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Farm Radios
Farm Radios
Crosley 458 Bakelite Cabinet Farm Radio from 1938-39
Not really a new item. Until 1927 when RCA introduced the Radiola 17 as one of the first AC (or socket powered) radios, radios all ran on batteries. With rather primitive technology radio and the batteries took up a large portion of a parlor or living room. In the 1930's AC power radios became common BUT the United States was not completely socket powered or "electrified" Many rural (farm) and remote areas still had no electricity. Government electrification programs like the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) took years to get to most areas. Radio manufacturers and retailers supplied Socket Powered (AC) and Farm (battery) Radios. Advances by Sylvania in 1937 and RCA in 1939 in power efficient tubes help cut the size of the batteries, radio sets, and most important increased battery life.
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Crosley 458 (1938-39) Crosley Radio- Cincinnati OH4 Tube Superheterodyne Farm Radio with pushbutton tuning. Early set using the new 1937 low drain battery tubes (1A7G, 1N5G, 1H5G, 1C5G) designed by Sylvania.
Restored and cleaned up chassis. Notice that the tubes are original vintage era. Soon after the tube height would be shorten by almost half and the. G type battery tubes of this era look more like GT tubes. When the height was shorten the G was replaced with GT.
An IF transformer without the shield is mounted to the chassis (shown on the center left below) with the peaking trimmers separated and mounted on the chassis on the lower right. Another interesting item is the dogbone resistor on the lower right and the encapsulated resistors just to the left. These early versions of sealed resistors still use the dog bone color code id system (center color is multiplier, color band to the right is first digit and body color is second digit).
Sentinel 118B (1938-39) Sentinel Radio Corp, Evanston ILAnother set using the new 1937 low drain battery tubes (1A7G, 1N5G, 1H5G, 1C5G) designed by Sylvania.
ABOVE: Cleaned up top chassis. BELOW: Restored electronics.
1939 Philco 39-70 (1939 suggested price $29.95) Last of the Tombstone-Cathedral Radios. 4 Tube superheterodyne farm set, Early set using the new 1937 low drain battery tubes (1A7G, 1N5G, 1H5G, 1C5G) designed by Sylvania.
Inside Philco 39-70. Notice how shallow the cabinet is. Batteries had to be outside the radio Uses newer Sylvania designed power saving tubes. In this picture notice the taller "G" suffix tubes are shown.
Like to see more? Click on the video in the SHOWCASE below.
INSIDE The Crosley 458 showing the new power efficient tubes designed by Sylvania
Station WLW owned by Crosley in Cincinnati, marked on the tuning dial.
Back of the Philco 38-38T. Large roomy chassis for a farm radio. Philco made an AC operated verrsion that looks similar to this. They probably shared the same chassis size,
Back of Sentinel 118B
Unique tuning pointer. The red disk below serves as the tuning indicator. It is half red and half white. As one tunes across the band the disk sweeps the red color with the leading edge used as a pointer.
1938 Philco 38-38T Multiband Radio (1938 suggested price $39.95)
This 6 tube superheterodyne model used the pre 1937 battery tubes (1C7G, 1D5G, 1H4G, 1E5GP, 1H4G, 1J6G) that required higher plate voltages and filaments required a lot more current (heavier "A" battery drain). Features a push-pull output for greater output power. Can now receive the 5.7-18 MHz shortwave band.
This 6 tube superheterodyne model used the pre 1937 battery tubes (1C7G, 1D5G, 1H4G, 1E5GP, 1H4G, 1J6G) that required higher plate voltages and filaments required a lot more current (heavier "A" battery drain). Features a push-pull output for greater output power. Can now receive the 5.7-18 MHz shortwave band.
TOP and BOTTOM of Chassis.
Sentinel 243-T (1941-42) Sentinel Radio, Evanston ILA 5 tube superheterodyne, with two stages of IF amplication for increased selectivity for SW reception. Tube complement is 1A7GT, 2- 1N5GT, 1H5GT and 3Q5GT.
Large Table AM/SW with tone and battery saver selection. Has switchable dial light. (see section on my restoration for details)
Large Table AM/SW with tone and battery saver selection. Has switchable dial light. (see section on my restoration for details)
Notice the height of these battery vacuum tubes. One can easily tell a farm radio model before 1940, because these tubes would be taller and would have the "G" suffix. During late 1939-40 the half height "GT" suffix tubes replaced them. Same tubes but shorter. Notice the large battery compartment for storing extra batteries.
Video SHOWCASE:
Video SHOWCASE:
PHILCO 39-70 Tombstone Farm Radio
PHILCO 39-70 Tombstone Farm Radio
The operation, design and history of farm sets during the prewar era. Also some battery tube trivia.
1939 Philco 39-70 Farm Radio_x264.mp4------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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