Ducati radio
 

Being in motorcycle journalism for years and loving motorcycles, especially European ones and Italian makes in particular, I've known for a long time that Ducati made radios before they made motorbikes.

I've been to the factory, and the museum, but I've never seen one this large or impressive:

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...ucatiradio.jpg

Ducati's radio and electronics production was a post-war start up; an effort to supply the war-torn country with low-priced goods. Thus, all of the Ducati-brand radios I've seen were small, plastic, single band units (broadcast) about the size of the early transistor table sets.

This one is clearly multi-band, with what looks like a fairly elaborate multi-grain cabinet. I wonder if it could be a fake, to cash in on this very popular name? It's to be auctioned off in Florida, along with a pretty good number of two-wheeled goods.

Here's the website, if you'd like to look at the motorcycles too:

http://www.jwoodandcompany.com/2008/...signments1.htm

Damn, that's a beauty! Leave it to the Italians to make something so sexy! It's pretty darn big too! How does it sound?

Beats me. All I know is what I can see in the picture. That isn't me holding the radio...I'm not that old yet! :no:

It does have sexy lines, but I'd have to say I still prefer the stately-styling found on German sets. Nothing beats elegant rectangular in my book! :D

That is a sharp radio.. lo0oks like it's going 100 mph just sitting there.. beautiful wood too...

Thanks for the link for the bikes.. guess I know what I'll be looking at all morning :D

I wanted to ride the bike into work today, but I was feeling too hung over to move the speaker out from behind it to get it out of the garage this morning.. :tears:

Oh I'm DIEING laughing over the Parilla internal combustion iron used for speed ironing races... :lmao:

:wtf:

I looked at the iron also. Love the description. That radio is very interesting. Wish there was more of a description with it such as whether it works.

Yeah, wonder how many Tooobs/transistors/flux capacitors/Hydrostatic Gonkulators that puppy has ?

What do you ride Similost?

I've been doing motorcycles a lot longer than radio, but caught the passion for both from my dad. For what I buy, radio is a lot cheaper and easier to stash!

Italian maker Moto Guzzi never made a radio, but if they did I bet it would sound good...

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...n/LeMansIV.jpg

This is my bought-new 1985 Le Mans 1000. I completed a mini-restoration last summer but it still has the original finish. A very satisfying machine.

I"ve got an 02 Roadstar...

Looks different now.. different seat and pipes on it now..

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/att...1&d=1202420074

That radio's the real deal. See the photos at:

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/ducati_..._rr3411_1.html

In gorgeous condition, too. Anybody going to the auction want to put in a bid for me?

Couldn't resist adding a photo of me astride the BSA Lightning that I've owned for 30+years. And no, that's not what I dress like when actually riding it :-)

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

Looks like the wood has some pretty heavy crazing and cracking on the top.. would be nice to see a picture of the top..

Cool BSA.. I'd love to find an old bike like that, or a Honda from the 50's or early 60's..

I might add that, with only 5 tubes, the performance would be no better than small, cheap radios of that era. A big speaker in a big cabinet would give you somewhat better audio, but that's about it.

In other words, the radio looked like a million bucks, but would be left in the dust by true high-end radios of the day.

Phil Nelson

Yeah, basically an AA5 w/a sexay body...Now, if it had 15 or 20 tooobs, then THAT would be somethin'...

I actually took that picture. It's my dad's radio, definitely not a fake, unless it was faked before I was born, it's been in our house as long as I can remember (I'm 27). Does anyone else have one of these? I'd love to trade pictures.

Really nice looking radio whether a 5 tuber, 25 tuber or a crystal radio. Not sure I'd be selling it unless financially strapped. Just too cool. I can see myself listening to old time radio shows with it.

Please don't take my 'fake' comment too seriously Toaster...I'm just getting cynical in my old age...

That is a beautiful set. The idea to auction it off at a motorcycle event is a great idea. If I were to give one tip, I'd advise you hold out for YOUR price. The MidAmerica auction series my being more success.