Show us your radios!

[vitanola]

Forgotten Man, you wrote:

"Yes, as you mentioned Art Deco wasn't the most popular style in 1929 with most of the American' public. And the economy was ready to take a serious spill later that year. The ad I have is from June or so of '29 and by October, many people were not buying anything."

Actually, sales in the latter half of 1929 were pretty good, and 1930 model year sales were poor only in comparison to those of '28 and '29. The real decline did not set in until the summer of 1931, when most Americans finally realized that a return to prosperity was NOT "just around the corner".

Unit sales in the 1931 model year approached those of '29, but industry sales totals were lower because EACH UNIT WAS SOLD AT A LOWER FIGURE, due to the advent of inexpensive "Midget" sets, like the Philco Model 20 cathedral and the Majestic model 50 tombstone. The $49.00-69.00 midget replaced the $175-225 console as the industry leader.

 

[Flivver]

You're right, Vitanola, the real decline didn't set in until the Summer of 1931. I'm always amused by writers who suggest that the Depression began in the 1920s.

One way I like to gauge the economic activity of that era is to look at the thickness (indicative of the number of ads) in trade magazines of the day. Looking at Radio Retailing magazine, as an example, the thickest magazines occurred in 1929. But the issues remained reasonably thick through 1930 and into 1931. They started to thin down quickly in the second half of 1931 and were sliver thin by 1932.

The auto industry trade magazines dislayed a similar trend.

 

[dhermann1]

A little more OT, then back to radios. What I've read is that farm prices started going down not long after the war, so there was a pretty severe agricultural depression as early as 1924 or 25, which helped spin the rest of the economy into general depression. But then again, what do I know? I was hanging out with Bueller the day the teacher covered the Great Depression.

 

[Flivver]

There actually was a postwar recession from 1921-1922. But, after that, the non-agricultural sectors of the economy entered a boom phase that lasted through 1929.

Getting back to radio, it's interesting that the initial radio craze that swept the country occurred during that 1922 recession.

 

[vitanola]

A little more OT, then back to radios. What I've read is that farm prices started going down not long after the war, so there was a pretty severe agricultural depression as early as 1924 or 25, which helped spin the rest of the economy into general depression. But then again, what do I know? I was hanging out with Bueller the day the teacher covered the Great Depression.

We had a sharp national depression related to reconversion troubles and the sharp drop in commodity prices (primarily agricultural) after the 1920 european harvest. Industrial unemployment in the 1920-21 depression approached that of the Great Depression, but it was a relatively short blip-time wise, for we were well into industrial recovery by the summer of 1921. Our industrial recovery was spurred in part by booms in the radio and motorcar industries. Agricultural commodity prices never really recovered, though.

During the Great War the european agricultural districts were greatly affected by labor shortages, and by actual battle condidtions, and so world grain prices soared. This led American farmers to mechanize much more rapidly than the would otherwise have done, greatly increasing yields, and also led to our farmers putting much more land under cultivation. With the return of normal world agricultural production, we had gross surplusses which drove commodity prices down to a point that barely approached the cost of production. The farm districts were largely in depression form 1921 onwards. The prosperity of the 1920's was largely an urban, middle and upper class phenomenon. Even factory workers did not really participate in the prosperity, with the average operative in 1929 making about fifty dollars less per year (in constant 1925 dollars) than they did in 1920.

 

[grundie]

I can't show a picture of it right now, but I am the proud owner of a rather run-down RCA 30. The radio is in my father-in-laws garage in Syracuse and I'm in Dublin.

The workings of the radio are completely beyond repair, they are heavily corroded and the valves are missing. The woodwork is structurally sound, but the finish has weathered off and it is now just bare wood. This is because the radio has been sitting in a garage for the last 40 or so years.

I have every intention of restoring this beast of a radio, during the few weeks each year I visit my wife's parents. The question is do I scavenge the workings of another old radio and transplant in to it, or should I fit a modern radio in to it (would that be sacrilege?).

 

[BinkieBaumont]

"If it is truly a piece of poop, why not install a Tv/DVd inside its "Carcass" obviously small screen, perfect for the study/guest room perhaps?

 

[grundie]

"If it is truly a piece of poop, why not install a Tv/DVd inside its "Carcass" obviously small screen, perfect for the study/guest room perhaps?

I have been giving serious consideration to turning it in to a music server. I have over 200GB of music that spans the first half of the 20th century. I would love to fit the old radio with a media server and some really good quality speakers so that all that music would be easily accessible, in style!

 

[airgrabber666]

I can't show a picture of it right now, but I am the proud owner of a rather run-down RCA 30. The radio is in my father-in-laws garage in Syracuse and I'm in Dublin.

The workings of the radio are completely beyond repair, they are heavily corroded and the valves are missing. The woodwork is structurally sound, but the finish has weathered off and it is now just bare wood. This is because the radio has been sitting in a garage for the last 40 or so years.

I have every intention of restoring this beast of a radio, during the few weeks each year I visit my wife's parents. The question is do I scavenge the workings of another old radio and transplant in to it, or should I fit a modern radio in to it (would that be sacrilege?).

I think an RCA Radiola 30 is worth saving and not gutting. Is this the model of which you speak?
http://www.antiqueradios.com/gallery/d/49092-2/RCA_Radiola_30.jpg

 

[grundie]

I think an RCA Radiola 30 is worth saving and not gutting. Is this the model of which you speak?
http://www.antiqueradios.com/gallery/d/49092-2/RCA_Radiola_30.jpg

That's the one. It's a fine looking radio and I would love to get it going again. I used to be a radio amateur and have the skills and tools to do a restoration. But the innards are so far gone I'd need to get a transplant radio to work with.

I must say I am rather surprised at how well the wooden casing has survived compared to the inner workings. The stain/varnish is gone, but there has been no warping or cracking.

 

[airgrabber666]

According to the Radiola Guy website, the Radiola 30 was introduced in September 1925 at a cost of $575.00 (!) with tubes. Production amounted to 10,835 units. So your radio is a fairly scarce unit that was quite high end at the time. I would certainly consider restoration rather than irreversible modification. Or even leaving it "as is" internally and refinishing the cabinet and display it as a decorative piece. Just my respectful two cents.

 

[vitanola]

I can't show a picture of it right now, but I am the proud owner of a rather run-down RCA 30. The radio is in my father-in-laws garage in Syracuse and I'm in Dublin.

The workings of the radio are completely beyond repair, they are heavily corroded and the valves are missing. The woodwork is structurally sound, but the finish has weathered off and it is now just bare wood. This is because the radio has been sitting in a garage for the last 40 or so years.

I have every intention of restoring this beast of a radio, during the few weeks each year I visit my wife's parents. The question is do I scavenge the workings of another old radio and transplant in to it, or should I fit a modern radio in to it (would that be sacrilege?).

A Radiola 30?

The Radiola 30 was the first light-socket radio sold in any quantity. Being a 1925 model it is a rather unorthodox chassis design, using a modified sealed RCA battery chassis converted for AC operation. It uses expensive tubes, and is most definitely NOT a restoration project for the first-timer. Whilst this is a historically significant set, and is not terribly common, there are at this time more good survivors out there than there are collectors who seek them.

If the set is truly deteriorated you can probably modify it without guilt. Even so you might consider offering any internal parts to other collectors in the Antique Radio Forum Classified section. They will assist others in completing their own restorations

 

[vitanola]

According to the Radiola Guy website, the Radiola 30 was introduced in September 1925 at a cost of $575.00 (!) with tubes. Production amounted to 10,835 units. So your radio is a fairly scarce unit that was quite high end at the time. I would certainly consider restoration rather than irreversible modification. Or even leaving it "as is" internally and refinishing the cabinet and display it as a decorative piece. Just my respectful two cents.

I gather that you've never restored one of these beasts!

I have, and have found that a suprising number have survived. I've owned four. Now, were this a Radiola 32, or even a 30-A I would perhaps suggest othherwise. That said, the power amplifier chassis should be prety easily reatorable, even if it is a bit rusty. The cover can easily be repainted. The catacomb assembly can if necessary be replaced by one form a Radiola 28.

What is the condition of your loop antenna, and of your speaker? The Radio chassis (the part on the frame with the tuning mechanism) has most of the passive components (condensers, chokes and IF and AF transformers) potted into a can. Repairing these can be a mite ticklish. The set requires 2 '81 or '16 tubes (about $15.00 each) 1 876 tube (about $10.00) 1 '10 (about $40.00) 1 874 ((15.00) and 7 'X99's (about $25.00 each, if they can be found). So the tubes will cost nearly $300.00, much more than almost ny other set that one can find. Now, if the set has any tubes in it, do not assume that they must be faulty. They are often useable, and as most of the tubes used in this set have XL filaments, weak tubes can often be successfully rejuvenated.

I rather specialise in Radiola Superhetrodynes, and would probably have any parts that you need, should you decide to restore this set. Most of the parts SHOULD be quite inexpensive, with, of course, the exception of the tubes.

 

[airgrabber666]

Vitanola, you are correct - I have never restored a Radiola 30. But the owner of same suggested he was no newbie to the field of electronics, indicating he was not a first-timer. The cabinet is apparently solid enough to salvage, whereas the chassis is missing the tubes and exhibits corrosion. I submit that if Radiola 30 models are quite available then Grundie could possibly be able to substitute a better condition replacement chassis for his deteriorated original. Admittedly, it would not necessarily be cheap.

I respect your technical knowledge and evident passion for restoring and collecting old radios. I just do not like seeing a significant radio destroyed by irreversible modifications. It's not like we are discussing a common post-war Philco radio/phonograph console combo unit.

 

[vitanola]

I see your point, too, airgrabber, but these sets turn up with fine cabinets with sufficient frequency. That said, even an advanced electronic techn ician might be a bit flummoxed by the basic design of this set, which is idiosyncratic in the extreme. Even so, if the owner wishes to restore this set, and succeeds, he will end up with a large, impressive set,, one which is an extraodinarily good performer. These sets are both sensitive and selective, but perhaps the owner should consider the restoration of one or two simpler battery sets before he assays the big Radiola. If so, I would gladly send him a simple battery set (perhaps a Freshman Masterpiece) on which he can practice, as I have more of these than I will ever get around to fixing.

 

[grundie]

I see your point, too, airgrabber, but these sets turn up with fine cabinets with sufficient frequency. That said, even an advanced electronic techn ician might be a bit flummoxed by the basic design of this set, which is idiosyncratic in the extreme.

Thank you all for the advice. I suppose I'd better fill you in with the back story of this set.

The radio came with the house. My in-laws found it in the basement when they bought the property 25 years ago. It was in the same condition then as it is now. Due to the amount of scratching around the access panels, I suspect the inner workings were removed at some point and then left to corrode, before being replaced some time later Perhaps in a previous unskilled restoration attempt that was never completed, maybe.

Oddly, the house was also also built in 1925. Wouldn't it be great if the radio was bought for the house? Though there will never be any way to find out if that is the case.

My own electrical skills are in the field of digital electronics (ADCs and signal processing). But my love of amateur radio allowed me to dabble in some valve radio work. Mainly old 1960s military radios which were designed to be easy to use and maintain. I have a PYE 619 SW transceiver dating from 1961 in which I replaced the valves myself. At the moment it has been deactivated to comply with Irish radio experimenter laws as I have no current licence - I live in a radio black hole and recently gained a son so no time for radio stuff.

Anyways, I think working on a real old radio will be a challenge and a learning experience. I have no doubt that the Radiola will be more of a challenge to work on than the PYE. Especially since I can only work on it for a few weeks each year, and only then when my father-in-law isn't pumping me full of Whisky. The next time I'm over I will take lots of pictures and post them somewhere. In the meantime I'll go looking for schematics.

I love my in-laws they also gave me a Victor Victrola XVI in perfect working order, but that's not for a radio thread.

 

[vitanola]

Here is the schematic and wiring diagram:

http://www.nostalgiaair.org/PagesByModel/325/M0040325.pdf

Many collectors choose not to repair the sealed "Catacomb" section of the set. No factory service information is available for these units, as they were intended to be returned to the factory for service. If you plan to restore the set, I can send you a continuity diagram of the "cat", so that you can determine whether it is in good condition. Should it require internal service, I would strongly suggest that you send it off to someone who has had a good deal of experience with them. This will help to insure successful restoration.

The UP-951 SPU is a pretty straightforward restoration job. If it has been exposed to high moisture it would be advisiable to bake the power transformer in a low oven (about 85 degrees C) for a day or so to drive out any moisture, and then soak it in Glyptal or some other penetrating electricla sealant. The filter and bypass condensers should be checked for leakage and opens, but being made of imported rice paper, they almost never are faulty. The plug-in resistor often fials, but it may profitably be replaced with a UX-874 voltage regulator tube (the spu was originally designed for this tube, the resistor was fitted to keep costs down). The large ceramic voltage divider resistor usually will have open sections. The best way to deal with ti is to install an insulated terminal strip in its place and use modern 5 watt wire wounds.

Now the radio chassis is something else. The set uses the Radiola 28 with the AC package. This set uses battery triodes (UX-199) which have a filament which consumes 60 ma at 3.3 volts. The battery version of this set wires the filaments in shunt, whilst the AC version wires them in series. On the rear of the catacomb you will find a terminal strip with resistors mounted to it. These resistors are connected in series with the filament string. Several of these will doubtless be open. they may be replaced with modern 5 watt units.

Note that the circuit is an all-triode superhetrodyne, with the tubes in series with the voltage divider of the HV power supply. This also provdes grid bias.

It is a pretty complicated job, but if you need help I can send you my telephone number, and I will assist as much as I am able.

 

[Forgotten Man]

My, a Radiola 30! That's a lovely set and I would say that the feeling of accomplishment in restoring this set to working order would be grand! I would like to see a photo or two of the chassis, to see how far gone it is.

There are radio clubs all over the US and many will be able to help in parts and such... you already have much help right here being offered!

Now, my opinion would be to refinish (respectfully) and use it as a conversation piece right now and keep your eye out for a working chassis or till time comes to piece one together. I think you would derive a large amount of satisfaction from just restoring the cabinet since these earlier radios do make nice furniture.

The priority to restoring an early radio like this to working order is low since AM is void of anything very enjoyable on the AM frequency. So, you wouldn't really enjoy the working set till you fashioned an AM transmitter to your PC to broadcast some period correct music to the set.

So, right now I'd say get that cabinet restored and display it with a nice cloth runner on the top and a few old photos in vintage frames from the 20s... that would be a nice addition I think till you can locate a working chassis or figure out how to get it working again.

 

[grundie]

Here is the schematic and wiring diagram:

http://www.nostalgiaair.org/PagesByModel/325/M0040325.pdf

Many collectors choose not to repair the sealed "Catacomb" section of the set. No factory service information is available for these units, as they were intended to be returned to the factory for service. If you plan to restore the set, I can send you a continuity diagram of the "cat", so that you can determine whether it is in good condition. Should it require internal service, I would strongly suggest that you send it off to someone who has had a good deal of experience with them. This will help to insure successful restoration.

The UP-951 SPU is a pretty straightforward restoration job. If it has been exposed to high moisture it would be advisiable to bake the power transformer in a low oven (about 85 degrees C) for a day or so to drive out any moisture, and then soak it in Glyptal or some other penetrating electricla sealant. The filter and bypass condensers should be checked for leakage and opens, but being made of imported rice paper, they almost never are faulty. The plug-in resistor often fials, but it may profitably be replaced with a UX-874 voltage regulator tube (the spu was originally designed for this tube, the resistor was fitted to keep costs down). The large ceramic voltage divider resistor usually will have open sections. The best way to deal with ti is to install an insulated terminal strip in its place and use modern 5 watt wire wounds.

Now the radio chassis is something else. The set uses the Radiola 28 with the AC package. This set uses battery triodes (UX-199) which have a filament which consumes 60 ma at 3.3 volts. The battery version of this set wires the filaments in shunt, whilst the AC version wires them in series. On the rear of the catacomb you will find a terminal strip with resistors mounted to it. These resistors are connected in series with the filament string. Several of these will doubtless be open. they may be replaced with modern 5 watt units.

Note that the circuit is an all-triode superhetrodyne, with the tubes in series with the voltage divider of the HV power supply. This also provdes grid bias.

It is a pretty complicated job, but if you need help I can send you my telephone number, and I will assist as much as I am able.

Wow, thanks for the schematics.

Hmmm, I think the catacombe may be missing, since there is nothing that looks like a catacombe inside it. I also think the speaker was missing. I'd still have a go at repairing it. Even if I couldn't get original parts I'm sure I could substiture modern components if necesay.

I'm going to nag my fater-in-law to take pictures. I'vwe got the restoration itch now lads.

Thanks for all the help and advice everyone.

 

[vitanola]

Well, is there anything behind the door in the center, the one under the speaker? There should be a sort of drawer, with a sloping panel on which is the dial and dial escutcheon which will be marked "Radiola 30" If the drawer is there then a catacomb from a salvaged Victor or Brunswick phono panel, or form a Radiola 28 (all of which are essentially the same part as the Radiola 30) can be substituted. These are, to some extent, available. The speaker is a slightly modified Radiola 100. These can be had pretty easily.

If you decide to substitute a later radio chassis you might as well convert the set to a digital music player. If you wish, you could even build up a hybrid, a digital music source driving a vacuum tube amplifier and speaker.