I got this years ago at a yard sale for a few bucks, because the needle was broke(like all of these models) and it was very dirty with paint specs all over it. This is a 3-RF-91.
Today, I put a new cord on it, and to my surprise it worked flawlessly(did need some DeOxit[faderlube of course] though). The 8" speaker sounds better than any table-top vintage radio I have ever listened to. The radio fires up in a few seconds, all tubes strong, and no buzz.
So, I was worried I couldn't find a needle for it. Then, while I was cleaning the dial round out(hard to do I might add), I found the needle pieces in the "dust-cake". I soldered the needle back together, which looks perfect and cleaned the outside up. I don't clean the insides, because I like the smell of burnt dust, but I do make sure there is nothing inside the chassis.
I really like that it has FM, because AM is just talk and gospel..
This is one of my new favorites. With all the research I have done, mine seems to be the only one of these pictured on the internet with the needle intact. Most have the half-moons broke off. most people just break the other half off when one half is broke.
Here is a pic of the radio when the needle was broke, right after the initial cleaning.
Here is the inside and back of the radio. I hooked a CD player to the phono jack, and it sounds great. I have a rca bakelite 45 player somewhere I will hook to it someday.
Here are the pics after the full-on cleaning and needle repair.
