Mike Boessen's Radio Attic

Atwater Kent 856 (1935)
As beautiful as it is rare, this Atwater Kent 856 from 1935 is a real eye catcher. AK also gave it some cool features, like a dial that lights the selected band, and a two-speed tuner that you can switch from high to low without removing your hand from the knob. The front is ornate and fitted with gorgeous booked veneer. The chassis is a very good performer with amazing sound from the perfect 8-inch speaker. This came to me with two coats of lead based white paint on it. After 12 hours of scrubbing I got 99.9% of it off, but damaged the front veneer in one spot (see photos). It really isn't terrible, and you don't notice it if you are not looking for it. The gloss finish is the slickest I have ever done. 18 coats were needed to cover up the grain after cleaning the white paint. While it retains a few specks and dings, it is crazy nice. A lot of people would call it piano finish. I replaced all the caps, most of the resistors and most of the rubber wiring. A full set of tubes that all test new for long service life. This thing was ruined when I got it, but now it is pretty much a show stopper. $749.00. (1680104)

Beckley-Ralston Headphones
If you are into regens or Neutrodynes, a good pair of vintage headphones is a must have. This Beckley-Ralston set will do the job. They have been tested. Total resistance is 2000 ohms. Almost all original parts, but some repairs had to be made. I'll guarantee shipping to not exceed $20. This is a nice set of headphones from a respected maker. You'll look good in them. $25.00. (1680163)

Brandes Superior Headphones
If you are into regens or Neutrodynes, a good pair of vintage headphones is a must have. This Brandes Superior set will do the job. They have been tested. Total resistance is 2000 ohms. Almost all original parts, but some repairs had to be made. I'll guarantee shipping to not exceed $20. This is a nice set of headphones from a respected maker. You'll look good in them. $25.00. (1680162)

Crosley 124 "Playboy" (1932)
The 124 Playboy was a fairly good seller for Crosley in the early 30s. It has a large, substantial look to it. They used the space for a very good sounding 8-inch speaker and a well designed chassis. If I had known then what I know now I would have scrapped this one. I had to replace the veneer over the arch, make the tube cover and chassis metal pan. I had to paint the chassis. My genius nephew-in-law 3-D printed the escutcheon for me. The top had a tiny bit of ripple which I didn't notice, so when I wet sanded the ten base coats of semigloss, I wound up with that showing through the otherwise nice, slick finish. It isn't as bad as the photo booth lighting made it look in the top photo. It has the early 30s antenna type volume control, so you have to crank it up to get weak stations. Requires an external antenna. It has some shortcomings and I'm pricing it accordingly, but it is still a pretty darn cool radio. 17"W x 17"H x 11"D. $249.00. (1680127)

Crosley 154 (1933)
This adorable little Crosley 154 came to me in absolutely horrible condition, but it is the only example of this radio I am aware of, so I wanted to restore it. The front veneer was in very bad condition, but I spruced it up the best I could. A lot of flaws remain in the otherwise nice finish after 80 years of obviously hard living. The photo finish is gone from the lower left and right columns. The speaker is not original and has a couple of patches by a previous servicer. I had to paint the chassis. Crosley employed regeneration in the IF circuit to give it the gain of a five-tuber. It has the 1930s style antenna volume control, so you have to turn it up to pick up weak stations. The gold sparkle in the luxurious Brown Lurex grille cloth doesn't show up in the photos but is very elegant. While it has some shortcomings, this radio is extremely rare. None has ever sold on the attic, and the one on Radio Museum is this one. Despite its blemishes, this really is a little cutie, and if you're a Crosley guy, I'm betting you don't have one of these. Requires an external antenna. 12-1/2"H x 10"W x 8"D. $199.00. (1680106)

Delco R-1229 (1947)
Although a little out of my usual radio lane, this little Delco R-1229 caught my eye on eBay and I may have spent a little too much for it. Someone loved this little radio and took very good care of it. The cabinet is very eye catching, with what I believe are rosewood, maple and walnut components. The finish was very nice on it, so I just gave it a touchup and a little furniture polish. It retains a few mars and scratches from its many years of service but I think it is very presentable. The back cover is pretty badly stained, but the graphics are still readable. My usual thorough chassis restoration, with all high testing tubes for long service life. Receives fairly well on the internal antenna but has a clip on back for more distant stations. Several have sold on the attic topping out at $225 in 2020. This is a swell little radio that really grabs your attention and will get noticed in any collection. I hope you will notice it as well and give it a good home! $199.00. (1680152)

Detrola 146 (1937)
My latest offering from the Motor City is this attractive, fairly large Detrola 146 table radio. It came to me with a previous restoration over several deep "witness marks" on the top. I was afraid to sand through the veneer, so I cleaned it up and put 15 coats of lacquer over it. A poor attempt at veneer replacement on the lower trim forced me to replace that with American Walnut. The resulting finish is slick, shiny, and gorgeous. A full set of high testing tubes, all new capacitors and resistors as necessary. I stuffed the original filter caps. The speaker was replaced by a previous servicer. It has a couple of small patches. The sound is outstanding! Requires an external antenna. It must be a good one. My Sweetheart tried to get me to let her keep it! 18"W x 11"H x 9"D. $359.00. (1680080)

Emerson 420 (1934)
This adorable little Emerson 420 is definitely a candidate for "Most Ornate Cabinet In The Small Radio Category." The cabinet is in very nice original condition with only a few very minor dings. It is fronted with the original bronze grille cloth which is in decent condition. The chassis is a fairly good performer for a four-tuber. The sound is pretty good from the perfect 4-inch speaker. The chassis was modified by a previous servicer to eliminate the "curtain burner" power cord, and he also installed a solid state rectifier. The dangerous connections have been removed from the rear accessory socket. I fitted it with a safety fuse and period appropriate cloth power cord. This little gem is as rare as it is attractive. None has ever sold on the Attic, but the 1933 model sold for $425 in 2007. I want it to find a good home, so I won't be quite so greedy. This is a really cute and unique radio, and I'm betting if you are an Emerson person, you don't have one. Here's hoping you decide you need to add one to your collection! Requires an external antenna. 9"W x 7"H x 4"D. $349.00. (1680164)

Emerson 695 (1952)
There seems to be a trend toward small, economical table radios lately. In that vein, I popped for this cute Emerson 695 from 1952. There's nothing fancy about this little guy, but I think the style has a clean, attractive look to it. The sound isn't bad from the perfect 4-inch speaker. My usual thorough chassis restoration and full alignment produced a good receiver for local stations, with an antenna wire for more distance. There are three small dings on the top front edge of the otherwise very nice cabinet. I had to make three of the knobs. The clock and alarm work fine. All in all, a nice little radio that won't take up much space and won't break the bank. These topped out on the Attic at $180 in 2019. I realize it has a few shortcomings and am pricing it accordingly. 9-1/2"W x 5-1/2"H x 5-1/2"D. $119.00. (1680153)

Emerson DS-436 (1940-1941)
When I was a kid, Cadillac was the king of cars. If a radio was going to be a Cadillac, it would be this awesome Emerson DS346. This thing has features galore. Linear scale indicators for volume and tone. A bright new tuning eye. Huge, perfect, "shock mounted" 8-inch speaker that sounds just incredible, driven by the perfectly matched 6L6 push-pull outputs. A very well designed chassis that has a unique mounting, where it is suspended on rubber washers instead of sitting on the base like most are. The Ingraham cabinet is very stylish and ornate. A couple of "witness marks" too deep to sand, so I filled them before covering the cabinet with 18 coats of lacquer for a nice, slick finish. A not too bad stain on the top. The chassis was restored when I got it, and the workmanship looks good. Receives well on the internal antenna with a wire for external. These are rare. Only two have sold, both last year. If you missed out on those, here's your chance to own one very impressive radio. 18"W x 12-1/2"H x 12"D. $649.00. (1680122)

FADA 169B (?) Hazeltine Neutrodyne (1925?)
I recently purchased a small collection from a nice lady whose husband is in poor health. Among that was this 1925ish FADA 169B? Hazeltine Neutrodyne TRF receiver. This is a five-tube radio that can drive either headphones or a speaker. For those not familiar with these, this is not your modern Superheterodyne radio. This is a three-dial TRF. The operation is part science, part magic, and part art. There is no HI-FI here. All five 01A tubes test better than new, and according to Radio Electric Supply, are worth more than I am asking for this whole setup. I'm not leaving you with anything else to buy. I have fitted it with a 110v supply, period correct headphones and a speaker. I am even including the FADA assembly and operation manual. I had to strip and refinish the Beckly Ralston cabinet. This will require a substantial external antenna for all but very strong local stations. It is large and heavy, so shipping will be a consideration. This is a very nice example of early AM radio. I'm losing my shirt here, but I want this little sweetie to find a good home. 27"W x 12"H x 10"D. $200.00. (1680157)

Freed-Eisemann FE-15 (1925)
Happy 100th Birthday to this very nice Freed-Eisemann FE15 radio! While the company did not survive the great depression, they made radios of exceptional quality while they were in business. The original finish is very nice on this set, with very few blemishes. It is fitted with five 01A tubes that test new or better. It has been tested with the actual hardware it is being sold with. There is nothing else to buy. I'm supplying an AC power supply, speaker, and a pair of period appropriate headphones. The tubes alone are $50 each at Radio Electric Supply. The power supply sold new for $170. Speakers like this are on ebay for $150. One of these radios sold on the Attic in 2009 for $155. Taken all together, this is a huge bargain, if Neutrodynes are your thing. For those not familiar with them, this is not your modern Superheterodyne HiFi radio. Operation is part science, part art, and part magic. I have provided a frequency chart to aid in tuning. This is a smaller, lighter weight example of this technology, so takes up less space and won't be as bad shipping wise. Requires a substantial external antenna to pick up any but very strong local stations. 19"W x 9"H x 9"D. $300.00. (1680159)

General Electric 7-2927A
A quick look around my site will tell you this isn't my usual thing. A good friend gave me this GE transistor set with the dial stuck. I got that fixed, so here it is. This is not terribly old. I would guess late 80s? There is a date code: 3733 in the battery box if that helps. It is a very nice and very well made little radio. AM/FM/TVHI/TVLO. Reception is very good on FM, and not bad on AM. Large, easy to read dial, and pretty good sound for a "pocket" transistor. Fairly heavy. Battery included! 6"H x 3-1/2"W x 1-3/4"D. $49.00. (1680139)

General Electric J62 (1940/1941)
The unique and attractive J62 "jewel box" was a very good seller for GE and quite a few have survived. This one had been stripped, stained and varnished when I got it. You can't strip wiped on stain, so I touched it up the best I could and put ten coats of lacquer and two sanding operations on it. Still some grain and joints showing. I was able to remove most of the stain from the latticework and grille to give it back some contrast. The last guy left the GE logo, so there was nothing I could do about that. The back cover has a small piece broken off near the bottom. All that said, the chassis is well made and a fairly good performer. The sound is surprisingly good from the perfect 5-inch speaker. Receives well on the internal antennas, with a terminal for external. I made a cable for the phono jack. As with the original, you tune off-station and connect your mobile device. My usual thorough restoration, with all high testing tubes for long service life. Despite its minor shortcomings, this is still a very nice little radio. Broadcast and short wave. 15"W x 10-1/2"H x 8-1/2"D. $249.00. (1680116)

J Podra "Enchanter" (1910?)
One of the most ornate and beautiful cone style speakers I have ever seen. Given its age and exposed cone, this has to be one of the nicest, most original J. Podra Enchanter ship themed speakers out there. The colors are all still very nice. The original cord is not frayed. It even has what I think is the original velour on the bottom. The original paint is pretty damaged around the outside rim, but the rest is quite good. The speaker works. Voice coil reads 1200 ohms. I actually played music on it with an old TRF. I was not sure what it might be safe to clean it with so I just dusted it with a soft brush. I have no idea what it is worth. I can't find any examples anywhere near this nice. $300.00. (1680156)

Philco 80 "JR" Mini Cathedral (1932-1933)
Money was tight in the early 30s, and a lot of poor performing four-tube radios were produced to address that issue. The "JR" was Philco's entry into this market, but they pulled a trick out of their hat by adding regeneration to the IF stage, giving it the gain of a five-tube receiver at a four-tube price. The cabinet is in very nice condition with only a few minor specs and dings. I gave it an extremely slick finish with 14 coats of nitrocellulose lacquer. There was some staining in the front veneer, but I was afraid to keep sanding. Not quite as bad as the camera makes it seem. The Photo Booth made the sides a little lighter than they actually are, and are closer in tint to the top photo. I had to paint the chassis. A full set of good tubes. All of the Philco capacitors were stuffed with new ones to maintain originality. Resistors replaced as necessary and a full alignment. The speaker is perfect and the sound is decent. The receiver sensitivity is better than most four-tube radios. Taken all together it is a pretty darn nice little radio, and not one you see every day. 14"H x 12"W x 8-1/2"D. $249.00. (1680076)

Philco 90 (Middle, 1932)
Considered by many to be the king of the cathedrals, the Philco 90 was a masterwork of radio engineering in 1932. Philco created one of the most beautiful cabinets ever made, with a perfect blend of elegance and simplicity. I gave it a slick, piano grade finish with 16 coats of lacquer and three sanding operations. This is the "middle" version, with a single 47 output tube, and the improved chassis, implementing AVC in the design. I had the speaker reconed with a modern cone, giving it better sound than the original. I had to replace the veneer on the sides, and there is one small, pretty good veneer repair in the Zebrawood arch. The chassis was very rusty, so I cleaned it and painted it. My usual, professional restoration, replacing all resistors and capacitors, properly stuffing the original caps with modern replacements. A full set of high testing tubes and a full alignment produced a good player with quite accurate dial cal and great sound. If you don't have a 90 yet, this is what you have been waiting for. 19"H x 17"W x 12"D. Requires an external antenna. $899.00. (1680146)

Philco Transistor Bookshelf Radio
Among many things I have "fallen heir" to is this cute little Philco branded transistor bookshelf radio. AM/FM with built in antennas. Sound is pretty good, and receiver sensitivity isn't bad. Runs on four "D" cells, included. Not sure who is the target audience for this, and no idea its value, but I guess I'll list it here and see what happens. $49.00. (1680142)

Radiola 18 (1928)
Time for some shelf clearing. This radio is unrestored and is being sold "as is." The original finish is fairly nice and would probably present well with a little touch-up. Missing the volume bezel. Some tubes in it, no idea if they are good. Has a ziplock with parts labeled "Radiola 17 parts" inside (see photo). Very heavy (approximately 40 pounds. 27-1/2"W x 8"H x 9"D. $25.00. (1680117)

Silvertone IV Neutrodyne (1925?)
Sears was probably the best among the catalog merchants at procuring very good quality products to put their name on. This Silvertone IV Neutrodyne is an example of that. This is a very well made Neutrodyne style radio. In addition to the two filament controls it has an actual separate volume control so you can adjust the volume of your headset/speaker without having to re-adjust your filament controls. The cabinet retains a pretty nice original finish, with a few blemishes that are not too objectionable. The gold graphics on the front are sharp, attractive, and better than most of these hundred year old sets. This is a Neutrodyne, not a Heterodyne. The sound is not Hi-Fi, and operation is equal parts magic, science, and art. I am supplying a period appropriate speaker and headphones. The tubes alone are worth more than I am asking for all of it. I do not have an AC supply for this one. Requires a substantial external antenna for all but very strong local stations. I have included a tuning chart to help you find stations. 27"W x 10-1/2"H x 11"D. Weight packaged will be near 40 pounds. $149.00. (1680161)

Silvertone WLS Speaker
In the early 1920s Sears advertised themselves as the "World's Largest Store." One of their better marketing strategies of the time was to launch one of the most powerful radio stations in the nation, with the call sign WLS, in their home town of Chicago. They then branded radios, speakers and even vacuum tubes with the WLS logo and advertised them on the station. This is one of those products. The brown wrinkle finish is very good and, I believe, original. This is one of the best sounding high impedance speakers I've ever heard. The cord is not frayed and is in nice condition. If you are a Neutrodyne guy, you need this speaker! 14"H x 13"W x 5"D. $160.00. (1680160)

Stewart-Warner 9003B (1947?)
For eye catching curb appeal, it will be hard to beat this uncommon Stewart Warner 9003B table radio. The large cabinet is extremely well made and complex in its design. The chassis is well designed. It is a very good performer on broadcast and includes two short wave bands. Five preset buttons. The internal antenna works quite well for local stations. There is a wire for short wave and more distant stations. The Large dial glass was an expensive reproduction and you won't need your reading glasses to tune the radio. The original speaker was missing, and I had to replace it with a permanent magnet speaker, which has been reconed and is perfect. The sound is very good. New grille cloth pretty similar to the original. A few minor blemishes and veneer repairs in the otherwise very nice cabinet. I have fabricated a mobile device cable to utilize the original Stewart Warner phonograph jack. None has ever sold on the Attic. This is a very nice radio. I am too deep into it expense wise, but it was too nice to pass up. I hope someone will think the asking price is worth it. 20"W x 12-1/2"H x 10"D. $349.00. (1680158)

Stromberg-Carlson 1110 (1946)
Stromberg-Carlson got their start making some of the earlier telephone switching equipment. Their equipment was famous for reliability, and when they moved to New York and branched out into radio, they carried that commitment into the new business. This 1110 is a nice example of that commitment to quality. The very well designed chassis is a good performer on the internal antenna, with screws for external. Six preset buttons can be used on either BC or SW, not a common feature. The cabinet is covered with attractive veneers and 15 coats of lacquer for a nice slick finish. I fine tuned a previous restoration, installed all high testing tubes and gave it a full alignment. The sound is the most amazing I have ever heard from a 5-inch speaker. I have provided a mobile device cable for the phono input. The finish on the dial bezel it a bit deteriorated, but not bad enough to risk fooling with it. A few dings and specks, but overall a very nice cabinet. Definitely an upper crust table radio. 16"W x 9-1/2"H x 9"D. $599.00. (1680125)

Weltron 2001 Space Helmet (1971)
Weltron cashed in on the Apollo craze with this unique and very well made model 2001 space helmet radio. AM/FM/8-track. AC, 12V lighter plug or eight "C" cells. Everything works except the external speaker jacks (Exact same plug as the 12v cable. You do the math). AM/FM reception is quite good and the sound isn't bad from the perfect 4-inch speakers. End segment missing from the antenna, but it is still too long. I threaded a screw into it so you can extend it normally. Balance slider a bit sticky in spite of my best efforts. A lot of tiny scratches in the front I couldn't polish out, but not too noticeable when viewed straight on. A repaired crack in the top (see photo). This came from a very dear friend 40 years ago, so hurts to sell. I hope someone will give it a good home. Reflection from my shirt in the front photo. After four tries, I gave up. Tapes available for a small fee, not guaranteed. Ask if interested. About 12-1/2"W x 12-1/2"H x 10-1/2"D. $299.00. (1680130)

Wild Planet DJ AM Transmitter
This one is a bit of a departure for me, but I saw it on eBay and couldn't resist. The little guy is actually a pretty good AM transmitter! Built in DJ microphone, built in cassette player, and a 1/8" jack to plug in a CD player or mobile device. Everything works on it and the sound was quite good on my Crosley Super 11. Turn your kids or grandkids loose with it to practice their DJ skills or just use it to broadcast to any of your AM radios from the music source of your choice. It comes from the factory set to 1610 kHz. For a $25 fee I can convert it to 1250 kHz. The bottom was missing the rubber feet, so is pretty scratched up. I put rubber feet on it. The battery door was missing. I made a clear plastic one for it. Range is about 30-50 feet depending what antenna you have on your radio. It's really a pretty cool little device, and I'd bet your kids or grandkids would have some fun with it. Or use it to broadcast to your radios from your mobile device or CD player. 9-1/2"W x 7"D x 3"H. Batteries included! $75.00. (1680133)

Zenith 5-R-312 (1938)
The unique styling of this Zenith 5R312 must have caught the eye of lots of buyers in 1938, as 16 of them have sold on the Attic. Often referred to as the "Beehive" for the round, fluted left side, it is the only instance I have seen where Zenith actually built a curved chassis just for this model. The little guy is a very good performer after my usual thorough chassis rebuild and a full alignment. The four presets tune sharp and receive as well as the dial tuning. I buffed the oxidation off the cabinet and gave it a light coat of clear lacquer to freshen up the finish. The result is a very eye catching shine! There is a small chip in the rim of one of the knobs, and I had to make a back cover for it. One of these sold on the Attic for a reported $705 in 2021. Wow. One sold a few months ago for $450. When I first saw this on eBay, I didn't love the style, but it has grown on me. I think it's a very cool little radio. I hope you do too! 12-1/2"W x 7-1/2"H x 7-1/4"D. Requires an external antenna. $399.00. (1680165)

Zenith 5-S-319 (1939)
Certain radios really caught the eye of buyers then, and now. This very nice Zenith 5S319 is one of those radios. This was a very good seller for Zenith, and a lot of them have survived. The cabinet is ornate and attractive, fronted with the classic, racetrack shaped dial that gives the set its nickname. The chassis is very well designed and a very good performer on shortwave and Broadcast. The reception is almost exactly as good on "automatic" as on dial tuning, which is rare. I gave it a very nice, slick finish, and my usual meticulous chassis rebuild, replacing all the caps and resistors. Full alignment, and a set of high testing tubes for long service life. Unfortunately, I couldn't save the fake zebra wood strip. To be honest, I have always felt that it looked out of place on the cabinet anyhow. One small veneer repair on the top rear. Knobs and pushbuttons are reproductions. I replaced the dangerous 6X5 rectifier with a solid state one. I can put a real one in there, but if it shorts and blows your power transformer, I won't cover that under warranty. This radio is top shelf in every regard except for the missing photo finish strip, and will be a standout in any collection. Many of these have sold in the 750 to 800 dollar range on Radio attic. I'm pricing this one a little lower because of the missing photo finish. Barring that, if you buy this radio, you will be getting one of the nicest examples of this model you are likely to find. $699.00. (1680137)

Zenith 6-D-317 (1938/1939)
Among the most unique and attractive table radios ever made you would have to count this Zenith 6D317 World's Fair Glass Rod table radio. Zenith made this for the 1938 San Francisco World's fair, and I don't think a great many of them have survived. My buddy John suggested I illuminate the glass rods in a red, white, and blue theme, so I did. I think it's really cool, but if you don't like it there is a switch on the back to turn them off. A very nice finish with 20 coats of lacquer and three sanding operations. A few minor shortcomings from 90 years of service. My usual professional chassis restoration. Original knobs and buttons are a bit less than perfect, but very presentable. I had to make the back cover. This is a very unique and highly sought after radio, and not one you see every day. The lighted rods are amazing, and the performance is very good. I have a ton of work in it and I hope you will think it is worth the price. Requires an external antenna. 14"W x 8"H x 8"D. $1,099.00. (1680135)

Zenith 6-S-330 (1939)
Here's one you don't see every day. Five of this very sharp Black Dial Zenith 6S330 have sold on the Attic topping out at $899 two years ago. Often referred to by collectors as the "Stars and Stripes" model, I get the "stars" part, but where are the stripes? :) This is a very nice, three-band, six-tuber with five preset buttons, a tone control, and a very accurate dial on broadcast. I gave it a nice, slick finish with 14 coats of lacquer and three sanding operations. A few specks and dings remain, but it is really very nice! The 5516 chassis is well made and a very good performer. I reconed the speaker with a modern cone and the sound is better than new. I replaced all the caps and resistors and gave it a full alignment. All high testing tubes for long service life. The chassis was rusted so I had to paint it. The knobs and buttons were missing so I had to replace them with reproductions. The dial escutcheon is original, and a little deteriorated. I've seen them stripped to brass, which I personally like, but I never know what collectors want. A previous restorer haggled a hole in the 6K7 tube shield for the metal tube. All in all, this is a very striking example of this Zenith classic and would be a standout in any collection. Requires an external antenna. 18"H x 13-1/2"W x 9-1/2"D. $799.00. (1680148)

Zenith 6-S-528 (1941)
Zenith cranked out a lot of radios with this basic chassis in them. For some reason, the smaller 6S527 is much more common. This one had a previous refinish job that was a little less than perfect, but I didn't want to strip it and lose the woodgrain pinstripes, so I doctored it up the best I could and put eight coats of lacquer over it. The result is a nice slick finish and a fairly good looking and good performing radio. The tint is a little darker at the bottom front, but not as bad as the camera made it look. The speaker has one patch by a previous servicer, but sounds very good. A full set of high testing tubes, all new caps, including stuffing the electrolytic, resistors as necessary and replaced most of the rubber wiring. After alignment, it receives Broadcast fairly well on the internal "wave magnet" antenna. There are screw terminals for shortwave and more distant stations. Remember the old Zenith slogan? "The quality goes in before the name goes on." 16"W x 8-3/4"H x 7-1/2"D. $299.00. (1680099)