'39 Motorola "Picnic" portable

[jr_tech]

Originally Posted by decojoe67

Cool! It's a nice robust set and a great performer once restored. My research on it has shown that it was available in a few different types of Tolex finishes, dial and knob colors.

Here is a quick shot of the color scheme on mine... I just ploped it down on an end table that is being prepaired for our tree. The Matchless “wonder stars” also date back to the 30s.



jr

[decojoe67]

Originally Posted by jr_tech

Here is a quick shot of the color scheme on mine... I just ploped it down on an end table that is being prepaired for our tree. The Matchless “wonder stars” also date back to the 30s.



jr

Very nice example! I like that variation too. Nice how they used the light colored knobs on yours to contrast the darker tone.

[jr_tech]

Another battery only set in my collection is this compact Majestic 130 which at only 4x5.5x7 inches, is similar in size to the Sonora “Candid” mentioned earlier in this thread.



Major difference in design philosophy however, the Sonora uses 4 miniature tubes, while the Majestic stuck with octal tubes, and only had room for 3 tubes. Performance is not outstanding, but it is a cute little radio, and difficult to find. Likely not as inexpensive as the larger sets.

jr

[decojoe67]

Originally Posted by jr_tech

Another battery only set in my collection is this compact Majestic 130 which at only 4x5.5x7 inches, is similar in size to the Sonora “Candid” mentioned earlier in this thread.



Major difference in design philosophy however, the Sonora uses 4 miniature tubes, while the Majestic stuck with octal tubes, and only had room for 3 tubes. Performance is not outstanding, but it is a cute little radio, and difficult to find. Likely not as inexpensive as the larger sets.

jr

Nice example. A friend and fellow collector had one of them for sale once and being he did my repair work, he didn't seem too excited to get it working for me, so I passed. It's a nice set, but the tenite disk knobs warp badly. Like the little '33 Kadette Jr. AC set, it was more of novelty than anything else. You just can't beat the more typical larger models.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by decojoe67

Nice example. A friend and fellow collector had one of them for sale once and being he did my repair work, he didn't seem too excited to get it working for me, so I passed. It's a nice set, but the tenite disk knobs warp badly. Like the little '33 Kadette Jr. AC set, it was more of novelty than anything else. You just can't beat the more typical larger models.

If you look at the schematic in N/A, you'll see the 1D8GT tube is a multi-purpose tube. It's a proper superhet, but not much in the line of AVC.
I don't think too many were made or survived.

[decojoe67]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

If you look at the schematic in N/A, you'll see the 1D8GT tube is a multi-purpose tube. It's a proper superhet, but not much in the line of AVC.
I don't think too many were made or survived.

Interesting little set. Yeah, the one my friend had was the only one that I can recall I had the chance to acquire. I should've gotten it because other than a missing strap, it was in pretty good shape. I do have my little 2-tube Kadette Jr. working and it's almost comical how it performs. It just squeaks out audio!

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by decojoe67

Interesting little set. Yeah, the one my friend had was the only one that I can recall I had the chance to acquire. I should've gotten it because other than a missing strap, it was in pretty good shape. I do have my little 2-tube Kadette Jr. working and it's almost comical how it performs. It just squeaks out audio!

It's some form of a regenerative TRF.
I looked at the schematic again and they made four different variations of it.