Videokarma.org

Go Back   Videokarma.org TV - Video - Vintage Television & Radio Forums > Antique Radio

We appreciate your help

in keeping this site going.
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11-05-2004, 05:59 PM
Charlie's Avatar
Charlie Charlie is offline
On Land
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Warren, TX
Posts: 2,578
Info on 1936 Sparton Bluebird

Hey guys and gals...

Someone in Kentucky contacted me today inquiring about a 1936 Sparton Blubird radio. I looked it up in my Machine Age to Jet Age II book and it claims this baby is worth quite a bit. Of course, I take this "price guide" info with a grain of salt, but it seems that most of these radios in this book range anywhere in value from 20 bucks to 150 bucks on average. Not too many of the radios get too high in price, but, the Sparton Bluebird goes pretty high... 2300 bucks for the blue one, and 3000 bucks for the peach one!

Does anyone know why this particular radio would bring so much? Or does anyone have any other knowledge of this radio?

I did not tell the person the values I found in my book... mainly because many people assume this info is cast in stone. I did, however, tell the person not to let anything bad happen to it, and not to plug it in without someone looking at it that knows what their doing.

I told him I would pass along any other info I could find, so, if any of you know anything on this little gem, let me know.

Thanks.
__________________
Charlie Trahan


He who dies with the most toys still dies.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-05-2004, 06:10 PM
Charlie's Avatar
Charlie Charlie is offline
On Land
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Warren, TX
Posts: 2,578
well, i did find a website in which this guy has restored one of these. Apparently, this radio is as rare as a Westinghouse 15" color tv!

The info was interesting and shows some good photos. I guess this person in Kentucky stumbled across a small little fortune.

http://antiqueradio.org/spar04.htm
__________________
Charlie Trahan


He who dies with the most toys still dies.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-05-2004, 07:01 PM
Sandy G's Avatar
Sandy G Sandy G is offline
Spiteful Old Cuss
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Rogersville, Tennessee
Posts: 9,571
Not necessarily-maybe. Seems like I remember a few years back there was some outfit w/a very odd name-Xonex, Xanex,- that was reproducing these babies-tubes 'n' all-I think-, for like $10-15K a pop. Other than the originals were VERY avant-garde, & VERY rare, I don't think there was anything all that special about them. That Xonex outfit had ads in Antique Radio Classified for a year or so, but I don't recall seeing them for awhile. -Sandy G.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-05-2004, 09:52 PM
Fisherdude's Avatar
Fisherdude Fisherdude is offline
The Golden Age of Hi-Fi
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Lewiston, ID
Posts: 324
The Sparton Bluebird, and a few other models, were mirror radios. That is, a mirror was a significant part of the artistic design of the radio. These were stunningly beautiful, and expensive, when new, and are very rare today because the silvering on the mirror would deteriorate and separate from the glass. In addition, the color is in the glass, not in a coating, so if the glass is broken or chipped, replacement is essentially impossible. IIRC, the peach is even more rare than the blue.

These radios regularly sell for several thousand dollars if in excellent condition.

It's a real find! Good luck!
__________________
I may be growing older, but I refuse to grow up.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-05-2004, 10:11 PM
Charlie's Avatar
Charlie Charlie is offline
On Land
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Warren, TX
Posts: 2,578
I just found out that this radio was originally his grandmother's. For many years now, it has been on a shelf at his parents' house. He got the radio a couple of years ago and always thought it was somewhat unique. He's never really been aware of what it's value was. He figured it was somewhat rare because he had never seen another one like it.

He told me the radio hadn't been played for at least 20 years, so I told him to keep it that way till he gets someone to go thru the set. I explained to him that it was a rare set, and could be worth a good bit. He says he'll probably check into getting someone to go thru the wiring later on. In the meantime, it will continue to look interesting where it sits.

I pointed him towards some sites that deal with these, so I'm sure he'll find the info useful.
__________________
Charlie Trahan


He who dies with the most toys still dies.
Reply With Quote
Audiokarma
  #6  
Old 01-03-2006, 10:27 AM
strawberry_joe
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
RE: Sparton Mirror Radios and Xonex

In the early - mid 1990s, the Xonex company sold two transistor replicas of Sparton blue mirror radios: the "Bluebird" and the "Nocturne." Xonex also sold an angular peach-colored mirror radio which was not a Sparton replica. I have one each of the Bluebird and the peach, the name of which I have forgotten, but I probably have the paperwork somewhere. Both radios were made in France, and feature LW, AM, and FM bands. Neither radio is a strong receiver and they are essentially "dust catchers" in our house. They sold new for $200.00 - $250.00, and have been out of production for maybe 10 years.

The Nocturne was a fairly expensive replica and was produced for a very short time. I don't remember the cost -- but I remember it was too expensive for me to justify purchase -- or the production life span.

I have not seen any the Xonex Bluebird or peach replicas on or off the Internet, but I did see one Nocturne replica on display at an antique store in the Atlanta area, but it wasn't for sale and the owner was never available for me to question.

I think that the Xonex company continued to produce miniature replica radios and miniature pedal car replicas for several years, but I'm not sure if they're still in business. I located their website about 6 years ago and I mailed them a SASE with an inquiry about their Nocturne -- now I can afford one -- but I never received a reply.

Does anyone have any more information about Xonex radios?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-04-2006, 12:27 AM
Nolan Woodbury's Avatar
Nolan Woodbury Nolan Woodbury is offline
Shaken, not stirred
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Central Arizona
Posts: 194
...Nothing on the Xonex, but the original Sparton Nocturne (1936, according to my research information) was a 46" diameter (!!) mirrored console that's probably worth more than my house by now. Looking through some of my old radio books, Sparton (Sparks-Withington Company / Jackson, Michigan) made some very attractive wood and/or glass table radios and consoles. Some aren't as pricey, such as the very handsome 141XX wood table radio; 8-tubes, AM/FM with a big chrome bezel around its slide rule dial. Tasty! Others, like the square-ish, blue-mirrored (replete with chrome fins) Model 557 are simply breathtaking...and $2000 a pop.

This is low production, high-end stuff to be sure. I wonder how they sound?
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:00 AM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
©Copyright 2012 VideoKarma.org, All rights reserved.