|
Hello! I am Steven Johannessen and this is my early radio collection. I have enjoyed this radio collecting hobby since building my first kit when I was about ten years old, an Allied Knight-Kit Star Roamer 5-tube AM/SW 5-band radio. My interest in old radios began in the 70's when I picked up a series of 1940's military receivers (RBA-1, RBB-1, RBC-1) at a military surplus store. They were a lot of fun to operate and tweak, but each radio and its power supply were very, very heavy! In 1997 I found a cool 1936 console radio at a swap meet, a Zenith Model 8-S-154 console, and caught the collecting bug again. I still have this radio and it still works. As part of my preservation effort I have been placing my collection of antique radios online to share with others.
Most of the antique radios in my collection were acquired over the last 20 years. Most of them date from the 1920's and are battery powered (in the early 1920's AC power was almost completely unavailable). The technology used in these radios is primitive, mechanical and very analog. This is starkly different from everything digital in use today which is one reason why I like radios of this era. They represent the technological transformation of radio receivers from a purely mechanical device to a more sophisicated electronics device, primarily due to the innovation ongoing in vacuum tubes. These early radios required a long wire antenna and ground connection to work, and some finesse to operate. They are all interesting to work on (kind of like working on old cars) and each has it's own quirks. I am using mostly vintage test equipment for repairs. To test tubes I use a military Supreme I-177B because it accurately tests emission on most of the very early tube types and is still very rugged for a 65 year old tube tester.
Now my goal is to restore each radio as far as possible without resorting to refinishing or altering the radio. I start be taking the radio completely apart and cleaning all components. Next the components are checked (transformers, tubes, etc) to make sure they are functional. If they are good the radio is tested. If the parts are available to repair the radio I will do so. Then, the cabinet is cleaned, waxed and buffed. The front panel is cleaned and the knobs are cleaned and redone as needed. The outer hardware is cleaned and polished, and the knobs are re-attached. The radio is then re-assembled. I completely go through every one of my radios, and I will be putting them all online as they come out of my shop.
I also like some of the general coverage shortwave tube radios from the 40's, 50's, and 60's. I have a soft spot for the Hammarlund and Hallicrafters radios in particular. The Hammarlund HQ-180 is one of my favorites, as is the SP-600.
|
The photo above shows some of the radios in my collection that are waiting for some new shelves. (Listed Columns L to R, Top to Bottom)
The handsome feline contemplating the radio collection in the photo is Buddha, who is a very reasonable cat considering he lives with seven dogs...
- Column 1: Freed-Eisemann FE-15, Freed-Eisemann FE-15, Freed_Eisemann 10, Unknown 5-tube Radio, Miraco Ultra 5, Daven Radio, Day-Fan Day Craft.
- Column 2: Crosley XJ Super, Atwater-Kent 48, ACE 3B, Thompson Grand, Federal E-10, Federal E-10, Kolster Radio 6J.
- Column 3: Radiola III, Radiola IIIA, Crosley 3R3, Stewart-Warner 345, Super Parmak, Grebe Synchrophase MU-1, Grebe Synchrophase MU-1, Northome Deluxe 6.
- Column 4: Radiola 16, Freshman Masterpiece, Sparton 5-15, Grimes Baby Grand, Federal A-10, Stromberg-Carlson 500.
- Column 5:Atwater-Kent 20C, Freshman Masterpiece, Harkness Counterflex, Log-O-Dyne 5, Arborphone Seven, King-Hinner Neutrodyne, Gilfillan GL-5.
- Column 6: Crosley VI, Crosley Super Trirdyne, ACE 3B, Crosley Trirdyne, Radiola 18, Radiola 17, Unknown 5 tube, Radiola AR-812.
|
