Sparton radio, estimated date?

[Bustercat]

Any idea when this is from? Got it at a swap meet for $5, it's in wretched condition but couldn't pass it up.

I soldered an ipod to the speaker terminals. It produces rich sound without the unit needing to be plugged in. Does that date it as post war? I was thinking it might even be early 50's from the type, but I'm just learning about classic radios.

Loaded about 12 gigs of old time radio: serials, news, music, boxing, baseball, even axis and allied war propaganda and songs. Considering an hour's worth of OTR takes up like 7-14mb, That's alot of continuous music given the mono and low bitrate. Place it on shuffle, and voila, it's a time machine!
Fully mobile too. I'll spare you the pics of me using it as an improvised Irving Berlin Ghetto blaster. lol

 

[ScionPI2005]

I can't really help you with the details on aging your "new" radio, Bustercat. But just wanted to say thanks for posting it! I too get a kick out of being able to listen to old time radio on a classic tube radio, and I like to see others' setups as well. :eusa_clap

Also, I think $5 was a great deal!

 

[KilroyCD]

Your radio is a Sparton Model 350, which is a 1953 model. http://www.radioatticarchives.com/radio.htm?radio=3017
Sparton was well known for a rich sound, and some of their more collectible radios have been reproduced by Crosley, such as the 506 "Bluebird" and the 557 "Sleigh".
http://www.radioatticarchives.com/radio.htm?radio=7005
http://www.radioatticarchives.com/radio.htm?radio=2914

 

[Bustercat]

Thank you, and glad to share!

 

[airgrabber666]

Looks good, not too "wretched" at all - I especially like the script Sparton emblem on the front.

 

[Bustercat]

Yeah, the wood is pretty deeply gouged on the side—it was taken out of a condemned house by workmen and treated like trash—the cord was cut and it was covered with plaster when I got it. I dig the way it looks after a bit of TLC, some lemon oil, and some simichrome on the knobs. It really feels like a relic. I like the typography too.