RCA R7 radio

[Firedome]

1932 RCA R7 "tombstone" radio from late uncle's basement, v nice shape, all original including 45 tubes, not tested.
$90 + FedEx Ground.
eMail for pics (too large): firesweep at verizon dot net
Roger in NY

[Firedome]

Sold locally to a radio fan for the listing price. Glad not to have to ship, as nowadays shipping probably would cost more than the radio!

[hermitcrab]

I am pretty sure I have that chassis ... but in a GE floor model from 32.... I think it was before RCA spun off GE and Westinghouse , thus the RCA chassis in a GE cabinet...

[Firedome]

I should have just kept the RCA 45s and given away the radio, given the price of good vintage 45s nowadays. It took a while to sell as it was, I have no knowledge of the market in the '30s radio area, but it must be weak, given the lack of response to my numerous ads in here, ARF, CL, FBM. The guy who finally showed up did seem happy to get it though.

[electra225]

I had an old Philco TRF set that I sold at the auction, sans its 45's. The radio brought $65 without a single tube left in it. I was going to put it on the burn pile if it didn't sell. It seems that late 1920's -early 1930's radios are not very desirable to collectors. I personally like the later TRF sets and the early superhets, but, then I like stuff the professionals turn their noses up at. It's really too bad. Some of the cabinets are quite ornate and the electronics interesting, representing a change in technology from regen and TRF to superhet. Some of the electronics of that era can be quite complex.

[TC Chris]

I was going to put it on the burn pile if it didn't sell. It seems that late 1920's -early 1930's radios are not very desirable to collectors. I personally like the later TRF sets and the early superhets, but, then I like stuff the professionals turn their noses up at. It's really too bad. Some of the cabinets are quite ornate and the electronics interesting, representing a change in technology from regen and TRF to superhet. Some of the electronics of that era can be quite complex.

I'm in your camp. The usual advice about collecting is to buy the very best. Save your bucks until the best example comes along. Me, I've always been a sucker for the freebies, the orphans, and cheap buys. Mind you, I'd love to have a Zenith Stratosphere or one of those big bi-amped Philcos or a selection of chrome-plated E. H. Scott models. But I've had lots of fun with more modest and well-worn types. Quantity vs quality....

Chris Campbell

[Firedome]

The set came from my late Uncle and it was in really nice shape. IIRC I got only about $85 for it.
I should maybe have kept it but it'd just sit and we have to downsize for an inevitable move at some point.

[TC Chris]

The set came from my late Uncle and it was in really nice shape. IIRC I got only about $85 for it.
I should maybe have kept it but it'd just sit and we have to downsize for an inevitable move at some point.

Maybe I was lucky. I downsized at age 47. Not on purpose, really, but because I moved from a community where my nice 2-story, 3 BR house sold for $55K to a place where I bought a much smaller, 2 BR one story house for $95K. It earned the name "the small house with the large price." Me, I'm lookin' to expand, not downsize. Need more room for valuable stuff. Oh, what a temptation that is! If the materials shortage and building boom ever ends, I'll hire a drywall crew to do the new addition, the unfinished back room that has been unfinished since I moved in, in 1995. It will have bookshelves and LP shelves and small radios will reside amongst them. One corner will have an electronics bench.

Chris Campbell

[William]

That sounds like a good idea, Chris. I see plenty of drywall in the box stores, so I do not see that being a problem. I think the biggest problem is finding someone to do the job. Around here everyone is busy building big things with no time to do the small jobs. I'm guessing winter would be your best bet. Outside stuff is done so builders will be looking for inside stuff to do.

Bill

[Firedome]

Construction has always been cyclical, at some point they'll be looking for work, I'd wait until then.
Material prices when nuts a couple of years ago, but is coming down a bit. Glad I got our camp mostly (95%) done by a couple of years ago. It's that last 5% that always seems to drag on, and at 10yrs on some stuff is starting to need maintenance. Best thing we did though was put on a standing-seam metal roof - 60 yr guaranteed - and Hardy fiber-cement siding that never rots, a plus in cool and wet Vermont.

The small house limits collecting but I'm ok with downsizing, wife & I are trying to focus more on volunteer work, leaving less time for other stuff anyhow.