The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi folks,
Any shots at how much an RCA D-22-1 should sell for these days? It's been restored in the past 10 years (motor, amp, radio, pickup) but something went wrong- not entirely sure what, I'll add that tomorrow when I get more info. Unfortunately I have no photos of the inside. This is, for anyone who may not know, the model with 22 tubes. It has the 30s magnetic pickup/cutter, and the gentler changer.
Any input?
Thanks!

That thing is a beast. A post on the antique radio forums (which might be an alternative forum for your question) says it weighs 275 pounds.

thatonejohn wrote: Thu Oct 13, 2022 1:24 pm That thing is a beast. A post on the antique radio forums (which might be an alternative forum for your question) says it weighs 275 pounds.

Might have to post there. Yes, it's one big machine. It's also probably one of the finest sounding pre-war machines out there. As I recall, there was also a console model which was even larger. Next time I'm there I'll have to see if I can get around the back for a picture of the amp, radio, etc.

I can't contribute much to the D-22 price question except to say that the quality of the restoration should count pretty heavily. Though I can't be sure from the picture, it looks like the grille cloth has been replaced; the original was a sort of spider web/lightning bolt pattern never used on anything else. Exactly what failed (I assume it's not working) is critical too; many parts are unique to this machine. All that is not meant to discourage anybody from owning one, especially if they enjoy '20's and '30's music- its performance is astonishing. There may have been physically larger machines than this but (with the possible exception of the Stromberg Carlson 74, which I've never heard) no other horseshoe-magnet pickup machine matches its sound. Once I finished the electrical work on mine it's turned out to be very dependable.
As I write this more things occur to me as worth checking: this model had a rather elaborate wooden frame/metal screen back which is often missing...it also came originally with something modern-day vacuum tube audio enthusiasts call "single-plate" 2A3 tubes- some owners have pulled these out and sold them for substantially more than they paid for the entire machine, replacing them with ordinary 2A3's which, to my ears anyway, made no difference in the sound.
-Dave

The backing is indeed there. Yes, the cloth has. been replaced. I've been told there may be a missing/misplaced cap. I don't see how that could happen with a professional restoration, but I guess since it's so big mistakes happen. Sometime soon we'll re-seat all the tubes, plug it in, and see if it'll work. It's also got a decent sized piece of veneer missing.

gunnarthefeisty wrote: Wed Oct 19, 2022 11:07 am The backing is indeed there. Yes, the cloth has. been replaced. I've been told there may be a missing/misplaced cap. I don't see how that could happen with a professional restoration, but I guess since it's so big mistakes happen. Sometime soon we'll re-seat all the tubes, plug it in, and see if it'll work. It's also got a decent sized piece of veneer missing.

You probably know this, but just in case--if it's been sitting for a while without being turned on, bring it up slowly on a Variac or like device; don't just plug it in and turn it on. Abrupt current through old capacitors and whatnot in tube gear can cause things to blow. Spectacularly, I'm told. Just one more reason I don't mess with tube gear and stick to modern solid state or old-time mechanical.

drh wrote: Wed Oct 19, 2022 11:30 am

gunnarthefeisty wrote: Wed Oct 19, 2022 11:07 am The backing is indeed there. Yes, the cloth has. been replaced. I've been told there may be a missing/misplaced cap. I don't see how that could happen with a professional restoration, but I guess since it's so big mistakes happen. Sometime soon we'll re-seat all the tubes, plug it in, and see if it'll work. It's also got a decent sized piece of veneer missing.

You probably know this, but just in case--if it's been sitting for a while without being turned on, bring it up slowly on a Variac or like device; don't just plug it in and turn it on. Abrupt current through old capacitors and whatnot in tube gear can cause things to blow. Spectacularly, I'm told. Just one more reason I don't mess with tube gear and stick to modern solid state or old-time mechanical.

Capacitor explosions have crippled up enough of this old stuff that it's sometimes difficult to get anything working. I have a 1933 Silvertone 1721 console radio in storage somewhere; 10 tube upright with 12" speaker. It was put out of service in the 1950s after a capacitor exploded, coating the underside of the chassis in cottony fluff. I also had a homemade amplifier explode when I wired a couple of caps in there backwards.

VanEpsFan1914 wrote: Wed Oct 19, 2022 5:09 pm

drh wrote: Wed Oct 19, 2022 11:30 am

gunnarthefeisty wrote: Wed Oct 19, 2022 11:07 am The backing is indeed there. Yes, the cloth has. been replaced. I've been told there may be a missing/misplaced cap. I don't see how that could happen with a professional restoration, but I guess since it's so big mistakes happen. Sometime soon we'll re-seat all the tubes, plug it in, and see if it'll work. It's also got a decent sized piece of veneer missing.

You probably know this, but just in case--if it's been sitting for a while without being turned on, bring it up slowly on a Variac or like device; don't just plug it in and turn it on. Abrupt current through old capacitors and whatnot in tube gear can cause things to blow. Spectacularly, I'm told. Just one more reason I don't mess with tube gear and stick to modern solid state or old-time mechanical.

Capacitor explosions have crippled up enough of this old stuff that it's sometimes difficult to get anything working. I have a 1933 Silvertone 1721 console radio in storage somewhere; 10 tube upright with 12" speaker. It was put out of service in the 1950s after a capacitor exploded, coating the underside of the chassis in cottony fluff. I also had a homemade amplifier explode when I wired a couple of caps in there backwards.

I know it's been fully recapped. Give or take one. Seriously, that misplaced/non-replaced cap might be causing all the issues- or tubes out of seat. We shall have to see.