QRZ! Ham Radio 6/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 6.iso/pc/files/infodata/antique.txt

Internet Message Format | 1994-11-27 | 27.5 KB

Path: news.unomaha.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!emory!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!news.umbc.edu!nobody
From: [e-mail] (Bill Robie)
Newsgroups: rec.antiques
Subject: Antique Radio Collectors & Sources (long)
Date: 22 Jan 1994 02:14:26 -0500
Organization: University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Lines: 711
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
NNTP-Posting-Host: umbc7.umbc.edu


Last summer I posted an inquiry about antique radios.  I had some
specific questions about a Blaupunkt that I had just gotten, but also
asked people to reply with sources for parts, clubs, etc., and to
tell me what their specific interests were.  I promised to post the
total results "a little later."  Well, for a Historian I guess
6 months is pretty much on the money for being "a little later."

I've tried to chop this down into a manageable size, but I hesitated to do
*too* much editing because, even though there is some repetition, I thought
everyone who contributed should be recognized and, frankly, I found it
fun to read through all the stuff.  My editing is sure to cause some
inaccuracies, for which I apologize in advance.

It won't take long before you figure out what my original questions were.

Since then, lots more people have posted to the newsgroup regarding their
antique radios.  If you were left out (or have new sources, etc., to add)
drop me a line.  I'll try to update this list a little later (perhaps
some of us will even still be living by then).  :-)

Enjoy!

Bill Robie
******

Ann Miner ([e-mail]) wrote:
: I don't know anything about old radios, but I found one that interests
: me.  It's probably from the 30s or 40s, sits on the floor, is maybe 3
: feet high in a dark wood case, and says US Apex on it.  It seems to have
: most of its "innards," but doesn't work.  I was thinking of buying it,
: finding someone to fix it, then giving it as a gift (to someone who
: already has practically everything).  Any opinions/facts from people
: more knowledgeable than I would be VERY welcome.  Thanks!!

: Ann Miner
: [e-mail]
*******

At the current time, old radios aren't worth anymore than a few hundred
dollars, unless it's a receiver from the 20s or even earlier. If it didn't
work, and the cabinet finish was in good condition, you might offer $25 or
so. Figure a couple hundred to get it operating (I've done things like this
in the past), a trip to the library to see if the schematic is in the John
Rider encyclopedias of such things, and cleaning up the cabinet. If you have
to refinish the cabinet, the value goes down. If you have to recone the
speaker, there's an additional expense. If the celluloid dial is no good,
you'll have a difficult time replacing it.

Now, the fun part. Finding tubes for it gets harder the older it is. You can
still get tubes for radios newer than approximately 1937 easily... but older
tubes are harder, and more expensive.

Bottom line? Hope it looks really cool and it has all the tubes in it, you
might have a chance of getting it to run pretty inexpensively. I have
(technically my father's) RCA console set from the 1934 production run. I
had to replace a couple of capacitors in it, and it runs fine. Luckily for
us we had a large stock of old tubes (since gone) to draw spares from. It's
beautiful and I wouldn't part with it for anything.

                            - Tom

Thomas Krueger                       UW-Milwaukee Engineering Electronics Shop
[e-mail]                                         [phone]
    Moderator: rec.audio.high-end, Info-Fortune, and Mystery mailing lists

******

Organization: College of Engineering Electronics Shop, UW Milwaukee

I repair them for myself and friend.

I can crossreference the German numbers to US ones if you tell me what they
are.

                        - Tom
--

Thomas Krueger                       UW-Milwaukee Engineering Electronics Shop
[e-mail]                                         [phone]
    Moderator: rec.audio.high-end, Info-Fortune, and Mystery mailing lists
***********

From: [e-mail] (mark vanroojen)


I suppose I fall into interested but don't collect (much).  I have
several old radios, but my collecting interest is old tube-type hifi
gear.  Still, I run into a lot of radios and have friends who collect,
so I always have my eye out.

Many german tubes will have equivalents.

Try Antique Electronic Supply [phone].  They may be able to
sell you a tube-substitution book as well as tubes, but I suspect your
tubes will be alright in the radio, for the most part.

Mark van Roojen

**********

>From [e-mail] Sun Jun 13 15:05:06 1993

Organization: University Computing Services - OSU


In regards to question 1 (c), I have restored 2 radios to
working condition.  One is a Zenith Transoceanic Receiver
table radio and the other is a large console radio, a SCOTT
brand radio/phonograph (1950) with a cabinet I refinished
in a beautiful cherrry stain.  Both work well.  Hope this
helps...

Daryl ([e-mail])

**********

>From [e-mail] Sun Jun 13 23:40:24 1993
Organization: University of California; Santa Cruz


Well I'm not a serious collector, but if an interesting old radio
comes my way I'll glom on to it and fix it.  Also sorta interested
in home-building radios with antique parts.  I have Rider manuals
and have been sending schematics to people who ask on the net.
Also interested in telegraph, Teletype, telephone items.
--
[e-mail]
[e-mail]


**********

>From [e-mail] Mon Jun 14 02:37:00 1993
Sender: Timothy R Veatch <[e-mail]>

In rec.antiques you write:

>This posting has a few different purposes:

>1) To get a list of those on the net who have interest in antique
>radios.  Please send me e-mail with the following info, and I'll
>post an informal list to the net a little later.
>    a) Interested, but don't collect
>    b) Interested and collect __________ (specialty)

Collect old radios, old tvs and old juke boxes
(I have only one juke box and one old tv and
about 25-30 console/table/transistor radios)
I only pickup the radios that I can get cheap
at garage sales and antique shops.

>    c) Restore and repair for self
Very minor repairs: finish, replace tubes, reconnect wires, etc.
Most of the time I succeed.

>    d) Restore and repair for others
Nope.
>    e) Sell radios and/or parts
Nope.
>    f) Anything else you want to say

Thanx for doing this list.  It'd be nice if we could all unite
and make up our own mail-list.  Perhaps we'll see much more discussion
than we do here on alt.antiques.

>2) To get a list of resources (parts, specialty shops, manuals, books, etc.).
>Please e-mail this info and I'll try to edit and compile it, then re-post
>it all in the future.

I only subscribe to antique radio classified and have a couple
of the books they have for sale.

**********

>From [e-mail] Sun Jun 13 23:42:27 1993

I have about 15 old radios starting with 1920s crystal sets and
ending with a few early transistor portables. All but 2 are now
working.

>From your list:
>    b) Interested and collect: pref. late 20s and early 30s
>    c) Restore and repair for self

Early radios are fairly rare in this part of the world. But some local old
parts are available. The radios here are of US, Australian or UK origin.


/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
\ John Newman              [e-mail] /
/ Computing Centre,           "There is less to this     \
\ Curtin University,            than meets the eye."     /
/ Perth, Western Australia     - Tallulah Bankhead       \
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
**********
>From [e-mail] Mon Jun 14 17:47:46 1993

Hi.  I'd check b, c, and f in your list.
I'll try to give you a better response when I'm back
at my normal terminal with a working screen editor.

Really intrigued by your pre-WWII German set.
I've studied a lot about the air raids on German cities
and the set's personal history would make it very special.
Probably a great little set too.

I just got a book "70 years of tubes & valves"
that has a lot of info about worldwide tubes.
Basically, tubes were poorly standardized in ENgland and
Europpe before the war -- England alone had dozens of plug-base types.
You may need some German contacts to scarf up tubes for this one.
Unlike modern (50s-60s Grundigs, which I collect) you probably
have to go to the Vaterland for 'em.

And thanks for helping organize the radio freaks on this newsgroup.
--mike k

    [e-mail]

**********

>From [e-mail] Mon Jun 14 17:43:43 1993

In article <[e-mail]>, you write:
|> This posting has a few different purposes:
|>
|> 1) To get a list of those on the net who have interest in antique
|> radios.  Please send me e-mail with the following info, and I'll
|> post an informal list to the net a little later.
Hello, William!  I wondered how long it would be before someone tried
to get the radio people together.
|>     a) Interested, but don't collect
|>     b) Interested and collect __________ (specialty)
I don't have a specialty - never could see sense in limiting myself to just
one thing.  I do prefer 20's-30's wooden cabinets of various types, but
anything is fair game.  I don't mind battery sets, and have several in
working condition.  I also have a few AC sets - an AK 60-C which was the
first thing that lured me into radios, an RCA tombstone Superhet and
a "new" Brunswick TRF that I'm in the process of fixing.  Not a lot of
items yet, but I buy just things I like and think I can repair.

|>     c) Restore and repair for self
Obviously, yes.  I'm still learning the hows and whys, but can gut a
paper capacitor, recan the new part and reseal so you don't know I've been
there.  Electronics theory needs more help than the physical work.  Next
step, which is in progress, is to be able to repair and touch up cabinets.
Lots of fun, eh?
|>     d) Restore and repair for others
Not yet.  I still need to practice more on mine before committing to fix
someone else's sets.
|>     e) Sell radios and/or parts
Nope.  Once it's mine, it's mine.
|>     f) Anything else you want to say
Think I've already run off at the mouth enough.
|>
|>
|> 2) To get a list of resources (parts, specialty shops, manuals, books,
etc.).
|> Please e-mail this info and I'll try to edit and compile it, then re-post
|> it all in the future.
For tubes, electronic parts, reproduction parts, books, and more than can
be listed here, try:
   Antique Electronic Supply
   Tempe, AZ  85283
   phone [phone], fax [phone]
   A catalog is available from here, and there are 3-4 supplements per year.

For some really great-looking dial repros for AK, Philco, Zenith, and
fewer of other makes, try
    Antique Radio Restorations
    635 S. Lincoln Ave.
    O'Fallon, IL 62269
    There is a price list available with cross references to radio model
    number, dial part number and chassis number.

   Dials are done in an epoxy ink on original-looking plastic stock, and have
   to be seen to be believed.

|>
|> 3) To ask for the name of a contact person for the Baltimore-Washington area
|> antique radio club.  I contacted them once and they were going to send me
some
|> info (but never did).  In the meantime, I've lost the name of the contact
|> person.  Would someone please send me that again?  Thanks!
|>
|> 4) To ask some questions about a radio I just got.  It is a 1939-40
Blaupunkt
|> table model with a black bakelite case (deco).  The original owner just
|> gave it to me and told how she used it during air raids on her home in
|> Germany during WWII, to listen to reports about where the bombs were
|> coming in and to hear the propaganda (both sides) on the short-wave bands.
|>     a) Would anyone happen to have schematics for this radio?
Antique Electronics has a service to look up schematics, but charge a
lot for the service.  You'd do better by trying to find someone through
the net with access to the Riders manuals.  You do, however, need the
model number.  There is a full set that I can get access to.

|>     b) Do the German tubes have U.S. equivalents (were they standardized)?
|>     c) Does anyone have a cross reference for them or a source for
|>        antique German tubes?  (the radio has options to convert to
|>        240 volts, 120 volts DC, or 120 volts AC)
|>     d) Would anyone have any sources of info on vintage German radios?
|>
Sorry on the rest of this.  I suspect, though, you'll be getting a lot
of responses from elsewhere to help clear this up.  Good luck!
|> I look forward to hearing from all of you.
|>

--
Terry L. Zickrick
Empros Power Systems Control            email address:  [e-mail]
Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
2300 Berkshire Lane North
Plymouth, MN 55441  USA

**********
>From [e-mail] Mon Jun 14 17:31:04 1993

Glad to hear from you.  Yes, I too drool over A-Ks. [Atwater-Kents]
But I don't really remember them, if ya know
what I mean.  I do remember Dad's 1937 Philco
that we grew up with, I remember when TV was a novelty,
and FM something special, and when transistors first came out,
and.... oh well, I'm only 49.

Let's keep the radio talk coming on rec.antiq -- mike k
.
**********

>From [e-mail] Mon Jun 14 16:27:54 1993


Hi-
I'm interested in and collect radios, specifically Motorola of all types,
older transistor sets and novelties. I do some restoration and repairing. I
will also collect others if they happen to strike me when I see them.

Sorry, can't help you with your Blaupunkt.

For resource information of all kinds I would recommend subscribing to the
"Antique Radio Classifieds", published monthly. A want ad in this
publication would be a good way to get the Blaupunkt info you are looking
[Afor.I don't have the address here in the office, but if you're interested
drop me a line and I'll make a point of bringing in a copy and send you the
info. (Send your fax number if you have one.) There are also a number of
books on the market today which address those of us interested in
collecting. Are you interested in this kind of stuff?

Have a great day  <;)

Don Burns                           Motorola Radio Products Group
[e-mail]                Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

**********

>From [e-mail] Mon Jun 14 14:18:32 1993


Hi,
I collect and restore sets both for myself and on occasion, for others. My
main interest is 1920's battery sets, but I'll collect anything thats grabs
my attention and holds it!

As for sources of parts: The electronic stuff for vintage sets you are most
interested in will be tubes and filter capacitors. ( high voltage
electrolytics ) A source for caps is:
 Frontier Electronics
 Box 38 - 403 S. McIntosh St.
 Lehr, North Dakota 58460
 Phone: [phone]  ( ans machine 4th ring )
 Fax  : [phone]

They will rebuild an old capacitor and they sell new parts as well.

 As for tubes, I buy from a museum! Or you can get them from Antique
electronic Supply. Don't have the address right here, but a buddy of mine is
going to e-mail if he has time. I'll get you the info if he doesn't.
AES is also an excellent source for other hard-to-find parts and
reproduction dials, knobs, capacitors, tubes, books etc.

As for foreign tubes: AES does sell some european tubes. There are some
american tubes that are good/excellent substitutes. If you have a list of
tubes, I have a cross reference list at home so I can tell you if there are
original tubes available or substitutes.

There are other sources of parts as well ( many ) and you can often find
parts at flea markets or swap meets.

If a set isn't a wreck, very often all it needs is new filter caps and maybe
a tube or 2. DO NOT POWER UP AN OLD SET WITHOUT REPLACING THE FILTERS.
(Unless you like fireworks in which case you probably subscribe to
rec.pyrotechnics as well :-) )

E-mail with any questions to   [e-mail]   and I'll try to get you
an answer ASAP.


Max

**************

>From [e-mail] Mon Jun 14 12:01:49 1993

Hi--
I saw your post regarding radio collectors. I collect table radios
from the 40's and 50's, mostly plastic ones. I repair and restore
them for myself (I only buy what I like and never sell any!)
I have several sources for parts but they're not at work with me--
I will send you a follow-up e-mail soon. Great idea compiling
a list of collectors and sources! I'll be watching for it.

Yours truly,
Aaron S. Field, M.D., Ph.D.
Chicago, Illinois
[e-mail]

************

>From [e-mail] Mon Jun 14 10:33:53 1993

    b) Interested and collect __________ (specialty)
        I am interested and collect but only have a few radios at
this time. I don't have room for many more.

    c) Restore and repair for self
        All of the radios I have I had to repair, but this is part
of the fun of these old radios.

Bill Rose

**********

From: [e-mail] (Scott M. Brylow)

>1) To get a list of those on the net who have interest in antique
>radios.
>        b) Interested and collect __________
whatever comes my way cheaply.
>        c) Restore and repair for self
Yep. Some of 'em
>        d) Restore and repair for others
They've made a couple of really unique wedding presents so far!
>        e) Sell radios and/or parts
Not yet, but my wife looks at them funny sometimes
>        f) Anything else you want to say
Thanx for putting this together.  I've got about 12 radios, from '20's TRF
sets to 40's bakelite.

>2) To get a list of resources (parts, specialty shops, manuals, books, etc.).
>Please e-mail this info and I'll try to edit and compile it, then re-post
>it all in the future.
Everybody knows about Antique Electronic Supply, 602 820 5411, but
I've also dealt with The Olde Tyme Radio Company 2445 Lyttonsville Rd,
Suite 317, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 310 585 8776.  He seems like a good guy
and may be able to help you with question #3 as well..
BTW, I also have a set of Rider's Perpetual Troubleshooting Manuals V1-13
(missing V9).  I have found schematics for a couple of people, but I don't
always promise to have the time.
>
Sorry I can't help out with #4, but I'd be interested in hearing what you
find out.  I was in Prague for Xmas and found an old (1930's) Tesla radio.
Beautiful cabinet and it works, but I'll be sans clue if anything happens
to it.  Good luck with the Blaupunkt.


Scott M. Brylow                                 Phone:  [phone]
Member of the Technical Staff                   Email:  [e-mail]
Altadena Instruments Corp
                "A new approach to space imaging instruments"
**********

From: Steve Pazar <[e-mail]>

William,
  Glad someone is doing this. It'd be nice to have a list of contacts here
  of other collectors. I collect 1920's thru early 1930's radios and some
  transistor radios (real early stuff). I also repair my own radios, and
  occasionally do some repairs for local collectors. I subscribe to
  Antique Radio Classified and run ads most issues.

**********

From: David Fritchman <[e-mail]>

     As far as point 1.) goes, I have an 1937 Philco "cathederal".  Lack
of time and money prevents from from becoming a serious collector.  Lack
of knowledge prevents me from becoming a serious chassis restorer, of which
lack I'm trying to correct.  I have no intention of becoming a restorer
professionally or as a "garage" nonprofessional restorer.

     As a source for tubes and other old electronic goodies, I suggest
Antique Electronic Supply based in Tempe Arizona.  They are prompt on
shipping even when paid by a personal check, and their items are as
asvertised.  You may find many of the items at lower price other places,
though.  I suggest Antique Electronic Supply strictly as a satisfied
customer, having no other affiliation with them.  Radio Shack also
will special order new manufacture tubes carrying their own brand name,
though the tubes are made by others.  Radio Shack tubes tend to be a bit
pricier than the Antique Electronic Supply catalog price, and you have
to pay any local sales tax through the local store, but you don't have to
pay UPS shipping from Arizona.  You may have to convince a local Radio
Shack manager that ordering tubes through them is possible.

[note from Robie - he was right on the money! R-S *can* order many tubes,
R-S *is* pretty blessed high! The R-S manageI dealt with acted like he
would rather contract cancer than order something for me!!]

    I can't help you with the last three items.

David

**********
>From [e-mail] Mon Jun 14 18:52:26 1993
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Linda Zinn)

Hi Bill:

You and your new Blaupunkt--sounds like a marriage made in heaven!
Thanks for sharing that heartwarming story. Perhaps that's one
reason you and I relish such a variety of old objects...because at one
time they were connected with real, live people. In this case
the connection is known--what a bonus!

...(lightning hit our building
>a couple of days ago, and five different tvs blew--I had everything
>in the house unplugged).

Another thing we have in common. People laugh at me when I unplug
my computer and my tvs when bad weather rolls in or when I'm
going out of town during the stormy season.

Back to radios:

>She then told
>me that she bought it with one of her first paychecks when she started
>working as a secretary in Germany before the war.  During the war, she said,
>she would listen to the obligatory Hitler speeches on it, then later used
>it to find out from which direction the American bombers were coming.
>She would always take it to the bomb shelter with her.

What a history! Hope you can find the tubes you need, but even if you
don't it will be lovely just sitting there.

Linda

[Hi Linda!! *wave*]
**********


From: "Aaron S. Field" <[e-mail]>

Here is the list of sources I promised you earlier today. Most of them
have mail-order catalogs:

1. Antique Electronic Supply, Tempe AZ, [phone]: Great source
   for tubes, components, restoration supplies, books, etc.

2. Puett Electronics, Dallas TX, [phone]: Incredible supply
   of literature on antique radio, also some parts.

3. Play Things of Past, Cleveland OH, [phone]: Plenty of
   hard-to-find parts for the earliest sets, including rare tubes.

4. Old Tyme Radio Company, 2445 Lyttonsville Rd., Silver Spring MD, 20910.

5. Great Northern, Minneapolis MN, [phone]: Lots of stuff for
   collectors of Zenith radios--parts, literature, etc.

I will also post these to rec.antiques. Looking forward to your
compilation of collectors and resources!

Aaron

**********

>From [e-mail] Tue Jun 15 18:33:17 1993

>1) To get a list of those on the net who have interest in antique
>radios.  Please send me e-mail with the following info, and I'll
>post an informal list to the net a little later.
>    a) Interested, but don't collect

Umm, interested and *sort* of collect. My buying is very sporadic.

>    b) Interested and collect __________ (specialty)
I collect whatever looks neat. I favor interesting cases and/or features.
>
>
>2) To get a list of resources (parts, specialty shops, manuals, books, etc.).
>Please e-mail this info and I'll try to edit and compile it, then re-post
>it all in the future.
>
I don't know any parts/repair places, but if you're in Columbus, OH then
Clintonville Antiques on N. High St. always has a couple dozen for sale.

Brian Bebeau            |  Interactive Systems (a Systemhouse company)
[e-mail] or  |  at AT&T-Columbus
[e-mail]     |

*************
>From [e-mail] Mon Jun 21 14:37:57 1993
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Bruce Alan Knarr)

Hi, regarding your post for antique radio enthusiasts... I have
an antique floor model "US" radio I'm looking for a tube for,
would appreciate the list of parts suppliers you are compiling.
Thanks

--
Bruce A. Knarr ci546 [phone]

**********

>From [e-mail] Wed Jun 16 08:50:04 1993

From: DANS' COCKATOO RANCH <[e-mail]>

    Dear Mr. Robie,

    We have a group of antique radio collectors here at Fermilab in Batavia
Illinois. There is a large active club in Illinois that we belong to. There are
many clubs throughout the country. In your area is the Mid-Atlantic Antique
Radio Club in Burtonsville, Maryland. The contact is: Lloyd Kendall, 1312 Deep
Run Ln. Reston, VA 22090  [phone]. Their next meeting is June 20th at
2PM in the Burtonsville New Hope Seventh Day Adventist Church.
    We collect and repair our own radios. We also attend ameteur radio
swap meets which are a good source of parts, tubes and information. At the
radio club meets you can get parts, information and talk to other collectors
about where to get schematics and specfics on a particular set. Probably the
best source for any collector is the Antique Radio Classified magazine. It is
the largest publication of its kind. In addition to a wealth of ads offering
radios and related stuff for sale or to buy, there are interesting and
informative articles on restoration, manufacturers and Miscellanea

    The address is Antique Radio Classified, P.O. Box 2, Carlisle, MA
01741.Their telephone number is [phone] FAX [phone]. There is a
collector in Germany that advertizes regularly in the ARC who may be able to
help you with your Blaupunkt.


Dan Schoo
Dallas Heikkinen
Dan Johnson

************

>From [e-mail] Fri Jun 18 02:10:11 1993

From: elizabeth a fannin <[e-mail]>


i am interested in old radios, but do not collect--other than one i've
"collected" from my grandmother's, which has been there since i was a child
(actually it's still there, but i can have it whenever) and before, when my
older brothers were kids.  it still works (but is very faint).

************

From: Rey Barry <[e-mail]>

>1) To get a list of those on the net who have interest in antique
>radios.  Please send me e-mail with the following info, and I'll
>post an informal list to the net a little later.

>    b) Interested and collect Zenith Trans-Oceanics (vacuum tube only)
and hifi gear of the 50s...Marantz and McIntosh.
>    c) Restore and repair for self.....yes.
>
>2) To get a list of resources (parts, specialty shops, manuals, books, etc.).
>Please e-mail this info and I'll try to edit and compile it, then re-post
>it all in the future.

I have nearly all the T-O schematics, tuning instructions and service notes
and am happy to make copies available to any T-O owner.
>
>    b) Do the German tubes have U.S. equivalents (were they standardized)?
>    c) Does anyone have a cross reference for them or a source for
>       antique German tubes?  (the radio has options to convert to
>       240 volts, 120 volts DC, or 120 volts AC)

Most, not all, German tubes have USA equivalents.  The Tube Substitution
Manual (a standard work) lists them with a cross-reference.  If the TSM
is no longer available I can look them up.  I have TSMs from several eras.

*********

That's about all that I collected of postings and e-mail - hope you had fun
reading!  Many thanks to all who took the time to help me (and now, others).
Perhaps I'll get organized and turn this into a real FAQ sheet ... a little
later.


Bill Robie