1923 Kennedy XI Consolette Radio
$2,500.00
Ships Worldwide.
Beautiful Kennedy XI consolette, the seldom seen four-tube big brother of the Kennedy X.
Manufactured in 1923, at the height of the 1st radio boom, the XI was Kennedy’s ultimate radio — an over the top, battery-operated broadcast receiver that offered to the few who could afford it a bounty of seldom seen features, including three high-gain stages of audio amplification; a handmade, gated, furniture-quality cabinet accented with a generous amount of marquetry; a built-in horn loudspeaker; an elegant wood grill; and an array of gold-plated hardware that played off perfectly against the polished bakelite panel. It was — and remains — a gorgeous piece of communications technology.
Condition of this example is excellent, close to mint.
The bakelite panel is nearly flawless, with no chips, no cracks, no issues. Dials and knobs are likewise in excellent condition, with no chipping around the rims, no cracks or swelling. Gold plating on the dials and hardware is original, and it’s pristine, with no corrosion, no pitting, not even any significant tarnish. The dials move smoothly, tune accurately every time, and they stay in place once a station is tuned. All of the blackened corner retainers are original, as are all of the screws. Original binding post nuts, too.
The chassis is as clean as the rest of the radio. Wiring is straight and original throughout. Two of the three AF transformers are original, and third is a period replacement. The Detector, Stage 1 and Stage 2 audio outputs are working; the Stage 3 output is not. The speaker driver for the internally mounted horn tests “open,” but the radio’s output into an external horn speaker is loud and clear. The internal horn is original, as is the grill cloth.
Both door cards are still intact, and in near mint condition, and the original battery wires are also still intact, with their original metal tags. The binding post nuts on the back of the radio are original and correct.
The radio works and tunes the AM broadcast band. Operation requires a regulated DC power supply, a longwire outdoor antenna and an external high impedance cone or horn loudspeaker.
Measures approximately 28″ x 15″ x 15″
An uncommon early radio in exceptional condition.
SOLD
