1931 Unknown Manuf. Console Radio (pics included)
 

Gettin this.

Here's what I know:

The chassis plate doesn't give a brand, just says that it uses patents from RCA, GE, and Westinghouse. Also states "1931 Series AC Receiver".
It's 25" wide by 47 1/2" tall by 14 1/2" deep.

It's coming home sometime....week, two from now maybe.


here are the two pictures I have.

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/i...d/P8201577.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/i...d/P8201578.jpg

What I'd like to know is:

1) what is it?
2) is there a Riders/Sams/Schema?
3) what might be the missing tubes?
4) replacement speaker ideas? It looks pretty damaged.

Thanks all. Sorry I'm not on this forum much, but vintage radio/TV are usually not what I am interested in. They are awesome tho...they just take up way too much space. And they usually cost more than the gear I find. This one's free plus gas money :D :smoke:

There was a manufacturer named "A-C Dayton" back then, but I'm probably barking up the wrong tree. Someone here may recognize it.

Don't recognize the radio but it's a nice one. I believe the AC in this case refers to the fact that it runs on house current. As to the speaker, if the voice coil and field coil are OK, it can be reconed to work better than new.

Oh, I do know it runs on A/C, rather than batteries.

A bit odd in that there is another shelf below the chassis shelf, and apparently a door in the front? Wonder what that was for. Perhaps the maker used a cabinet intended for a battery radio, and the lower shelf was for the batteries? Almost looks like some kind of a drawer assembly down there from the rear view?

I wonder where the AC transformer is hiding ? Maybe underneath the chassis on the front left where I see some bolts ? Then the missing tube to the right would be an 80 rectifier. The other empty socket could be a 24 detector. The 3 with the grid caps look like 24s. That leave the two output tubes - 45s ?

Cool deal.

never thought that you guys would try to guess the tube linup this early.

When I get it, I'll post it. I'll start lookin for a type 80 and 24.

Agree with Bob. The more I look at it, that sort of cabinet with a drop-down "desk" arrangement at the controls was passé by the end of the twenties/early thirties, which is when the chassis would have been made. Tube lineup could be checked against dates of tube type introduction to further date the chassis. That trio of tubes with top caps look like 24's or 24A's, introduced in 1929/1930 repectively. I have a feeling somebody put a newer chassis in a nice older cabinet originally made for a battery set. The wood/finish of the control panel would be another clue: does it match the construction of the rest of the cabinet?

I love a mystery!

Well, here you go.

I'll let the pictures tell the story:

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/i...a/IMG_3078.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/i...a/IMG_3080.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/i...a/IMG_3081.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/i...a/IMG_3082.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/i...a/IMG_3083.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/i...a/IMG_3084.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/i...a/IMG_3088.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/i...a/IMG_3089.jpg

Has one Rayethon and one Tung-Sol type 45, pair of Silvertone 24's, can't remember the other 24A...

Hit's Junque-Box 'er up 'n' send 'er t'me, I'll give 'er a good burial....(grin) Seriously, that is a GORGEOUS set, a little TLC & maintenance, & you'll have something to be VERY proud of....I think you'll be AMAZED at what it'll pick up, 'specially here this winter...

Very cool set! I love how the panel covering the control folds out. I see the power transformer was hiding underneath the chassis. Very clean and pristine under there - no sign of ugly repairs. Check out the bright paint on those resistors :)

Sorry, I'm not sure what model it is or where to find a schematic.

Looks like someone added an AC chassis to a 20's battery set-batteries on the lower shelf, hence the lower door to access them. The speaker was probably a horn originally.

It dies look pristine.

What are the four silver cans? They are wired to the tuning capacitors.

And what is the gold lookin can? I pulled the top off of it and it has 3 wires running to it.

Everything else is pretty standard.

Who was "A. R. Co.?" Anybody recognize the knobs?

When the conversion was done, the chassis shelf ought to have been lowered a bit to center the controls better. Since it's a conversion anyway, that could still be done and a suitable piece of veneer used on the plywood panel.

Silver cans will have the RF coils in them, one for each tuning gang. The gold can is probably the power supply filter caps.

Allied Radio, Andrea Radio, Ansley Radio, Automatic Radio...just guesses. I did check the Riders index and no luck with a "1931" model number on those.

Heck, it's a long shot, but look in Riders Vol. 1 at the Audiola "Junior"

I was going to suggest Automatic Radio, but got beaten to the punch....

That is one lovely old radio there.

Bruce

I found two radio companies a.r.co & arco at radio museum .Is your set 110 &
240. Both of theses makers made sets in france and U.S.A. . looks kind of a french design . Knobs and all. Maybe.:scratch2:

You can use chamois leather to replace the original rotten surround of your speaker.

I'm against using modern foam surrounds which will rot again in 10 years or reconing speakers with modern woofer cones which are way too heavy for the weak voice coil.

If the entire cone has to be replaced, WeberVST is the only place i know where you can buy correct vintage-style lightweight paper cones.

Kiwick, that's great information. I don't like the idea of foam rubber surrounds either on vintage speakers, but haven't seen a source of paper edged ones until you listed this one; thanks, I've added it to my favorites. What are even harder to find are all-paper cones for smaller speakers, 4, 5, and 6-inch. New PM speakers can be found in those sizes, but when you have a field coil speaker it's preferable to recone it.

The speaker has a nameplate on the back of the magnet, "Magnavox Company . . ." Wondering if this radio might be a very early Magnavox battery set.

This is an AC line voltage operated set. Magnavox, Rola, Utah, and others made speakers for many early radios.