# Question about rare old vacuum-tube radio collecting

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-rare-old-vacuum-tube-radio-collecting/676891>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 21, 2013, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-rare-old-vacuum-tube-radio-collecting/676891 "2013-12-21T11:28:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2013, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-rare-old-vacuum-tube-radio-collecting/676891/1 "2013-12-21T11:28:24Z")

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Is there a particular model of early old radio that is considered the Holy Grail of collecting? Something that would pretty much be recognized by any radio buff as a consummate ideal? I want to make a special xmas card for a very nice guy.

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2013, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-rare-old-vacuum-tube-radio-collecting/676891/2 "2013-12-21T12:46:38Z")

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Maybe an early Philco Model 90. These had the classic cathedral case as well as excellent (for the time) quality audio.

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**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2013, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-rare-old-vacuum-tube-radio-collecting/676891/3 "2013-12-21T13:30:35Z")

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Theres two choices that are popular. The big furniture radios like the Philco 90 or Zenith.

> **[Check out that big beautiful dial! And just imagine the side pillars as...](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/5629568258112700/)**
>
> Jun 11, 2011 - Check out that big beautiful dial! And just imagine the side pillars as copper tanks. Aww yeaaah.

I prefer the Art Deco tabletop radios. They made some very nice ones. The Bakelite let them form interesting curved designs and colors.

> **[Real Art Deco USA Antique Radio products, buy Real Art Deco USA Antique Radio...](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/5629568255147583/)**
>
> May 23, 2011 - Buy Real\_Art\_Deco\_USA\_Antique\_Radio and find similar products on Alibaba.com

[http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTA2MFgxNjAw/z/P2IAAOxyUrZSp8ep/$\_35.JPG?set\_id=880000500F](http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTA2MFgxNjAw/z/P2IAAOxyUrZSp8ep/$_35.JPG?set_id=880000500F)

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**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2013, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-rare-old-vacuum-tube-radio-collecting/676891/4 "2013-12-21T14:36:33Z")

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When I was younger, certain models of Atwater Kent radios were considered quite collectible. Especially the [cathedral](http://www.tuberadioland.com/images/ak82_3a.gif) models.

I personally favor the Zenith “round dial” types. Bonus if they have [magic eye tuning](http://www.lindychef.com/images/miscimages/eyeclosed.jpg) tubes.

There are certain models of [Catalin](http://www.ik2ycw.it/claudio/images/catalog.html) (plastic) radios that sell for thousands. (Which means that there are a lot of fakes of those.)

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**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-rare-old-vacuum-tube-radio-collecting/676891/5 "2013-12-21T17:20:27Z")

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the largest number of radios you will find were the most popular Philco and Zenith.

though some models of Atwater Kent are deluxe.