Regal L-47 console radio

[electra225]

I got this little console radio at an auction in Sedalia, MO a few years back. I don't remember what I gave for it, but it wasn't much. It interested me because it was and is the cheapest console radio I have ever seen. AM band only, not even a police band. Hot chassis construction, seven tubes with P-P 25L6GT audio tubes. 8 inch speaker. The dial is merely a piece of paper with numbers on it, now badly faded. I would think the dial could be reproduced at a printing company. There is a wooden panel around the dial. Under that wooden panel is a ''Firestone" decal. Apparently, whoever made this cabinet also made cabinets for Firestone. The cabinet is rather fancy for housing a cheap radio. The grille cloth and the photofinish trim around it is in amazingly good condition. I'm guessing that since the dial is so faded, so is the grill cloth. It may be in good enough condition it could be restored. The main claim to fame for this little radio is its performance. This thing is quite the little performer, given its modest livery and specifications. Plus, it has the brightest pilot light for the dial I have ever seen. It uses a Christmas tree bulb that runs at full line voltage. The bass response, given its 8 inch speaker is amazing. I believe this to be a 1947 model. The wiring to the speaker got damaged in the move. I removed the speaker to check it and found a wire had been pulled out of the voice coil. I replaced the speaker.

[TC Chris]

I don't have my tube manual at hand so I'll just ask--does that have an untuned RF amp? I have never been sniffy about owning lower-end models. They can be interesting and fun. And the price is often right.

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

It does have an untuned RF amp. It only has a two-gang tuner. IT has a fancy antenna that can be turned for maximum performance. Like you, orphans or cheapies aren't something I turn my nose up at. Sometimes they will surprise you in how well they work.

[hermitcrab]

Impressive tube count for a strictly AM radio... I have a tabletop firestone that has the weird rotating dial indicator, never seen a 25L6 used in PP configuration