Wanted: Old tube radios; working or not.

[Eric Reutelhuber]

Hello,

I love to repair/restore old tube radios. Primarily from the 1920's-1950's. It is a hobby of mine so if you have one for sale or know of some that does and would like to have that piece of history brought back to life, please let me know!

Thanks,

Eric

[John Mallon]

Eric:

The Zenith radio pictured is built into a basement wall.  When plugged in, the radio

still fires up and glows.

However, not being played in over 40 years, no one knows how to tune it.

Is it worth taking out of the wall?

[Eric Reutelhuber]

Hi John,

What you have there is a 1941 Zenith Model 10S566. You can look up the details on it at this website: https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/zenith_10s566_10_s_566_ch10a1.html

This is a 10 tube very nice radio. Was one of the most popular in 1941. Not sure where the wooden console went that it came in. The wood from the console is usually very beautiful and was one of the big selling points to the radio back in the day when everyone sat around the radio and listened to the news and reports from the war. I just restored one of these last winter and the sensitivity of the radio was great. Picked up a lot of stations.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't turn that on again without replacing the wax capacitors in the chassis. I know it is tempting and fun to watch the glow of the light and the tubes but it can cause serious damage to the radio or worse! The old caps routinely blow out one end and even catch fire. They are literally composed of foil wrapped with paper and encased in wax. Wouldn't be good inside your wall to have it catch fire! You would need to pull the chassis and have all the capacitors and resistors tested for tolerance.

It is a good radio and worth bringing back to life. In order to get get reception it would need a good ground (metal pipe in wall?) and a long wire antennae. 

Hope this helps, you can call or write with questions.

Eric Reutelhuber

214-763-5272

[John Mallon]

The radio is built into a wall of a finished basement.  

I assume the basement was paneled sometime in the 50's.   My aunt purchased the house in the early 1970's.   I remember turning it on when we were kids

but since nobody knew how to tune in a station or adjust the volume, all we'd get is loud rumbling from the speaker.

[Tyler Cronin]

Hi Eric,

  I have a few radios that you might be interested... 

[Tyler Cronin]

[Tyler Cronin]

I don't know much about this guy...

[Tyler Cronin]

[Tyler Cronin]

I got a 1929 Standardyne Radio somewhere too.. 

[Eric Reutelhuber]

Hi Tyler,

I am not much into the clock radios as much as the radios themselves. But I like to get them all running again and back in service. I really like the wooden one. What are you wanting to do with them? Get them running again or sell them? If selling, how much are you thinking?

Would like to see the pict of the 1929. I enjoy the RF radios from the 20's and 30's the most.

Thanks,

Eric

[Tyler Cronin]

[Tyler Cronin]

[Tyler Cronin]

I am not too sure what I want to do with them yet... I know the big wooden one I sent first needs repairs.. I got it running once but then blew a tube, some smoke came out.. woops! The standardyne I have not plugged in yet too afraid, don't want to hurt it. I really like it too. I guess it depends on if there is a price that surpasses how much I like it, I would sell it. You work on these kinds?