My Latest Find - RCA Tombstone
 

$100 shipping included from CA to PA. Whatta deal!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ayphotohosting

Oooooo...NICE ! B'lieve you got you a dandy set there, Mike !

Interesting story: Seller stopped the auction early. Apparently he was severely overwhelmed by questions that he couldn't answer. This one will arrive with a mystery attached...one of the questions was mine. "Is this a model 128 (six tubes) or a model 143 (nine tubes)?" Won't know until it arrives.

Woo Hoo!! I have it on good authority that it is indeed a model 143. 5Z3 rectifier, 6D6 RF, two 6A7's Oscillator and 1st detector, 6D6 IF, 75 2nd detector, 76 AF, and a pair of 42 outputs in push-pull. Can't wait to get this one on the bench!

It's definitely a 143 cabinet. The 128 does not have the decorative piece at the top of the arch. Looks like you got a heck of a deal. I paid several times as much for mine. They are very nice looking sets and perform great when you get them all dialed in. Please keep us posted and show us more pics when it arrives.

Gilbert

You can count on it.

Mike,

We all know you bought it for the knobs. Forget the pristine condition and collectability. Hope to see it at the DVHRC meeting soon.

Dave A

That is a sweety of a set.
Dan

Well, the RCA 143 arrived on Monday, 7/2, and to say I was disappointed after wading through wads of newspaper. a half a mile of bubblewarp and a bushel of peanuts would be an understatement. I fianally figured out why the seller ended the auction early because he was "overwhelmed" with questions about the piece. Believe it or not, when I finally got the bugger unwrapped, I discovered that about of a third of the sides and back had been surgically removed! (Photos to follow in the near future). This mod was apparently made so the radio could sit on a shelf that simply wasn't big enough. In case you aren't familiar with it, the 143 is about two feet tall, eighteen inches wide and a foot deep. But on a positive note, the final cost to me was only a c note, shipping included from San Bernadino to Philly. After cleaning, the chassis is imaculate. Replaced the filter caps and had to sub the dead 5X3 rectifier for an 80, a pilot lamp, a couple of squirts of Deoxit and it plays magnificently. (Shortwave in major profusion!) A full recap and rehab to follow. As for the cabinet, whoever made the cuts did a remarkable job. Very clean, consise slices. I am going to have my cabinet specialist have a look and see if it can be ressurected. Otherwise, I'll have to hunt down a replacement. If not, I can surely make my money back or better by selling off the chassis. In the interest of Karma, I have chosen not to leave this seller feedback, negative or otherwise. I did, however, send him a tart email expressing my displeasure. Methinks I'll never get a reply....and it'll probably be another decade of searching before I finally have the trophy I've longed for all these years.

So, I take it the picture in the auction was *very carefully* taken. Man, you just never know. Glad it plays well tho.

I feel for you...A LOT of us know what that feeling is like; A.K.A. "The Rest Of The Story" or "The Other Side Of The Coin". Grrrr....

It would be instant Karma if you could fix/restore the wood. Hope you don't give up Mike...it sounds like the radio is owned by someone who really understands now! Good luck with it-