MODEL, YEAR, FEATURES:So as not to mislead anyone, two items are disclosed right off: 1) The Catalin backboard that this radio came with is MISSING. A backboard was crafted for the radio, but it is NOT made of Catalin. 2) Even though the white knobs look right at home on this radio, they are NOT the originals that came with the radio. The correct knobs are common, though, and will not be difficult to find. Now that these items are out of the way, lets go on to the better points. Cabinet is flawless on this one, and the photos tell the story better than words. Catalin cabinets are considered the holy grail of radio collecting because of a certain smoothness of texture and the swirling of colors that varies from set to set, depending on light exposure over the years. The Model 520 from 1946 has a nice lighted dial and pointer on white background, a checkered grill, and grill cloth behind that. Not a nick, crack, scratch or mar to be found on the swirled yellow / orange / brown cabinet of this one, looking factory fresh. Electronics have been gone through, and radio will play reliably for years to come.
CONDITION, SERVICING, PERFORMANCE: Radio has been well cared for, cabinet required no polishing to enhance its reflective surfaces. Colors vary with strength and quality of light hitting it. Dial cover is crystal clear, and the graphics and numerals on the green painted brass circular dial are very legible. Dial pointer rotates and indicates stations accurately when tuning knob is turned, and is nicely lit by a pilot light (see photo below of radio in a dimly lit room). . Electronics were carefully gone through with old wax / foil capacitors replaced along with the electrolytic filters. In the process, resistors were checked along with many other items including the tuning mechanism that was lubed. The five tube design is sensitive on this radio, and it plays without hum or distortion after alignment, and sound is quite nice with that warm tube driven quality. Loop antenna in exc condition, backboard was replaced with a well fitting replica to protect the electronics, power cord was replaced with a fresh one, and the factory model sticker is intact on the bottom surface. Photos will represent the radio well. Preserve a fascinating part of our post war technology made by the Greatest Generation. Set will look great and fit just about anywhere, and could make a wonderful present to a special collector.
DIMENSIONS, SHIPPING: Cabinet measures 11.1 inches wide, 8.6 inches tall, and is6.6 inches deep from the front of the knobs to the backboard. Old 6.5 Oz Coke bottle in one photo will give a perspective on size, and show reflective surfaces. I have shipped hundreds of delicate tube radios all over the world for the past 12 years on eBay with fine packing materials and methods, and extraordinary care will be taken on this one, so no worries. Paypal welcome along with other payments, radio will be sent off on the day or day after payment is received by UPS ground shipping. Local SF Bay area pickup can be arranged.
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