VOLUME 19            AUGUST 2002                NUMBER  8

RADIO MISCELLANEA -- AUGUST 2002

From Antique Radio Classified for August 2002
(Copyright 1996-2002 by John V. Terrey - For personal use only.)

"Antique Radio Classified" invites its readers to contribute letters and information for inclusion in "Radio Miscellanea" and elsewhere in the magazine. "In The Marketplace" is based on information submitted by the businesses themselves. All topics should be of general interest and sent to A.R.C., P.O. Box 2, Carlisle, MA 01741. All material submitted should be verified for accuracy and may be edited for publication, which is not guaranteed. See the masthead for more details.

Another DeForest O-T-3 at Auction

Dear Editor:

In response to your cover photo and writeup in the July 2002 issue, just to set the record straight, I bought an O-T-3 at an auction in Centerville, Iowa, about 1975. It was an auction of the estate of a man who had run a radio repair shop and general store from the 1920s on. They had moved the sale to an empty store and the walls were lined with console sets.

It was a 2-day event, and the first night, a lot of like-new 1920s radio catalogs were sold. There were about four collectors there, and we had to wait until late the second day for the radio stuff to come up. Dave McKenzie bid against me on the O-T-3. Luckily, he already had one so he quit before I did. The auctioneer wondered aloud why we wanted that little set so badly. I left about 10:00 p.m. for a 4-hour drive home with my pickup filled.

--Will Jensby, Santa Clara, CA

Considering its Thorn estate auction price of $5,500, we hope Will still has the set. By the way, Will, would you disclose the price you paid in 1975? (Editor)

Tab Teapot Tempest

Dear Editor:

The tab seal problem is easily solved. When opening the book, cut the tabs apart to remove the ends, and slowly lift them off. Doing it too fast will tear the page. After they are removed, sprinkle the area with talcum powder to eliminate the stickiness. Better yet, a little citrus label remover on a fingertip rubbed on the spot and wiped off with a paper towel will remove the glue also.

Why make a tempest in a teapot?

--Alton A. DuBois, Jr., Queensbury, NY

We have subscribers threatening to cancel their subscription over this issue. Speaking of issue, if you want your issue sans-tabs, subscribe by First Class Mail. The tabs are on an outer cover wrap and do not attach to the magazine itself. The USPS requires us to tab since we prepare our mailings for automation which speeds up the delivery.... Dare I bring up another "hot" topic? (Editor)

A.R.C. Helpful

Dear Editor:

I enjoy A.R.C. a lot. It is very helpful to me.

Best regards,

--Gary E. Mayfield, Marquette, KS

More on Wurlitzer & Lyric

Dear Editor,

In Richard Arnold's article in the June 2002 issue, the photo of the Lyric 546T on page 9 reminded me of a radio I no longer have. This radio looked identical to the Lyric. Allied Radio sold a radio in kit form with the same cabinet.

--J. Haynes, jhaynes@alumni.uark.edu

Dear Editor:

You got my attention with the articles on Wurlitzer by Wally Worth and on Lyric by Richard Arnold in the June 2002 issue. Both articles were fascinating because I have two radios in my very modest collection that are connected to the subject matter. One is a Lyric TRF floor model, ca. 1929, with two stages of 24-A RF, a 24-A detector, a 27 1st audio, a PP-45 output, and the ubiquitious 80 rectifier. The words "All American Corporation" are on the fuse cover, "Lyric" is on the escutcheon for the drum-style tuning dial, and on the back of the cabinet is a brass plate advertising "Product of Wurlitzer."

The second set looks like a dead ringer for the Lyric 546T, except that instead of "Lyric," "Knight" appears under the tuning pointer. The only other difference I detect is that it uses the more common 50L6 audio output tube rather than the 50A6 of the 546T. I had always connected this set with the Knight Kit line associated with Allied Radio, but I don't know if this set was a kit radio. I cannot locate a model number on either radio. Interestingly, the Lyric was acquired in New York State, about 100 miles from Buffalo, the home of the All-American Mohawk Co., and I found the Knight set about the same distance from Chicago, home of Allied Radio and the later Lyric.

--Larry Szendrei, Gray, ME

"Vision-ola" Anyone?

Dear Editor:

At my wit's end, I turn to you for a clue. I have an early 1930-ish cathedral, with a very plain cabinet, and with the name "Vision-ola" on the bezel. The chassis was made by Columbia. Since there is no television screen in sight, I figured a Vision-ola was put out by (a) a practical joker or (b) a demented inventor. It's not mentioned in any of my books. Has anyone out there ever heard of such a contraption?

--John Breen, Manchester, CT

Article Bonus -- More on Flavoradio

Dear Editor:

I received a real bonus from the communication that A.R.C. provides. A few days after my Flavoradio article came out in the June 2002 issue, I got calls and mail from other collectors who had found undiscovered colors an all-white (vanilla?) and a 2-tone chocolate front and vanilla back (fudge ripple?). I find something in every issue of A.R.C. that expands my collecting interest. Thanks for the good job.

--Phil MacArthur, Summerland Key, FL

Sometimes writing an article turns into a free full-page ad. Potential writers should take note. (Editor)