Value:USD 40–120 at auction (as-found; restored and working examples can bring more)
Maker's Marks / Writing:Circular emblem at center of dial; lettering not legible in the photo (possibly 'Airline'). No other marks visible.
Date:2025-10-25 11:42:43.604074
Description:
Compact wooden table radio with streamlined Art Deco cabinet: triple horizontal wooden louvers over a cloth speaker grille at left, rectangular glass dial window at right, and two Bakelite control knobs along the lower front. Veneered rounded edges and a dark oxidized lacquer finish indicate a late-1930s to early-1940s production. The circular emblem at the center of the dial suggests a mid-market store brand such as Wards Airline or Sears Silvertone.
Curator Questions
Curated by Jade
Assessment:
A period American table radio with classic Streamline lines and original finish. Visible age indicators include oxidized lacquer, edge wear, dust accumulation, and an old woven grille cloth, consistent with a pre‑war tube set. Functionality is unknown and condition is as-found; expect the chassis to need service. A word about fakes.. Retro-styled reproduction radios (e.g., modern Crosley sets) exist, but they typically have plastic cabinets, bright new finishes, and modern power cords; your example shows period construction, Bakelite knobs, and cabinet wear consistent with authenticity.
Form, grille treatment with triple louvers, two-knob layout, and square dial are characteristic of late-1930s U.S. tabletop tube radios; the blurred round dial emblem prevents a precise model attribution, hence not higher.
Authenticity Score: 78%
Finish wear, aged grille cloth, Bakelite knobs, and overall construction are consistent with an original pre‑war tube radio rather than a modern reproduction; lack of interior photos keeps the score below 85%.
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