Browse all categories
96 Show & Tell Posts Today

Collectors Weekly

The ‘golden age of radio’ may be gone, but antique radios are still going strong. Whether you’re interested in a specific manufacturer (RCA, Philco, Zenith, Crosley, Emerson) or style (catalin, transistor, cathedral or console), there’s a radio out there for you.

You can identify most antique radios by model number, which can include any combination of letters and numbers. If you don't see a manufacturer's name, look inside the chassis, as it may be stamped on the tubes or other components.

The earliest radios were typically bare components (e.g. glass tubes) mounted on a board. Later came plain wooden or metal boxes, and by the late 1920s, elaborate cabinets designed to look like real furniture. Cathedral and tombstone style wooden cabinets were popular during the 1930s. And Art Deco style radios made of Bakelite, Catalin and other early resins or plastics (Plaskon, Beetle, etc) became popular during the 1930s and 1940s. Transistors were introduced in 1957, displacing tubes and enabling miniaturization...

Although you may be able to play an unrestored antique radio, note that its capacitors are likely to fail without warning (and may also pose a fire hazard), so replacing them pre-emptively is advisable.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Show & Tell

Grundig Classic - Radiosby toolate2
in Radios
2 years ago
Old radio - Radiosby mllcolts
in Radios
9 months ago
Sterling Antique radio w/ Rola Model K - Radiosby jdevos
in Radios
2 years ago
See all radios posts

Interviews & Articles

Understanding Antique Radios

You've just acquired an old radio, but apart from the manufacturer's name on the front, you don't know a blessed thing about it. L… [more]

Vintage Transistor Radios of the 1950s and 60s

Perhaps you recently saw a picture of a cool looking pocket radio from the early 1960’s and were reminded of your carefree, youthf… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Jim's Antique Radio Museum

Jim's Antique Radio Museum

Jim Tripp's showcase of radios from the 1920s to late 1950s, organized by style and theme (wood, console, plastic, … [read review or visit site]

The Radio Attic's Archives

The Radio Attic's Archives

This photo gallery of over 7800 vintage radios, categorized by manufacturer and model number, is a group effort wit… [read review or visit site]

AntiqueRadios.com

AntiqueRadios.com

Alan Voorhees' reference resource for vintage radio collectors includes a photo gallery, article library, PDF archi… [read review or visit site]

Radiomuseum.org

Radiomuseum.org

This vast archive and community of radio collectors features over 120,000 radio model listings and 350,000 photos a… [read review or visit site]

Phil's Old Radios

Phil's Old Radios

This extensive collection of antique radios includes beautiful photos and detailed historical descriptions. The sit… [read review or visit site]

Radiophile.com

Radiophile.com

John Pelham's collection of wood and plastic radios from the 1930's and 40's. What sets this site apart is the deta… [read review or visit site]

Radio-Guy

Radio-Guy

Steve Erenberg's extremely wacky and well-done collection of vintage mad-scientist devices and contraptions. Writte… [read review or visit site]



Clubs & Associations: Radios

Discussion Forums: Radios

Other Great Reference Sites: Radios

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 392 by  highest bid • most watched • completed
Gilfillan R-1100 Blue Mirror Glass Breadboard Antique Tube Radio - Mint! Vintage 1960s Old Rca 77 Art Deco Studio Ribbon Microphone + Multi-impedanceOriginal Emerson Model 400 Patriot - Red White & Blue Catalin Antique Tube Radio1933 Mcmurdo Silver Masterpiece Ii Am/shortwave Radio/raliegh CabinetFresh From Grandpa's Attic - Atwater Kent Model 10c W/tubesSnr 55 Excelsior Papillon Butterfly Tube Radio The Most Beautifull French RadioVintage 1940s Fada Art Deco Old Catalin Bakelite Radio With No Cracks !!!Western Electric 104-d Tennis Ball Tube Vintage Zenith 12s266 Console RadioOld Deforest/radiocraft Interpanel In Pretty Good Condition2 X El34-philips Miniwatt-metal Base-mached Codes-power Tubes.Vtg 50s 60s Magnavox Hifi Stereo Tube Se Amplifier Integrated El84/6bq5 AmpFunke W19 Tubestester RBendix Classic Jade And Black Catalin Tube Radio # 526cVintage Philips Stereo Tube Amplifier Mble " Nos " Unic " Find Mint 1940s Sonora Bakelite Or Catalin Radio Yellow W Maroon TrimSaba Schwarzwald 6-3d In Fabulous Condition And With Autom. Tuning Zenith 10s153 Console Radio1925 Deforest Ls-400 Radio Cone Speaker * Near Mint, Working & Very Rare Vintage 1920s Rca Radiola 26 Old Marconi Era Antique Wireless Radio Receiver !Vintage 1920s Old Majestic Ggh Antique Antique Celluloid Radio Horn Speaker !!!Mint Condition! Vintage 1955 Zenith Y600 Trans-oceanic Am Shortwave Tube Radio!Zenith 12 Band Trans Oceanic Radio -model R-7000-2 - Stunning Condition!!Toshiba "coffin" Transistor RadioRare Vintage 1920's Atwater Kent Breadboard Tube Radio W/ Tubes - Model 10Vintage 1931 Old Antique Jackson Bell Tulip Motif Depression Era Cathedral RadioPilot Midget ReceiverArvin Radio "deco" Compact Bakelite M-544 Working C-1946 Postwar Stunning Orig Gz34 Philips-miniwatEarly Deforest Radio Receiver, 3 TubesSonora Coronet Bakelite Radio - Vintage / Decco C.a. 1941 - Works - Great Cond.Vintage 1920s Crosley Pup Antique 1 Tube Radio , Cool Museum Type Display W/ BoxBendix Radio Model 526m C, 1946, Catalin Composition, NiceVintage,antique Zenith #8 S-129 1936 Wood Table Top Vacuum Tube Radio,early,Antique/vintage Federal Orthosonic Radio Receiver***from Early 1900's**Restored Graetz Luxus Stereosuper Fantasia 16 Tubes Vintage Tube Radio 4 X El95Transistor Radio - Bang & Olufsen Beolit 1000Vintage Tube Table Radios Rca Zenith Silvertone Philco Emerson WestinghouseRca Tmv-75b Antique Wave / Field Strength Meter Communication Museum PieceSilvertone Art Deco Tombstone Wood Case Bc Sw Tube Radio Model 4564Zenith Radio Prewar "deco" Bakelite M-6d512 Working C-1941 Stunning Original!! 1936 Zenith Black Dial Tombstone Radio Model 5s-29a (export Version). Restored.Zenith Twelve Band Trans Oceanic Transistor Radio - Model R7000 - Excellent!!E H Scott Laboratories Tube Radio Waverly Grand ConsoleBeautiful Early 1920's Amplion Wood Petal Radio Horn SpeakerVintage 1960s Old 8" Antique " Midget " Mini Japanese Transistor PhonographB.t.h Radiola Type C Form A Crystal Receiver-c.1922Old Antique Radio - Philco Vintage Wood Tube Model Restored, Working & Art DecoCicena Classic Overdrive Car Dashboard Portable Am Fm Stereo Cassette RadioVintage 1940s Old Rare Tesla " Talisman " Machine Age Art Deco Bakelite RadioSony Air-7 Air Am Fm Pll Synthesized Receiver RadioRadiotona With Sidelights "a Typical French Design" Near Mint Radiola Horn Style Vintage Loudspeaker For Tube Radio. 1920's EraBecker Europa Ii Stereo RadioAntique Zenith Cube Radio Model 5-s-2181930s Rca Victor Radio Service Sign, Fireball Streamliner W/chrome, GorgeousMajestic Radio Bakelite "deco" M-5a410 Working C-1946 Museum Quality Condition!!Vintage 1920s Antique " Kelford " Marconi Era Wireless Radio Old Tube AmplifierRca Victor Transistor 6 Transistor Radio Case Only -nosBlack Sansui Fx-700r Boombox Excellent Fully Working Rare

Recent News: Radios

Source: Google News

June Events at the Levittown Public Library
Patch.com, May 22nd

Exhibit: Nicholas Meola-- Mixed painting/digital media Display Cases: Michael Katz--Antique Radios. ADULT Programs Library Bus Trip - A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tour Tuesday, July 30, 2013 Approximate times: depart at 9:30 a.m. and return at 5:00 p.m.69...Read more

Pandora Launches New Facebook-Sharing App
PC Magazine, May 22nd

than ever to discover new music from friends' listening activity in your Facebook News Feed or by checking out the music section on their profile," he said in a blog post, adding that Facebook's new Music section also includes a dedicated radio...Read more

Master Gardeners partner with Habitat for Humanity
Gaston Gazette, May 21st

A display of unique planters included a “fairy garden” in an antique Radio Flyer red wagon, which will certainly be a winner with the kids. The Master Gardeners will participate as one of the entrants in Habitat's upcoming Designers Challenge on May 30-31...Read more

Today's Apps Gone Free: Tunable, Flickr Studio, Anything After And More
AppAdvice, May 21st

Vintage Radio™ ($3.99 ? Free, 23.3 MB): Relive the golden age of radio with this entertainment app. It comes preloaded with 4,000 episodes from some of the most popular shows broadcast in the 30s, 40s, and 50s. Episodes can be broken down by genre...Read more

Sitton proud of little-known tube industry
Wisconsin State Journal, May 19th

He still is. Among his collection are books with titles like "Instruments of Amplification," ''Electronics Pioneer Lee De Forest," ''The Meter at Work," ''RCA Receiving Tube Manual," plus the monthly Tube Collections Association publication and the...Read more

Alaska Notebook: Music stops
Anchorage Daily News, May 15th

The station carried vintage radio shows and once or twice I caught "Twilight Zone' on Sunday nights. But who says you can't cross generations? I remember my dad's uncharacteristic forbearance when I treated him to Woody Herman's "Woodchopper's Ball"...Read more

When Radio Was It
Levittown Tribune, May 14th

Michael Katz, longtime collector of vintage radios from the 1920s to '50s, said that the two kinds of things collectors go for are “stuff that's really unusual and really decorative or the rare and expensive sets.” For 30 years, Katz has not many...Read more

Warehouse on Fifth is made in both Sherwood Park and the past
Sherwood Park News, May 13th

Man versus himself because the lead character Doug (played by Roberts), is an antique radio collector who is going through some hard times. He doesn't have enough money to finish the renovations on his house, he'd hope to be able to pay off his...Read more