Edison radio division 1930

[briankeith]

This is slightly off topic but I want to throw it out here. I recently bought and un-molested "barn find" here in New Jersey - an Edison cathedral-style wood 6-tube radio, not one of the big R-series consoles that Edison produced when he shut down the phonograph division in 1929, but a small but heavy ( 17"tall, 14" wide) nicely constructed radio. I searched the internet and Edison books I have and came up blank, again except for the big R-series the company built. It has no model number but only the tattered remains of a label which says Edis---- Newa----1930. I know nothing about old radios but I do collect anything Edison. Any clues? I will post a photo tomorrow after I clean and re-assemble the radio. Brian Keith

[Valecnik]

I'd love to see the photos. I've not heard of an Edison cathedral type.

[52089]

I wonder if that label is from an Edison dealer in Newark, NJ?

[estott]

Are you sure it isn't an Edison Bell?
http://www.antiqueradios.com/f/viewtopi ... 148dbde6cf
http://www.countryjoe.com/nightingale/cylinder.htm

Edison Bell Ltd was a UK company which started out as a distributor of Edison phonographs but after litigation evolved into a separate company with no connection to Thomas Edison what so ever. I don't think they ever entered the American market to any great extent but their radio sets turn up on occasion.

[briankeith]

The only cathedral radio I could find pictured on the internet that even came close to looking like this was marked Edison-Bell. The brass metal plate that surrounds the tuning dial says "Edison Radio Stores, Inc. N.Y." Was there another company called Edison Radio? I found a name under the chassis on one of the cans or transformers - "Spitdorf". It looks like the radio was made in Newark, New Jersey as I can barely make out Newark on a small tattered paper label.

[briankeith]

No, absolutely not an Edison Bell like the photo estott send. I will post a photo later as soon as I put the unit back together. I am cleaning it now, plus I am afaid to plug it in, bad cloth cables.

[David Spanovich]

The brass metal plate that surrounds the tuning dial says "Edison Radio Stores, Inc. N.Y." Was there another company called Edison Radio?

Could be. I just found an interesting reference via a Google news archive search:

FEDERAL SUIT HITS MORE RADIO PLANTS; Trade Board Amends Complaint Charging Use of Symbols of Well Known Makers.

FROM: http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract. ... 5F428385F9

New York Times - Sep 19, 1936

[ABSTRACT ]

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18. -- The Federal Trade Commission today issued a supplemental and amended complaint against a group of Eastern manufacturers of and dealers in radio sets, tubes and appliances, charging that, without authority or consent of the legal owners, the respondents had adopted for their use on their radio sets the names, brands and symbols of corporations and individuals well known and long established in the radio and kindred industries.

Among the companies cited in Google's description of this Pay Per View article -- "Radio Corporation; Edi-i son, Edison International, EdisonBell, Edison with a representation of a bell; Edison Radio Stores, Inc.; I Bell,..."

Another archived story about the illegal use of famous names appears here --

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... oQ&cad=rja

Too bad they charge to view a copy of an old newspaper. Too bad I'm too cheap to pay it.

DS

[gramophoneshane]

plus I am afaid to plug it in, bad cloth cables.

You should never plug in any old radio without having it looked at first. The old wax coated paper capacitors can catch fire or even explode once voltage hits them, and even if they dont, chances are they no long do what they're supposed to, and you can burn out transformers & other parts that are either very expensive or impossible to replace.

[Uncle Vanya]

Edison did make a few midget type (that would be cathedral or tombstone to we moderns) sets in the West Orange factors AFTER the cessation of regular production in 1931. , A few of the key employees were allowed to stay on and finish up such sets as could be made out of stocks on hand, the wholesale price to be split between the Company and the employees. most of these sets were simple TRF tombstones, in rather plain rectangular cabinets made of thin, solid walnut, with stained Masonite front panels bearing a sunburst design over the speaker grille. the tuners in most of the sets are cut- down units form the R-4 and R-5 console radios, retaining the flash-o-matic tuning, but with but two tuned rF stages. Some of these sets use tha later R-7 tuner, but Not many. The chassis are cramped. In most cases the kshield cans covering the thing coils have been crudely bashed flat on one side to allow them to fit. mpany parts salvaged from Splitdorf battery sets turn up, notably knobs, on-off switches (most of the sets that I've seen use a Crouse-Hinds toggle switch rated for 6volts as the power switch!) and the 600 ohm potentiometer from the 1925 Splitdorf line makes an appearance as a tone control, though on some sets a filament rheostat fills the hole, supporting a dummy knob.

The Edison cathedral sets that turn up from time to time appear be be ordinary Courtlland Street stuff, made in some local factory, or perhaps on the other side of the bridge in Long Island City or Brooklyn.

[Uncle Vanya]

Edison did make a few midget type (that would be cathedral or tombstone to we moderns) sets in the West Orange factors AFTER the cessation of regular production in 1931. , A few of the key employees were allowed to stay on and finish up such sets as could be made out of stocks on hand, the wholesale price to be split between the Company and the employees. most of these sets were simple TRF tombstones, in rather plain rectangular cabinets made of thin, solid walnut, with stained Masonite front panels bearing a sunburst design over the speaker grille. the tuners in most of the sets are cut- down units form the R-4 and R-5 console radios, retaining the flash-o-matic tuning, but with but two tuned rF stages. Some of these sets use tha later R-7 tuner, but Not many. The chassis are cramped. In most cases the kshield cans covering the thing coils have been crudely bashed flat on one side to allow them to fit. mpany parts salvaged from Splitdorf battery sets turn up, notably knobs, on-off switches (most of the sets that I've seen use a Crouse-Hinds toggle switch rated for 6volts as the power switch!) and the 600 ohm potentiometer from the 1925 Splitdorf line makes an appearance as a tone control, though on some sets a filament rheostat fills the hole, supporting a dummy knob.

The Edison cathedral sets that turn up from time to time appear be be ordinary Courtlland Street stuff, made in some local factory, or perhaps on the other side of the bridge in Long Island City or Brooklyn.