RCA Radiola question - Videokarma.org TV - Video

funken · #1 06-04-2006, 07:56 PM

I was at a local antique shop over the weekend and discovered what I think is a RCA model 18 Radiola along with a model 100 speaker.

The set appears to be in desecnt shape. All of the tubes are there. The case is in good shape except for one knob missing.

The speaker is missing the grill cloth but looks to be okay.

The owner is asking $50 for the radio. I don't think they are aware the speaker is part of the set. They may be asking a bit more for it.

Your thought on this set and the price would be greatly appreciated.

funken

Sandy G · #2 06-04-2006, 08:18 PM

Maybe a tad high, but hey, th' damthing's almost 80 yrs old...if it's in decent cosmetic shape, go for it. 50 bux generally, ain't gonna make or break any of us. You may be saving an old veteran from the landfill...Shit, get it, & if it don't float yer boat after you've had it for awhile, I'LL buy it off ya...

Chad Hauris · #3 06-04-2006, 08:47 PM

That price sounds fair to me...I bought a Radiola speaker from a pawn shop for $50.

funken · #4 06-04-2006, 09:24 PM

Thanks guys!!

I know absolutley nothing about these 20s radios. How do they sound.
Are they difficulty to restore? Can you swap speakers. I kinda like the horn speakers just for the look.

Chad Hauris · #5 06-04-2006, 11:32 PM

The orginal speakers are high impedance (2000 ohm?) and connect directly in the plate circuit of the output tube. The sound quality from these speakers is heavy on the midrange like an old acoustic Victrola. You can use a modern 8 ohm speaker though by using an output transformer: we used a 70 volt line transformer and it worked fine.

tomwil · #6 06-05-2006, 04:41 AM

I bought a RCA Radiola 18 at the Kutztown show last month, and love it! I described it at http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=68888 .

I got it for $60, but it came with a replacement speaker, not RCA. I will be looking for a RCA 100A speaker at RadioActivity 2006.

The radio works, and what sold me on it was the condition ... the cabinet was clean and complete with knobs and back, and the chassis was complete with tubes and no rust. But I found out later that it had the original lamp hood (the dome that fits over the lamp with the RCA insignia), which apparently is missing on most models of the Radiola 17 and 18 and is well sought after. Replacements can be found at http://www.radiolaguy.com/RadiolaLampHood.htm .

If you do a completed search on eBay, you will find that Radiola 18s go for around $100 with shipping, and one went for $275 at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=6630543341 . So, for $50, it seems you can't go too wrong.