1923 Atwater Kent Radiodyne Breadboard Radio
$3,250.00
Ships Worldwide.
Together with its sibling, the Atwater Kent Model 5, the Atwater Kent Radiodyne is among the most sought after radios from the early 1920’s.
Unlike later Model 10 breadboards, which were in production in different forms for more than two years, the Radiodyne was in production for just 8 or 9 weeks. Radiodynes are distinguished from later Model 10’s by — among other things — metal tags on the tops of their RF coils that identify each of the coils as a “Radiodyne Transformer.” They’re further distinguished by dozens of brass binding posts on their tuning condensers and RF transformers. The radio’s name change — from Radiodyne to Model 10 — was due to a threatened lawsuit from the Western Coil Co, which owned the rights to the trademark “Radiodyne.” From December 1923 forward, all Atwater Kent breadboards with three tuning capacitors and a single TA island were known as Model 10 receivers rather than Radiodynes.
This Radiodyne is beautiful, and it still works well when connected to a longwire outdoor antenna, a horn loudspeaker, and a regulated DC power supply.
The green paint on the condenser cans and TA island is pristine — even the mounting flanges are clean. Beautiful brass fittings and bindings post assemblies, with no significant tarnish or oxidation. The chocolate brown bakelite on the tuning condensers and TA is likewise clean, with prominent, legible engraving on the dials and no chips, no cracks, no issues anywhere.
Both of the AF transformers inside the TA island are correct, and both are good. The wiring and staples on the underside of the board are original, as are the board feet and both paper tags. There’s a small bruise to the board on the underside of the front right corner, but the board is in excellent condition otherwise, with a clean finish and tight end caps that exhibit no shrinkage, nor any swelling.
The radio includes a good brass base, tipped 1 amp detector tube and four good brass base, tipped 1/4 amp rainbow amplifier tubes. They’re the same tubes you see in the video I’ve posted above.
SOLD
