1920's Sets

At first I didn't like 20s sets. They looked primative, many of the black front sets all look the same, many are battery operated and I like an AC set that I can plug in and use without either A) building a power supply specific to a radio or B) having to go find a power supply to setup for a radio just to use it. But my interest in 20s sets evolved following a few Atwater Kent and Stewart Warner purchases. Some look quite unusual and in the case of my 500 series Stromberg Carlson, they definately can be show pieces.

Unless I get a good deal I can't pass up, I avoid transoceanics and Atwater Kents since "everyone has them" and I grow tired of seeing the same radios in *everyone's* collection.

I have some very rare pieces so here we go.

This Atwater Kent 42 has remained untouched, has never seen a repair and is all original. I got it from an antique shop that had it under camera after suffering a few tube theifts (they have had their 20s sets raided for tubes by would be customers). Luckily this was not one such instance. The radio even came with the original Atwater Kent warrenty card.

This Atwater Kent 44 was a learning expierence. Some of the capasitors and resistors inside the tar-filled power supply were kaput and required careful melting of the tar so one can service the power supply to the radio. The set is otherwise all original, with the original finish mostly in tact. I do not ever, ever redo wrinkle finish- so what you see is what you get. The set is basically a higher priced Atwater Kent 42 (one of which I also have) with an extra tone switch and an additional tube, otherwise it is the same radio.

With two metal Atwater Kents on hand, I needed a matching speaker and found this Atwater Kent E speaker at a show. It is all original, with the exception of the rear grill cloth. There is some paint splatter on the cone but not the metal of the case, but it is barely noticible.

This is the Emerson F, a late 20s TRF console. This was an other cheap find at $40. A quick refinish, couple tubes and its as good as new. The volume control is one of those carbon paper strip assemblies which is noisey and not reliable (compared to the pot resistors). Otherwise it is a great performer and is one of my best TRF sets reception wise. Doesn't look bad either if I do say so myself.

This is a simple 5 tube, 3 dail battery operated Freshman Masterpiece (model # unknown, if you know it contact me!). Its completely untouched, and looks brand new inside and out with the chasis and wiring as clean and bright as the day it was made. It needs a set of tubes (darn 01As usually don't come with 20s radios anymore they're so expensive!).

Here is a very rare radio, one of a kind. Its a early to mid 20s General Electric prototype that never saw production. Its a three tube set, and uses the generic GE metal cabinet that the Radiola V (RCA) used. The set was obtained by some exGE employees who found the set in the trash when a plant was closing. The set went threw a few hands before my family obtained it. It is not going to be touched in an effort to preserve its rarity.

Here is an other unusual set, this one is not a Canadian model (its American) and yet it is identical to the RCA Radiola 43 with a few exceptions, one being the GE version used a dark finish (RCA's was almost blonde) and it says GE on it in place of RCA. I suspect this is a very rare radio since RCA is known for the radiolas, not GE or Westinghouse and the nonRCA varriants were probably uncommon (especially to encourage sales- its not compititive to have three companies trying to sell identical radios). Its a late 20s TRF console, with a fancy pressed wood front, side power switch and a few other goodies. I do not know the GE model #, only the RCA version #.

Here is my RCA Radiola 16, it was a gift from a gentlemen who heard about my hobby and had two radios (this and a Crosley 50) in storage which he gave me. It is essentially a battery operated Radiola 17/18 and although it falls under the "everyone has some of these radiolas" catagory (the Radiola 3, 16, 17, 18 etc being common models) you have to admit many Radiolas are purely beautiful.

Here is my Radiola 17. I do not know why, but the 17 and 18 VERY rarely have that "lamp hood" above the dail window intact. Mine is a reproduction which I am told, is no longer availble. The set is a decent performer, I use it with the RCA 100A speaker that came with it regularly. The finish could be better and most the tubes are GTs (not G's) but all and all I like its performance, looks and its definately a larger (length wise) 20s set. I had to carry this one across a farmer's field to get it from the antique show booth to the van and let me tell you, its like carrying a log on a marathon (granted I am weak).

This RCA 100A speaker was commonly sold with the Radiola 16-18, mine is all original and mint shape, excluding a tiny white paint splotter on the top (barely noticible). It works great, and sees use with my Radiola 17.

This is a Steinite late 20s AC TRF, unknown model # (let me know if you can identify this set!). I got it from a show from an other AWA member. and it is all original and works fine. The dail was unique to me, plus its a fairly uncommon brand which sealed the deal for me (I am always trying to find the oddball sets).

I love early Stewart Warners, especially threw the mid 1930s. Perhaps its the name being of a custom car background (everyone knows Stewart Warner gauges). The set is a Stewart Warner 801 which I got at a local antique store. It works fairly well and has a pot metal tuning drum which, although not in mint shape, still operated correctly and is not getting any worse (so it has been left alone). It had all blue arcturus tubes in it, a few of which were bad. My 20s Stewart Warner sets of this period all had blue arcturus tubes making me wonder if Stewart Warner had a contract with Arcturus some years for them.

Sometimes the radio gods smile upon me with luck, this was one such time. I got this all original Stewart Warner 435 speaker by chance, a relative of mine was driving past an Antique Show, stopped to briefly look around, and saw this at the first booth and bought it... without a clue that I had recently bought a speakerless Stewart Warner 801 (see above). This was the matching speaker, which was also bolted onto the top of the model 802 (varriant of the 801) I have been told.

This Stewart Warner R-1301-A short wave converter was an other cool find (picture isn't the best). The set, also with blue arcturus tubes I use with my 801. I got it at a show unknowning what it was, but took it home since it was a 20s stewart warner "something or an other" and then figured out what it was. I have seen a couple of these in people's collections but at the time it was a novelty of mine and it looks good with my other 1920s Stewart Warner stuff. Performance could be better but it is a rather primative 20s set.

This is quite the rare radio, also one of my favorites. Its a Stromberg Carlson 523. Basically this is the AC version of the 501 and is very rare I have been told. It uses an external power supply assembly (which I lack) and is basically a battery to ac conversion model. I got this one for $80 at a antique shop, and it was in ROUGH shape.

The pot metal gears (two) were kaput, the set was a rats nest and to make matters worse, the top was cracked. Some wood working later, cleaning and some custom machined gears and vola.

Thankfully the set was all there, just dirty and neglected. Even the identification plates and instruction papers were there.

This picture did not come out well, but you can somewhat make out the 523 under "Code No."- also note it says "A. C. Type Receiever"

This bad picture shows the newly machined gears in the radio.

This is what the original gears are like.

Here is the underside, the set didn't need any electrical repairs despite some of the parts being corroded by rat urine.