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1919 Commerce Radiophone * Rare, Early Crystal Radio w/Paperwork, Labels * Works
1919 Commerce Radiophone * Rare, Early Crystal Radio w/Paperwork, Labels * Works
1919 Commerce Radiophone * Rare, Early Crystal Radio w/Paperwork, Labels * Works
1919 Commerce Radiophone * Rare, Early Crystal Radio w/Paperwork, Labels * Works
1919 Commerce Radiophone * Rare, Early Crystal Radio w/Paperwork, Labels * Works
1919 Commerce Radiophone * Rare, Early Crystal Radio w/Paperwork, Labels * Works
1919 Commerce Radiophone * Rare, Early Crystal Radio w/Paperwork, Labels * Works
1919 Commerce Radiophone * Rare, Early Crystal Radio w/Paperwork, Labels * Works
1919 Commerce Radiophone * Rare, Early Crystal Radio w/Paperwork, Labels * Works
1919 Commerce Radiophone * Rare, Early Crystal Radio w/Paperwork, Labels * Works
1919 Commerce Radiophone * Rare, Early Crystal Radio w/Paperwork, Labels * Works
1919 Commerce Radiophone * Rare, Early Crystal Radio w/Paperwork, Labels * Works
1919 Commerce Radiophone * Rare, Early Crystal Radio w/Paperwork, Labels * Works
1919 Commerce Radiophone * Rare, Early Crystal Radio w/Paperwork, Labels * Works
1919 Commerce Radiophone * Rare, Early Crystal Radio w/Paperwork, Labels * Works
1919 Commerce Radiophone * Rare, Early Crystal Radio w/Paperwork, Labels * Works
1919 Commerce Radiophone * Rare, Early Crystal Radio w/Paperwork, Labels * Works
1919 Commerce Radiophone * Rare, Early Crystal Radio w/Paperwork, Labels * Works

1919 Commerce Radiophone * Rare, Early Crystal Radio w/Paperwork, Labels * Works

$ 528

Availability: 73 in stock
  • Brand: Commerce Radiophone * Detroit
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
  • Time Period Manufactured: Pre-1930

    Description

    If you're an uncompromising collector of antique technology, make sure to check out all my listings after you look at this one. I don't think you'll find a better, broader or more balanced assortment of technical antiques anywhere -- hundreds of listings each year, almost all of them featuring eye-popping "gee whiz" gadgetry in exceptional original condition. And don't forget, you can click
    this link
    to quickly add and then save me to your favorite seller list and Ebay will automatically send you updates when I put similar new listings online.
    Here's a Commerce Radiophone, a large and complex but nonetheless rather primitive crystal set manufactured in Detroit from 1919 to 1921. The radio's unconventional design (removable lid, gated cabinet with double doors, double-slide tuning mechanism with one slider's control mounted on the vertical face of the panel, and the other slider's control mounted on the horizontal face) distinguishes it from most other crystal radios, particularly those made in the United States.
    This is the first version of the Commerce Radiophone, with a solid wood cabinet that has rounded corners and is not veneered in leatherette. Its condition is excellent, most notably the paper labels on the doors and the underside of the lid. These labels are the "Achilles Heel" of any Commerce radio, and it's unusual to find them complete, intact and legible.
    Even more uncommon are the two original instruction sheets that explain how to install the radio and how to use it.
    The cabinet's latching hardware and hinges are original and in good condition, with normal oxidation, and neither of the doors has detached. The lid has not warped, and it can be secured to the lower cabinet.
    The radio works, and it includes an excellent set of working headphones. If you want to use the radio, you'll need a longwire outdoor antenna (at least 100 feet of copper wire strung up between two posts or trees and elevated 10-15 feet above the ground). You'll also need a good indoor ground connection.
    Shipping weight, properly packed, will be about 12 lb.
    In the video above, the radio is connected to a Magnavox AC-3 amplifier (powered by an ARBEIII), and an Amplion Dragon horn speaker. Only the radio is included.
    The radio will of course work with vintage headphones also
    I'm one of ebay's best known, most highly regarded sellers of antique radios, and I specialize in radios from the 1920's. I've been selling
    and shipping
    them for more than 25 years. When you purchase an antique radio from me, you'll receive a radio that arrives safely because it's been carefully packed (by
    me
    , not by some well-intentioned but nonetheless confounded, doe-eyed teenager working at the UPS store who wouldn't know a phonograph from a farm tool), Sure, you can probably get a lower price from Joe and Janet Barn-Find, but when your "bargain" arrives broken, and without any hint of how you might be able to put it back together, you'll realize that you really do get exactly what you pay for.