination, I would say from the early 30's at best. It would have been quite something to have work again, but after so many disappointments I passed on even thinking about biding on it.

Uncle Vanya
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Re: Any Radio folks among the phono collectors??

Post by Uncle Vanya »

I've had literally thousands of radios pass through my hands over the past thirty years (lost at least a couple hundred in my late fire) and am quite familiar with most old sets. The Stromber Carlson 600 series radios are among the best built sets of their day, bar none.

At my other place I have the radio-phonograph version of this set, and boy is it ever a honey!

These were fitted with a very interesting and complicated changer, which, unfortunately, used pot-metal for a couple of key parts, which tend to break, fall out of the machine, and disappear over the years.

I'd love to find someone who can restore one of those Stromberg-Carlson changers!

The electronics of these sets are a pretty straightforward proposition. Try posting over on the Antique Radio Forum. There you will find a great bunch of knowledgable fellows who will be happy to guide a new collector through his (or her) first radio restoration.

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3victrolas
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Re: Any Radio folks among the phono collectors??

Post by 3victrolas »

Here's the link to the Antique Radio Forum for those not familiar with it:

http://antiqueradios.com/forums/index.php

Kirkwood
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Re: Any Radio folks among the phono collectors??

Post by Kirkwood »

Thanks from me for that link to the Antique Radio forum---I figured there had to be at least one such site around. I have begun collecting the earlier radio/phono combo units and was already familiar with the Yahoo Electrola board. I have already begun reading old posts to catch up, because I have lots of radio-related questions.

Lucky score on that Stromberg Carlson set---it's a wonderful old set. Really like that tuning meter and the decorated interior panel.

bbphonoguy
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Re: Any Radio folks among the phono collectors??

Post by bbphonoguy »

What a beautiful cabinet! What does "tune for greatest swing" mean? Is it a meter to let you know when you are at the best spot on the dial for being tuned in to a particular station?

I always have a weakness for Stromberg-Carlson because they're from my hometown. I used to drive past the old factory every day (almost).

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edison phonographs
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Re: Any Radio folks among the phono collectors??

Post by edison phonographs »

Steve,

I'm sure you probably already know them, but Vintage Sounds off the Katy Freeway has a guy that works on radios.

Vintage Sounds
(713) 468-4911
10910 Old Katy Rd, Houston, TX

Looks nice.

Eric

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Valecnik
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Re: Any Radio folks among the phono collectors??

Post by Valecnik »

Nice Radio Schweg!

I used to have a high end Edison radio and a smaller one plus a C2 and C4 Radio phono and a few other makes including a 1923 Stromberg-Carlson battery set.

Now the only one I have left is the Stromberg-Carlson. I'm out of town until the weekend but may post a few pics if this thread is still going then.

Edisone
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Re: Any Radio folks among the phono collectors??

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gramophoneshane
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Re: Any Radio folks among the phono collectors??

Post by gramophoneshane »

I've got quite a collection of radios, although I try & stick to radiograms mostly. Nothing of interest to US collectors though.

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