Radiodrome
Mitch, I'm also into collecting antique radios and communications receivers, those plastic radios would get you a fortune now on ebay, and the Victrolas would also net you some serious cash. I'm from Worcester, Ma. too bad you weren't still open I'd probably be one of your best customers.
I'm more into the console radios, one of my more rare ones I own is a 1928 Majestic console that weighs at least 100 lbs. probably more, it has legs and doors and is solid wood and works great and actually sounds pretty good too. It's about 4.5 ft. high 2.5 ft wide and 1.5 ft. deep it's immense. I have a Hammarlund HQ-180C communications receiver made from 1959 to 1962 that has 18 tubes, triple conversion and is so sensitive and selective I can get foreign countries between the North American AM band frequencies. They call them boat anchors and the best of them (like this one) performs just as well if not better than the best of today, just weighs a little (lot) more that's all. I also have a 1939 RCA 811K console with push buttons and a motor to change the stations, I have had it since 1970 when I traded an 8 track player for it (I think I got the best end of that deal). It's has never broken down in all these years and I used to use that thing for hours every day, I got over 75 countries on it on shortwave and many long distance medium wave stations also (regular AM band). I have a lot more stuff but it would take a very long post, but I too have been into that stuff since I was a kid when everyone had a console radio in their cellar and wanted to get rid of them.
I'm more into the console radios, one of my more rare ones I own is a 1928 Majestic console that weighs at least 100 lbs. probably more, it has legs and doors and is solid wood and works great and actually sounds pretty good too. It's about 4.5 ft. high 2.5 ft wide and 1.5 ft. deep it's immense. I have a Hammarlund HQ-180C communications receiver made from 1959 to 1962 that has 18 tubes, triple conversion and is so sensitive and selective I can get foreign countries between the North American AM band frequencies. They call them boat anchors and the best of them (like this one) performs just as well if not better than the best of today, just weighs a little (lot) more that's all. I also have a 1939 RCA 811K console with push buttons and a motor to change the stations, I have had it since 1970 when I traded an 8 track player for it (I think I got the best end of that deal). It's has never broken down in all these years and I used to use that thing for hours every day, I got over 75 countries on it on shortwave and many long distance medium wave stations also (regular AM band). I have a lot more stuff but it would take a very long post, but I too have been into that stuff since I was a kid when everyone had a console radio in their cellar and wanted to get rid of them.
Thanks for your Bob.I dig the old consoles too.I'd like to see some pictures of your stuff.I think you would like the Pavek Museum,It is near were I live.Check it out:
http://www.pavekmuseum.org/
http://www.pavekmuseum.org/