-40%
1936 Restored Vintage Sears Silvertone AM & SW Table Radio with Tuning Eye
$ 474.67
- Description
- Size Guide
Description
Before the Sales Pitch: I know that there are many interested parties that follow my sales here on ebay because they often email me. The pricing on this Sears & Roebuck eye tube radio reflects having to use three junkers in order to complete one exceptionally restored radio. 1936 junkers don't come cheap and condition runs the gamut; just check out circa 1936 / 1937 Wood Cabinet Radios here on ebay to see what I mean. I don't mind telling you, this Sears, Roebuck & Co. radio will be the last 1930's radio I will be restoring. The costs of obtaining 1930 era radio sets, obtaining period component parts, various other bits & pieces, coupled with man hours of restoration work, make this work highly expensive to do; approaching levels that are almost unmarketable ! Buyers are unaware that the commission seller's pay to ebay is 13%. Moreover, seller's pay 13% commission on whatever monies are received for shipping. Yes, that means that sellers, in effect, pay 13% of the shipping costs.
Sales Pitch:
If you are looking for a 1930's Depression Era restored old-time tube radio with
Tuning Eye
that can be played as often as you like and for as long as you like, please read on:
You are viewing a totally restored
Sears, Roebuck & Co.
AM Broadcast & Short Wave Broadcast table radio set from 1936. This radio set has been restored to it's original condition and is ready to bring another lifetime's listening pleasure to it's proud new owner. Overall condition is EXCEPTIONAL, very nearly NEW. You will be satisfied with this radio set because no detail inside OR outside has been overlooked in order to deliver both "dependable performance" and appealing cabinetry. Every effort has been made to offer a practically new radio, performing as it did originally, and to be maintenance free for quite some time.
The wood veneer cabinet is in exceptional condition without any cracks, delamination of veneers, or patch-job repairs. The cabinet has been refinished using linseed oil varnish to bring out the texture of the veneers and impart a soft shine. Brass eye shade cover has been polished and over-lacquered to prevent future tarnishing. A scratch-free watchglass covers the original embossed silk screened dial face. The new speaker cloth is a traditional period reproduction especially chosen to compliment the dramatic dial face and veneer wood cabinet. This model measures 17" X 11" X 8.5"high.The original wood back is present.
The electronics inside the chassis are in superb working condition after a thorough overhaul.
The all-important power transformer is in excellent condition without any signs of burning out or future troubles; resistance & voltage values are in spec.
In general, that cannot be said for many of the other 1930's radios available. The field coil incorporated into the loudspeaker is likewise in excellent condition with no signs of failure; though, the speaker itself required re-coning and plays just fine now! Yes, the dial string is new as well as the period AC power line cord. The off/on Volume Control is brand new; not NOS. The Tone Control is likewise smooth.
This model receives AM Broadcast signals from 550 KHZ to 1750 KHZ. It has two Short Wave Bands. So-called Police band from 2.2 MHZ to 6.5 MHZ and 6.2 MHZ to 18.0 MHZ. Not too much action on the old Police band. The tuning circuits on all these old 1930's radio sets was very sharp on Short Wave. So, tune slowly as not to skip a radio station that's transmitting. Also. short wave stations drift in and out; all depending on the atmospheric conditions. This effect is not a defect. By the way, Amateur Radio DX Operators are welcoming the start of Solar Cycle 25 where conditions in the Earth's atmosphere amplify receipt of distant radio signals. It means that distant AM broadcast station signals will be stronger at night. This radio receives AM signals on three separate bands.
This radio uses 6 receiving tubes plus an eye tube. All 7 tubes are "new old stock" and the dial light bulb is new and rated at 3000 hours. A very thorough restoration job sums it all up. Check out all the photos.
Back in 1936, this radio was designed to use a No.6G5, 6 prong eye tube. Today, the cost of a "New Old Stock" 6G5 eye tube starts at .00. If you can find a true NOS 6G5, chances are it's emission will be low. That means that the eye will never close all the way in use. I should mention, the tuning eye closes all-the-way when receiving a strong AM radio station. The eye opens about 25% when the radio dial is not on a strong radio station. For this Sears, Roebuck & Co. radio, I fashioned an adaptor to go from a 6 prong eye tube to an improved 8 prong eye tube type No. 1629. The 1629 retrofit is bright and works like a charm. The eye tube socket and all wire connections have been replaced. The original wires were all cracked, intermittent and absolutely required replacement.
All of the radios I sell come loaded with NEW tubes; period. Included with this sale will be a complete set of NOS tubes for this radio. Yes, that will include a NOS No. 1629 eye tube. It's nice to have a dependable set of tubes around for diagnostic purposes should performance fall off in the future. Also, included is a spare new dial light bulb.
Radios from 1936 did not yet utilize loop antennas; they received their station signals from a single wire aerial which I will provide for you to attach to the antenna post on the bottom left of the chassis (see photo).
Following the restoration, all radio circuits were re-tuned to their specification using instrumentation. The end result is an old fashioned Wood cabinet eye-tube radio giving excellent reception across the dial.
Thoroughly bench tested, this vintage Sears, Roebuck & Co. radio set is ready for it's new home. So, if you're seeking both dependability as well as old fashioned styling in a restored AM & SW radio set from 1936, you've come to the right place. The only thing you could want extra would be a fire side chat. Heaven knows the Country could use one just now !
Buyer to pay shipping charges as determined by eBay's automated shipping calculator for your geographic location. This radio is heavy as it is constructed from a heavy old fashioned metal chassis and wood cabinet. I will use FedEx for shipment.
I will double box using new cartons so that your new radio arrives undamaged in transit. The outer box size will be 20"x20"x20".
The Model Airplane is a 1936 Spitfire and not part of this sale. However, I will be enclosing FDR's photo.