Old Radios: An American Beauty

American Beauty, 6 tube TRF American Radio Mfg. Co.; Kansas City, Missouri (USA)

     Breadboard radios were among the first commercially produced radios. About as rudimentary as it gets; radio circuits were attached to wooden boards. Generally, the radios were plain-the most elaborate part of the early piece of electronics, might be the manufacturer's logo. Atwater Kent--one of the earliest companies to produce old radios--had an elegant, stylish emblem- but little more.  So, when I spotted this radio front on a recent trip to Idaho, I knew it had to be something special.

     I had never seen an early radio so beautifully enhanced; it dazzled with gilded roses and golden flourishes. Elegant, perhaps bordering on a bit gaudy, but I loved it!  It sat on a dusty shelf among a tangle of rejected old parts and pieces, looking like a prince in a pauper's home. Actually, It didn't even have a home; the wooden box where it once dwelled- gone.

     I hustled to find Russell, and share my treasure. I drug him back. He was not as impressed as I.          "It's not even complete," he said. He wasn't telling me anything, I didn't already know.

     "Maybe we can look around and find a cabinet. There's all kind of stuff everywhere." That much was true. We were standing in an old barn, surrounded by a lifetime of an avid radio collector's finds. His son, unfortunately, didn't share his father's passion. Everything had to go.

     Russ did find several things interesting about my beautiful find. "Interesting circuit. Only a single interstage transformer was used. The tube functions aren't in logical, functional order. Detector is on the far right in a vibration-isolated socket."

     Yeah," I agreed.

     About this time another young couple approached. "Oh, look at that radio," she swooned to her husband. Oh, no. Competition. I knew immediately she had her eyes on IT.

     Meanwhile, Russ--seemingly oblivious to the interlopers-- continued to access my find. "It's been equipped with six RCA Cunningham 201A tubes. Two have interesting historical service shop test info.  One is from Portland, OR...these shouldn't be removed.."

     "No way," I said, looking around and beginning to feel a bit of anxiety.

     "And look at this. One of the tubes has a foggy-looking silver getter- but it's not a bad tube," he said.

     "Heck no, that's not a bad tube. Let's get it. I just know we can find a box for it." I quickly swept it up into the safety of my arms, just as the young couple got within reaching distance.

     I held my treasure close to my chest as we continued to browse  through the ancient electronics. After awhile it began to get a bit heavy, but I wasn't about to put it down.

 Quite amazingly, Russ found a box for it- nearly a perfect fit. We loaded our precious finds into the truck. I locked the canopy. We settled our tab, and headed home- with just enough money left for gas.

Till next time, when I share today's excitement,

Regards,

Sue

Phlog's blog


Have you ever found an extra-special treasure that almost slipped away? Love to hear about it.