Does any one out there in VK land have a list of what radio stations were broadcasting in NY in 1939? I have 7 preset buttons for an AM radio sold in NY during the 1939-1941 era and I need to know what pushbutton labels would be appropriate for them.
Can any one tell me how pushbuttons were labeled when new? Did they come from the factory labeled? Did the dealer install them for you?

A sheet of station lettters came with the radio and either the dealer or the customer cut them out and applied them to the set. The exact format of how they were provided varied but the idea was the same. As to what stations, there are lists on the net but one way is just search for ny radio stations 1939.

I was there then and remember many of the stations. WHN 1050. WNYC 570. I have an old White's Radio Log that lists many. I remember WQXR, WINS 1010, WJZ, WBNX, WEVD, WEAF, WOR 710.

Many of these stations changed callsigns later. WHN became WMGM, WEAF became WNBC for instance.

Can you believe I remember all that? More will come to mind as I think about it.

From the New York Times April 4, 1939: WEAF, WJZ, WNYC, WQXR, WEVD, WABC, WHN, WMCA, and WOR. I don't know WNEW wasn't listed... Just remember that the frequencies for many U.S. stations would change in 1941..

I find myself debating with that, do I set the frequencies where they were when the set was new or where they are now? That's getting down to the nitty-gritty, I know! I guess it's fair to say the original owner would have had the buttons reset when they changed.

WNEW was the first word of the city, New York.
WMCA 570 I think, was Music Corporation of America.
WBNX was in the Bronx.
WQXR was the classical music station.
WNYC is obvious.
WJZ was actually in NJ, the Bamberger Broadcasting Company.

I find myself debating with that, do I set the frequencies where they were when the set was new or where they are now? That's getting down to the nitty-gritty, I know! I guess it's fair to say the original owner would have had the buttons reset when they changed.

Getting down to the nitty-gritty is one of the fun parts.

WEAF, WOR and WJZ were on my great uncle's (Harry was a WWI vet) 1940 Westinghouse WR-288, which I still have.
The other 2 ro 3 buttons were "local" stations.

If the radio is going back to the NY area, I'd set them to the frequencies now in use, if the radio is going to be used. If you're using it in your locality, why not set to the stations you listen to?

It won't be something that is used. I am performing a cosmetic restoration only and want every thing to be as close to original as possible.

I'd label it as you see fit. Watch what kind of font you use. Most of what I've seen used white type on a black background

A very long time ago, WDCU-90.1 had a really good oldies rock show on Saturday nights. I labeled its preset as "WIS-AM 560".

What you're doing is not unlike model railroading. You're the one who has to be ultimately satisfied with the outcome...

I'd say I'm pretty satisfied with the results. I acutally found NOS labels so I wasn't worried about the font, just needed to know which labels to use. Here are the results http://videokarma.org/showpost.php?p=3066129&postcount=42. Thank you every one for your help.