Cape Old Radio

Welcome to my radio collection on the web. Each radio in the collection has its own dedicated page featuring photographs, a general description, detailed technical information, downloadable schematics, and images showing the locations of tubes and IF transformers. Each tube type is linked to a reference page containing information on its base configuration, filament and plate voltages, tube classification, and function within the circuit. Information on dial lamps is also provided whenever available. You may also find the reference pages on power resistor, line-cord resistor, and ballast tube resistor useful. These resources were created to assist collectors and restorers in identifying components and understanding the operation of vintage radio circuits. I hope you enjoy exploring the collection and find the information helpful in your own restoration projects.

Check out a virtual Resistance Calculator and a Resistor Color Code Table. .

I began collecting antique radios in April 1996. How did I become a collector? It all started when my wife gave me a beautiful 1937 Zenith console radio (model 6-S-254) as a birthday present. With its striking black "big black dial" and excellent original cosmetic condition, it immediately captured my attention. One day, I looked at that radio and thought, ″I'm going to bring this radio back to life.″ Curious to learn more, I searched the World Wide Web—long before Google became a household name—to see whether anyone else shared an interest in old radios. To my surprise, I discovered lots of websites, newsgroups, magazines, books, and fellow enthusiasts dedicated to the hobby. After making contacts, reading extensively, and acquiring a few more radios, I was completely hooked. Since then, I have focused on collecting and restoring tabletop radios from the 1920s through the 1960s. There is something truly rewarding about taking a silent, forgotten radio and restoring it to working condition. Bringing these pieces of history back to life has become both a passion and a source of great satisfaction.