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About Antique Tube Radios

In the late 1800s the vacuum tube revolutionized the harnessing of electricity for practical uses, and by 1914 the technology was mature enough that AT&T bought the rights to manufacture vacuum tube radios from innovator Lee DeForest.

Most radios were made with tubes up through the early 1960s, when transistors displaced them. The vacuum tube was a necessary part of early radios, used to create and amplify the electric signals. Companies like Philco, Sylvania, Westinghouse, and RCA were some of the bigger tube makers. Collectors today look for tubes in working condition, as well as those made by the more famous companies.


Interviews & Articles

Guest Column: 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 bles… [more]

Guest Column: Collecting 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 o… [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]

Philcoradio.com

Philcoradio.com

Ron Ramirez's comprehensive reference on the former Philadelphia Storage Battery Company and Philco Corporation. In… [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]

Tube Radio Land

Tube Radio Land

Paul Turney's collection of tube radios from manufacturers like Zenith, Atwater-Kent, Philco, RCA, Emerson, Sparton… [read review or visit site]

Deco Radios

Deco Radios

Tune in to Steve Davis' collection of 1930s and 40s Art Deco style radios, featuring stunningly crisp high resoluti… [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]


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1940's Motorola Catalin Tube Radio Model #50c$3,050 Ends Friday 8 bids 50 watchers
1938 Zenith 12s232 12-s-232 Walton Tombstone Radio$2,325 Ends Sunday 16 bids 127 watchers
Antique Fada Model 711 Catalin Tube Radio Deco Green Nr$550.00 Ends Tuesday 6 bids 41 watchers
Vintage Awa Empire State Bakelite Radio Cigarette Box$539.73 Ends Thursday 7 bids 72 watchers
Classic Art Deco Monrach Bakelite Valve Radio Stunning!$532.38 Ends Tuesday 19 bids 102 watchers
Mcmurdo Silver Tube Radio Tuner Masterpiece 5$510.00 Ends in 21 hours 9 bids 54 watchers
Atwater Kent Model 10c Compact No 4700 Breadboard Radio$504.99 Ends Saturday 2 bids 20 watchers
Vintage 1931 Echophone Classic Gothic Cathedral Radio !$501.00 Ends in 19 hours 8 bids 90 watchers
Philco 16rx Chairside Radio And Speaker$456.99 Ends in 18 hours 14 bids 59 watchers
Fada Radio, Catalin Model 1000 Bullet Red And Yellow$440.00 Ends in 14 hours 4 bids 62 watchers
Rare Zenith Wood Console Tube Radio 12-s-471 Black Dial$406.99 Ends Saturday 11 bids 44 watchers
Superrare Huge Philips Tube Radio,motortuning,bx998a$405.00 Ends Sunday 9 bids 25 watchers
Antique 1939 Zenith 6-s-330 Tube Radio Clean & Working$360.55 Ends in 16 hours 7 bids 57 watchers
1931 Philco Cathedral " Model 90" Beautiful Condition$338.00 Ends Wednesday 6 bids 30 watchers
Antique Rca Radiola Rs Radio & Amp W/ Rca Wd-11's*works$336.50 Ends in 18 hours 12 bids 61 watchers
Rare German Korting 730w Tube Radio. Near Mint$305.00 Ends Sunday 5 bids 14 watchers
Philco 41-290 Console Radio$280.00 Ends in 18 hours 10 bids 43 watchers
Superb 1946 Philips 760a, 8 Tubes, All New. Excellent. $275.00 Ends in 14 hours 2 bids 8 watchers
Vintage Art Deco Prohibition Era Penthouse Bar Radio !!$255.00 Ends in 18 hours 9 bids 88 watchers
Lone Ranger Radio$250.00 Ends Thursday 1 bid 22 watchers
Western Electric 7a Amplifier-216a Tubes$234.50 Ends Thursday 6 bids 27 watchers
Rare Black Chalkware Cat For Zenith Stratosphere Radio$234.45 Ends in 19 hours 4 bids 36 watchers
Vintage Martian "big 4" Tripod Mounted Crystal Radio !!$222.50 Ends in 18 hours 6 bids 67 watchers
1921 Colin B Kennedy 220 Antique 1 Tube Radio Receiver$212.59 Ends Tuesday 7 bids 53 watchers
Vintage 1940s Dewald Art Deco Catalin Bakelite Radio !!$207.50 Ends Sunday 5 bids 66 watchers
Vintage Bakelite Philco Tube Radio$205.05 Ends Tuesday 9 bids 54 watchers
1949 Coca-cola Cooler Radio Great Original Working Cond$203.50 Ends in 18 hours 8 bids 33 watchers
Vintage 1950s Gem Mint Art Deco Chrome Pill Microphone$202.50 Ends Sunday 14 bids 37 watchers
Telefunken Opus 2004 Tube Stereo With External Speakers$202.50 Ends Wednesday 2 bids 20 watchers
Rca 74 Junior Ribbon Microphone Mi-4036 Xlnt In Box$202.50 Ends Saturday 6 bids 6 watchers
Zenith 12 S 265 Radio Original Finish, Works Great$201.50 Ends Monday 3 bids 71 watchers
Antique Vintage Emerson Wood Tube Radio $201.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 48 watchers
1920's Radiola 20 Radio$200.00 Ends Monday 1 bid 22 watchers
Echophone Super Heterodyne 1930's Tombstone Radio$199.00 Ends in 17 hours 1 bid 27 watchers
1950's Retro Vintage Bell Blue Bakelite Valve Radio $183.58 Ends Thursday 10 bids 38 watchers
Grundig 2540-u Shortwave/am/fm Tube Radio----stunning!!$177.50 Ends Monday 38 bids 61 watchers
Antique Zenith Plastic Plaskon Tube Clock Radio G-516w$172.50 Ends in 7 hours 13 bids 15 watchers
National Hro Senior With Coils Buy it Now$162.49 Ends Sunday 6 bids 27 watchers
Deco/moderne Black Dial 1942 Zenith 6d628 -- A Beauty!$160.00 Ends in 18 hours 9 bids 33 watchers
1934 Rca Model 120 Cathedral Am Tube Radio Ac Superhet.$152.50 Ends in 17 hours 12 bids 56 watchers
Small Sharp Looking 1933 Ge K-63 Cathedral Tube Radio $152.50 Ends in 19 hours 10 bids 51 watchers
Philips Stereo Fm, Shortwave Tube Radio (near) Mint$152.50 Ends in 12 hours 6 bids 23 watchers
Rare Blaupunkt Sultantube Radio With Fm & Shortwave$152.50 Ends Sunday 2 bids 11 watchers
Early Grebe Mu1 Synchrophase Radio 1924 * Exc. Cond. $150.00 Ends in 18 hours 7 bids 68 watchers
E H Scott Wood Knobs Set Of 9 - Nos - Exceptional $150.00 Ends in 18 hours 1 bid 15 watchers
Vintage 1941 Philco 41-280x Wood Consoletube Radio$149.99 Ends Thursday 2 bids 8 watchers
Superb 1921 Ra/da Radio Separates * Pre Radiola Rca$148.83 Ends in 18 hours 7 bids 77 watchers
Old Antique Wood Zenith Tube Radio - Elegant Gold Dial!$137.50 Ends in 19 hours 10 bids 70 watchers
Old Antique Wood Zenith Tube Radio -art Deco Black Dial$137.00 Ends Sunday 5 bids 37 watchers
Retro Rare St James Green Bakelite Valve Tube Radio$135.39 Ends Wednesday 6 bids 43 watchers
Rare Vintage Abbotware Rearing Horse & Cowboy Radio Buy it Now$128.51 Ends in 19 hours 3 bids 14 watchers
Climax Wood Deco Radio Model Ac 60 Two Band Ac Receiver$127.50 Ends Thursday 4 bids 38 watchers
Rare Dewald A-502 Yellow Bakelite Catalin Tube Radio!!$127.50 Ends Saturday 2 bids 23 watchers
1925 Rca Radiola 26 Portable Walnut 6 Tube Radio 3042$126.50 Ends Monday 7 bids 45 watchers
Philips Bx640a High Quality Tube Radio With 2 X El84$125.00 Ends Tuesday 6 bids 31 watchers
Stromberg Carlson 1924 Neutrodyne Battery Receiver $124.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 7 watchers
Antique Black Dial Zenith Tombstone Tube Radio 6-s-229$122.50 Ends in 19 hours 4 bids 48 watchers
Silvertone ??wayfarer” Portable 8 Band Shortwave Radio $122.50 Ends in 19 hours 21 bids 20 watchers
Old Antique Cast Iron Tube Radio Ship Cone Speaker Nr !$118.50 Ends Monday 8 bids 24 watchers
Philips Stereo Fm, Shortwave Tube Radio, Near Mint$118.00 Ends in 13 hours 5 bids 16 watchers

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