Being in motorcycle journalism for years and loving motorcycles, especially European ones and Italian makes in particular, I've known for a long time that Ducati made radios before they made motorbikes.

I've been to the factory, and the museum, but I've never seen one this large or impressive:

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g68/Zenithman/ducatiradio.jpg

Ducati's radio and electronics production was a post-war start up; an effort to supply the war-torn country with low-priced goods. Thus, all of the Ducati-brand radios I've seen were small, plastic, single band units (broadcast) about the size of the early transistor table sets.

This one is clearly multi-band, with what looks like a fairly elaborate multi-grain cabinet. I wonder if it could be a fake, to cash in on this very popular name? It's to be auctioned off in Florida, along with a pretty good number of two-wheeled goods.

Here's the website, if you'd like to look at the motorcycles too:

http://www.jwoodandcompany.com/2008/2008_early_consignments1.htm

Damn, that's a beauty! Leave it to the Italians to make something so sexy! It's pretty darn big too! How does it sound?

Damn, that's a beauty! Leave it to the Italians to make something so sexy! It's pretty darn big too! How does it sound?

Beats me. All I know is what I can see in the picture. That isn't me holding the radio...I'm not that old yet! :no:

It does have sexy lines, but I'd have to say I still prefer the stately-styling found on German sets. Nothing beats elegant rectangular in my book! :D

That is a sharp radio.. lo0oks like it's going 100 mph just sitting there.. beautiful wood too...

Thanks for the link for the bikes.. guess I know what I'll be looking at all morning :D

I wanted to ride the bike into work today, but I was feeling too hung over to move the speaker out from behind it to get it out of the garage this morning.. :tears:

Oh I'm DIEING laughing over the Parilla internal combustion iron used for speed ironing races... :lmao:

:wtf:

I looked at the iron also. Love the description. That radio is very interesting. Wish there was more of a description with it such as whether it works.

Yeah, wonder how many Tooobs/transistors/flux capacitors/Hydrostatic Gonkulators that puppy has ?

What do you ride Similost?

I've been doing motorcycles a lot longer than radio, but caught the passion for both from my dad. For what I buy, radio is a lot cheaper and easier to stash!

Italian maker Moto Guzzi never made a radio, but if they did I bet it would sound good...

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g68/Zenithman/LeMansIV.jpg

This is my bought-new 1985 Le Mans 1000. I completed a mini-restoration last summer but it still has the original finish. A very satisfying machine.

I"ve got an 02 Roadstar...

Looks different now.. different seat and pipes on it now..

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=78028&stc=1&d=1202420074

That radio's the real deal. See the photos at:

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/ducati_rr_34111_rr3411_1.html

In gorgeous condition, too. Anybody going to the auction want to put in a bid for me?

Couldn't resist adding a photo of me astride the BSA Lightning that I've owned for 30+years. And no, that's not what I dress like when actually riding it :-)

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

Looks like the wood has some pretty heavy crazing and cracking on the top.. would be nice to see a picture of the top..

Cool BSA.. I'd love to find an old bike like that, or a Honda from the 50's or early 60's..

I might add that, with only 5 tubes, the performance would be no better than small, cheap radios of that era. A big speaker in a big cabinet would give you somewhat better audio, but that's about it.

In other words, the radio looked like a million bucks, but would be left in the dust by true high-end radios of the day.

Phil Nelson

Yeah, basically an AA5 w/a sexay body...Now, if it had 15 or 20 tooobs, then THAT would be somethin'...

I actually took that picture. It's my dad's radio, definitely not a fake, unless it was faked before I was born, it's been in our house as long as I can remember (I'm 27). Does anyone else have one of these? I'd love to trade pictures.

Really nice looking radio whether a 5 tuber, 25 tuber or a crystal radio. Not sure I'd be selling it unless financially strapped. Just too cool. I can see myself listening to old time radio shows with it.

I actually took that picture. It's my dad's radio, definitely not a fake, unless it was faked before I was born, it's been in our house as long as I can remember (I'm 27). Does anyone else have one of these? I'd love to trade pictures.

Please don't take my 'fake' comment too seriously Toaster...I'm just getting cynical in my old age...

That is a beautiful set. The idea to auction it off at a motorcycle event is a great idea. If I were to give one tip, I'd advise you hold out for YOUR price. The MidAmerica auction series my being more success.