1921 Kennedy 110 Radio * San Francisco * Exc. Cond.

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If you collect early radio apparatus, vintage technology or antique phonographs, make sure to check out all of my auctions this week. I've assembled some spectacular items, including a 1924 Western Electric 13c amplifier with a complete set of good 205D tubes (this amp is super scarce and has a unique Hollywood provenance); a 1901 Edison Gem "A" cylinder phonograph with its original "Gem Speaker" reproducer and a hard-to-find Gem Recorder; a beautiful, original (and complete ) set of 1920's Atwater Kent Radio alphabet blocks for dealers' windows (these scarce blocks are approx. 4" x 4" x 4" and were made out of hand-painted, flour-based mache); a 1904 Columbia AK Disc Graphophone (this antique phonograph has been professionally restored and now looks and works essentially like -- it also plays early 78s the way they should be played: acoustically, with an early Columbia horn) and a near mint, 100% original Edison Home phonograph with its original Edison witch's hat horn and a 3-Pack of Edison cylinder records ( in their original 3-pack box ). So don't forget to You can also Please note, however, that this software glitches occasionally, and it's not uncommon for bidders to be notified of new auction listings after those auctions have ended, so it's always safest to check in Monday morning, as I list items every Sunday night. Here' s an excellent Colin B. Kennedy Type 110 Universal radio, manufactured in San Franscisco more than 90 years ago. This regenerative receiver was built like a battleship and had an effective range of0 meters. When launched in 1921, it sold for $275, more than 3/4 of what you'd have paid at that time for a brand spanking new Ford. Though it utilized only a single vacuum tube (as a detector; there were no AF or RF amp stages), the radio's circuit was so revered by dyed-in-the-wool radio enthusiasts that working 110's could be found in ham shacks as late as the 1950s. Condition of the radio is excellent throughout. Panel is deep black and glossy, and the engraved lettering is prominent everywhere. A couple of minor marks here and there, most likely from fingernails or contact with jewelry. Dials exhibit wear and tarnish consistent with normal use, but as you know that's pretty much the story with Kennedy dials. Chassis is in excellent condition, with clean wiring throughout, and no apparent modifications. The bank wound coils are still in great condition, with no wiring coming undone anywhere. The peephole screen is undented and undamaged. The binding post nuts are all original and none are missing. Four loose leads inside the chassis need to be resoldered; otherwise everything appears to be in good order, and all of the bakelite is in excellent condition. The cabinet is likewise in excellent condition, as you can see in the photographs, and the original Kennedy decals on the underside of the lid are in almost perfect condition. The exterior of the cabinet exhibits marks on all sides consistent with normal use and handling, but no damage or abuse . The two little thumbscrews on top of the panel that secure the lid to the cabinet are originals, and they hold the lid (which is not warped) securely to the cabinet when they're tightened down. The serial number engraved on the panel dates it to the front of the first San Francisco production run, when Kennedy was making these sets almost on an improvised basis, tweaking them one at a time per customers' special requests and building customized features into many of them. If you've owned several early San Francisco 110's, you know that rarely if ever do you encounter 2 that are exactly alike. The radio includes a brass tipped UV-200 detector tube for display (open filament). That's about it. I will package this beautiful radio properly, and I'll include with it a photocopy of a slightly later v... read more

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