Getting radios on ebay is always a thrill, but just finding them in estate and garage sales can be very exciting also.
Here's one radio that I came upon during a garage sale hunt. The wife and I were visiting relatives up in Iowa a couple of years ago and during some free time we decided to visit a local garage sale. Upon arrival, I just knew I should have stayed home because all I could see was children's toys and clothes everywhere.
We were greeted by the owners who invited us to look around and if we had any questions, just give them a shout. For some strange reason, I asked if they had any radios for sale. The owner's wife still talking to my wife said, I think Dan had a couple in the basement.
Dan was her late brother. She went off looking for radios and we looked at her other items, like I said, mostly toys and clothes. I guess in about ten minutes, she returned with a large box containing two radios. One was a GE clock radio, pink in color, probably late 50's or early 60's, but the other was an original Pilot B-1151 Lone Ranger very dirty with no cracks or missing chips.
As you would imagine, my eyes got big as silver dollars and I had a hard time keeping calm, my wife said all I did was grin from ear to ear. Trying to be calm, I asked the lady how much did she want for the two. Now you know that you just can't leave one behind. The owner said, oh dear, would you give me twenty-five for both.
Now I'm starting to feel bad and had to tell the lady that the big one was probably worth much more. She told me that it was very nice of me to tell her, but her brother Dan got it from a friend in some sort of a trade and she was glad to see them go. She was not going to change her price even after being told of their true value.
Now my wife is starting to feel bad for her and not happy for me and we wind up buying another twenty-five worth of toys just so that she would feel better.
When I got back to Texas, my home, I completely restored the radio to working condition. Everything is original and in excellent condition except for some of the electrical components under the chassis and a new AC power cord. Hope you enjoy viewing my 'Lone Ranger' and post one of yours.
Joe
Place your mouse "arrow" over the picture to reveal the model number and manufacture.
David Spivey - Little Rock AR
Hi Folks!
Thought you might enjoy seeing a radio I found in North Carolina a couple of weeks ago. I have never seen this ADMIRAL midget radio before. It ’ s a model 7T03CG from about 1948. It ’ s not in any of my books. I guess it goes under the category of things you never expect to find. Most radios you see in antique malls are pretty common, or overpriced, or usually both!
When I first glanced at this radio, I thought it was a toy. I had never seen a normal looking radio shrunk down to a size this small. It’s a painted bakelite set, with a lime green tenite grill. The tenite has a little warping like so much of it does, but it was not cracked or broken.
Barry McDaniel, my cosmetic hero, helped me with a small repair on the case, and this is the final result. For a small set without a loop antenna, it has great reception. I was able to pick up WSM in Nashville from my kitchen the other night.
Anyway, here are the pics. I put a beer can next to it so you can get some perspective of the size.
David
