The John Herbert Orr Collection Auction
Memories of 25-Years Ago

By John V. Terrey

Web Edition

The A.C. Dayton Radio sign that was sold at the Estes auction of the Larry Flegle collection brought back memories of 25-years ago -- an auction of the John Herbert Orr collection that I attended in Opelika, Alabama, in November, 1982.

Although for nearly 20-years prior to 1982 I had been picking up an occasional radio at a New England antique shop or flea market, my collection was very modest. The year 1982 changed that -- I became hooked for good!

By 1982, I had subscribed to several radio collecting publications, I had found the book, Vintage Radio, the "bible" for battery set collectors, and I had made contact with several local radio collectors. Attending my first radio meet -- the October, 1982, AWA Conference in Canandaigua, New York --was the beginning of my conversion. It was the first time that I realized that lots of others were interested in collecting old radios, too. Walking the flea market, seeing all those radios, viewing the contest exhibits, and talking to other collectors was an amazing experience.

This A-C Dayton sign sold for $155 at the Estes auction of the Flegle collection.

Then, I noticed an advertisement for an upcoming auction in Opelika, Alabama -- over 900 old radios and phonographs were to be sold. Sometimes luck is on your side, and this time it was. I had a business trip scheduled to Georgia just before the auction, and a side trip to Alabama was easy to fit in.

I arrived at the preview and had plenty of time to peruse the vast display of old radios and phonographs. And, I met and talked with collectors, all of whom were new acquaintances then, but I still know them today.

I had targeted one item in the auction to buy -- a Federal Model 61. I was successful! To take it home, I wrapped it in rug padding, fitted a box around it, and checked it as baggage on my return flight to Boston. Fortunately, it arrived in fine shape. My records show that I paid $650 for the Federal 61, and it is still a featured set in my collection.

The Federal Model 61 purchased 25 years ago at the Orr auction.

It is interesting to look at the change in values for some of the sets over these last 25-years. Surprisingly, many sets are worth only what they sold for in 1982, or even a bit less. For example, in the Orr sale, an RCA Radiola III sold for $60 and a Crosley 51, for $100.

Today, some of the rarer sets are worth two to three times their selling prices in 1982 when an Atwater Kent 50 sold for $450, two Model 10 breadboards for $350 and $400, and a Model 12 breadboard for $700.

Very rare sets are selling today for five-times or more what was paid in 1982 when an RCA Radiola VIIB sold for $600 and a Western Electric CW-938 sold for $1,000.

I will never forget the experience of my first big radio auction, what I learned there, and the wonderful collectors that I met. Only four years later, I began publishing this magazine, now in its 23rd year, and my collection now numbers over 800 items.

(John V. Terrey, c/o A.R.C., P.O. Box 2, Carlisle, MA 01741)