1927 RCA Radiola 17

[mg196]

Very cool! Here is the post & pics:

Here is an electronically restored RCA Radiola 17 radio from 1927. This radio does work (a wire antenna is required) or can be used for decoration. The finish on the cabinet is original and has a few nicks/scratches and wear for its 75+ years but does show well. These older radios require an external speaker but is not included.

[Sandy G]

Is this bad boy a battery set or a very early AC set? I have a Grebe Mu-1 Synchrophase from '27 that is battery operated...nevr have been able to "fire it up". I have 2 speakers, a "cathedral" looking one, & a "morning glory" horn. Neither one really sounds all that great, & I think they've got some weird impedance-10K ohms or something, so there's no way to use a modern speaker.-Sandy G.

[mg196]

Well, it was posted on the DC CL for $125 ($50 w/o tubes), so I have no idea.

Hey Sandy, are you one of the new Mods? Congrats!

[Chad Hauris]

If you don't have one of the old high impedance speakers to use with these radios, just use a tube type speaker output transformer or 70 volt PA line transformer with the high impedance side to the radio's speaker terminals, secondary to modern 8 ohm speaker and it will work fine. We tried this on an Arborphone radio before we found a Radiola speaker at a pawn shop in Alamagordo, N.M.

[Dave A]

The Radiola 17 is an AC set. Socket power as it was called then. Most homes with early AC only had a 20amp circuit run to the house and usually to a ceiling lamp or two. You would screw an Edison plug adaptor in to the socket to power a radio.

I have a Radiola 33 with the original cord, and it is exceptionally long. Long enough to reach the hanging socket coming from the ceiling.

The tube lineup is 71A, 26, 27, 26, 26, 26, 80.

Part of the circuit is a potted filter network. If that has been done, good for you. I think the proper speaker is the 100A.

It is missing it's lamp hood and Radiola Guy has reproductions...just not now. They are almost always missing.

Dave A