1920's Silvertone radio and 4 leg cabinet (collector, repair, purchase, furniture)

[Versatile]

I inherited this radio but i cannot find another one nor any info. Supposedly from the 20's. The# on the inside of the back is 314. The radio is in a metal housing that has never been opened. We were told the man that purchased it some how broke the radio the 1st week they owned it and his wife never let him touch it after that. Very nice shape. Has dust bunnies stuck to it in the photo. Where can i find out more info. Have looked on line at many photos but can't find this one. The radio is shown sitting on the top of the cabinet. This was the 5th time it has been out of the cabinet since new.

[texdav]

Check E-bay you'll find a ton of Silvertone radios for sale most in much better condition than that one which was apparently store in basements or other such place. They do not bring much if you look. As I recall Silvertone was a Sears & Roebuck brand name radio.

[Keim]

That cabinet would benefit from a light restoration. Possibly just rubbing it with a light vegetable oil and light grade steel wool to eliminate some of the hazing. Possibly re-amalgamation.

Sounds like the guy you got it from tried to operate the radio without updating the innards. Big no-no. He may of fried the transformer. You will NEED to replace the capacitors. Old capacitors dry out with age. If possible also check the tubes.

Old radio repair isn't too difficult, and can be rewarding. Good luck.

Here is a good resource to answer questions: Antique Radios - The Collector's Resource

Facebook also has some very good Antique Radio resource discussion groups. Helped with my Grundig!

[Versatile]

Originally Posted by Keim

That cabinet would benefit from a light restoration. Possibly just rubbing it with a light vegetable oil and light grade steel wool to eliminate some of the hazing. Possibly re-amalgamation.

Sounds like the guy you got it from tried to operate the radio without updating the innards. Big no-no. He may of fried the transformer. You will NEED to replace the capacitors. Old capacitors dry out with age. If possible also check the tubes.

Old radio repair isn't too difficult, and can be rewarding. Good luck.

Here is a good resource to answer questions: Antique Radios - The Collector's Resource

Facebook also has some very good Antique Radio resource discussion groups. Helped with my Grundig!

Thanks

We got it from the wife. The husband that purchased it took the radio out and dropped it or something and she was so mad that she would never let him touch it again.

[Keim]

Originally Posted by Versatile

Thanks

We got it from the wife. The husband that purchased it took the radio out and dropped it or something and she was so mad that she would never let him touch it again.

That is likely good news. Much better than burning up the transformer.

[thriftylefty]

In the last year I have two people give me their old "high-fi sets" as they call them. One is a Columbia 380 and the other is a Stromberg -Carlson. An antique dealer told me many years ago that waterless hand cleaner worked wonders on old dusty furniture. She said flannel cloth will work or the very lightest steel wool with the hand cleaner will bring back the luster. I checked the MSD and it looks like the hand cleaner has Isoparaffin in it. I'm not a chemist but that sounds like wax and alcohol. If it is gentle enough for skin it might not harm an antique.