Can You I.D. this True Tone?
 

Maybe you guys can give me a little info on this radio? It's a friends radio, and got it for $5 at a garage sale. It has a TT, storage, works fine, and the speaker is on the side. In very nice shape. Missing one knob. Thanks for any info. :thmbsp:

By it having what looks like a tuning eye and a slide rule dial, I'd say it's from the early '40's. A model number will help us date this more accurately.

The models D-1845 & D-1846 had slide rule dials, four knobs, and a pull-out turntable. How many tubes? That will help narrow it down a bit.

I've been waiting to get the answers to your questions. Thanks for the help.

ok this number is etched on the bed of tubes.....1M875874... and tubes...it looks like one large one and 2 smaller ones. Found it...model D1250 series A.

Hhmmm. Should have more than three tubes. The D-1210 & D-1240 have eight. Can't find a D-1250 in my reference material.

OK, I'm gonna ask her to check the tube compliment again, and double check the model number, etc.

Thanks for the help. Maybe we can get to the bottom of this.

The person looking at it might've been thrown off several tubes by the shields. Any cylindrical can should be examined closely to see if it is hiding any glass. And one need also bear in mind that likely not all the tubes in that set are glass.

thanks, i'll pass this on to her.

five more smaller bottles encased in shields, with small holes at the tops, made of glass, for a total of 8. three factory installed info sheets glued to the inside. model number is correct; D1250 Series A. 114w, 65A. (that sounds high to me, but i'm not a tube guy)

has am, shortwave and the changer.

Anyone?

Looks like a 9-tuber, I agree on the approx. date as late pre-war. Made by True Tone for Western Auto I think, so it would have been purchased at a Western Auto store originally. Schematic available here:

http://www.nostalgiaair.org/Resources/446/T0000446.htm

What else you wanna know? Hope you haven't plugged it in. It will need a complete recap to run properly. And the TT will need major work to be workable.

Hey thanks for the info:thmbsp:

It belongs to a friend, and she said she plugged it in and it turned on. All tubes were glowing, and she even got AM reception. Platter spins, too. She then turned it off, and has kept it unplugged since.

I think she wants to know what value, if any, this thing has, although she says she's keeping it. I guess this part should go in dollars and sense?

Thanks again. :yes:

Actually TrueTone was Western Auto's house brand. They were made by some other company, possibly Detrola or something. There used to be a lot of radio makers that created private-label sets for various companies. As for value, 40s consoles aren't generally worth all that much, probably because the space they consume. 30s and prior consoles are worth more, but they have a more limited market because of their size. My best suggestion to get a rough value is to see what they go for on ebay, though don't expect any local sale or auction to bring that kind of money. Wild guess on my part, probably 100-200 if its in good shape, complete, and working.

I think you're right about Detrola. Probably some info over at the Antique Radio Forum.