Most know I will be closing RADIOORPHANAGE in the nextcouple of years. Now it is time to sell some of my Favorite Very Early Radio Items.There will be Very Early Radio Items here that you have never seen before, and othersthat you always wanted. If you are looking for the Best Very Early Radio Itemsyou can buy, you are in the right place. You will find cheaper Early RadioItems on , but you will not find better!! PERIOD! These are the BEST of my50+ years of collecting!!
EXCEPTIONALLY RARE 1929 RCA 1496-C ProfessionalRadio Receiver
The word rare gets slung around on until it has no value, but this is as truely RARE as you will ever see! I amonly aware of 3 of these receivers- one in the AWA Museum in Bloomfield, NY,one that Firebottles sold on a few years back, and this one.
These RCA AR-1496 receivers made byGeneral Electric for RCA were not sold to the general public, but were sold forprofessional maritime, military, andcommercial wireless communications.
Admiral Richard E. Byrd’s took an AR-1496-B on his historic1928 Antarctic expedition.
This set is the pinacol of any 1920s tube radio collection.
This AR-1496-C is a 27” x 10” x 8.5” 4 tube set that iscomplete and in exceptional condition with excellent lettering on the frontpanel and the original Nameplate showing coverage from 12 meters to 80 meters.
There are just a few small paint chips on the sides and top,or I would call it Museum Quality.
It comes with 6 plug-in coils:
Detector Coils:12-17.5 Meters, 17-28 Meters, and 27-45Meters
R.F. Coils: 12-17.5 Meters, 27-45 Meters, and 45-80 Meters
I do not clean or test these pre1930 battery sets, but allindications show that the last owner used this set.
Information on the provenience of this wonderful set will begiven to the new owner.
This is probably the rarest early radioyou will ever have the chance to own!
This is the Crown Jewel of any TubeRadio Collection.
If you were to own just one pre 1930sset in your collection, this would be an excellent candidate!
From AI on the NET:
The RCA AR-1496-C (often referred to simply as the 1496-C)is a highly collectible, late-1920s commercial-grade shortwave tube radioreceiver. Manufactured by General Electric (GE) for the RCA Victor Company,this rare line of four-tube receivers represents a pivotal era in professionalmaritime, military, and commercial wireless communications. A sister model inthis specific family tree (the AR-1496-B) famously served as the primarycommunications receiver on the ice during Admiral Richard E. Byrd’s historic1928 Antarctic expedition.
Technical Architecture & Specifications
The AR-1496 series utilized a refined, high-performancearchitecture for its day, engineered to reliably pull in weak shortwave signalsunder harsh commercial conditions.
Circuit Design:Tuned Radio Frequency (TRF) with a regenerative detector and a two-stage audiofrequency amplifier.
Tube Complement: A4-tube lineup featuring the then-revolutionary Radiotron UX-222 screen-gridtube in the RF amplifier stage. The UX-222 provided high amplification andeliminated the need for complex neutralization circuits.
FrequencyCoverage:Typically covered the 12 to 80-meter shortwave bands using a system ofinterchangeable plug-in coils.
Power Requirements:Designed as a battery-operated table set, requiring external storage and drybatteries to supply the necessary filament (typically 8V) and multi-tap platevoltages (45V, 90V, 135V, and 250V).
Enclosure: A heavy,rugged commercial metal table case box, often built with a lift-top lid tofacilitate quick coil changes.
The AR-1496 Family Evolution
RCA released at least five documented versions of thisrobust commercial receiver chassis to iterate on stability and performance:
·AR-1496 /AR-1496-A: The initial commercial shortwave models introduced around 1928.
·AR-1496-B:The exact configuration utilized on the ice during the 1928 Byrd Antarcticexpedition.
·AR-1496-C:The mid-evolution variant featuring minor component or layout updates to theprimary TRF chassis.
·AR-1496-D:The final iteration, widely distributed by 1929–1930, notable for itsincredibly smooth regeneration controls that prevented sudden frequencydrifting when adjusting the circuit.
·Collector\'s Note
·Because these units were expensive, specializedequipment built for commercial and government markets rather than living rooms,surviving examples of the RCA 1496 series are extraordinarily rare. Findingone with its original set of matching plug-in coils intact is considered apremier acquisition for vintage military and commercial wireless enthusiasts.
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BLURB, INFORMATION, and BOILERPLATE:
These items all come from a SMOKE FREE, SMELL FREE Home.
RADIOORPHANAGE INFORMATION:
1) 2025 is my 27th year selling on . I have bought, sold, and collected 25+ to 100+ year old Vintage Electronics for over 50 years. As I trim my collection, I try to sell a variety of interesting, hard to find Radios, Amplifiers, Record Players, Vinyl, Stereo Receivers, Speakers, Telephones, Transistor Radios, Tube Hi Fi and Audio, Television, Amateur Radio and Communication Devices, Vacuum Tubes, Telegraphs, Gaming Equipment, Early Computers and Calculators.
2)Check out all my other JIVE BINs and sales, and mark me as a Favorite Seller. September to May is my selling season. There is something here for any vintage electronics collector or nostalgia buff.
My current response is over 99% with over 7000 responses. About 1% of the World I can\'t satisfy, and I doubt you could either.
I was the President of the New England Antique Radio Club and then the New England Vintage Electronics Club for six years. I stepped down at the end of 2018 to concentrate on finding new owners for the Vintage Electronics my son is not interested in.
3) I value you as a customer, and more importantly, a returning customer.
I reward your fast payment with excellent packing, and lightning fast shipping.
4) I have no interest in taking advantage of anyone, and I have no need to.
If you understand what you are buying, and how Vintage Electronics work, you will be very happy.
If you don\'t understand how to put an antenna on an old tube radio, or how to connect speakers to a Vintage Amplifier, join a local Antique Radio or Vintage Electronics Club.
If you don\'t know where your closest club is, let me know, and I\'ll tell you.
If you don\'t know how to hook up or use what you are buying, or know someone who does, please don\'t buy.
ASK QUESTIONS about anything you don\'t understand. I want you to be happy.
5) Shipping is expensive.
You can pick your item up with NO SHIPPING costs at my home 50 miles north of Boston with advanced notice.
The concept of \"free shipping\" is one of the 3 biggest lies.
We are the best packers on , and pack YOUR item the way we\'d like to receive it-if it was being sent to us.
We take extra care in packaging, (Bubble wrap, foam pellets, proper boxes, etc.)(NOT the wadded up newspaper trick) There is a cost for doing this right.
Our goal is to get it to you in good shape, and for you to not have to file those fruitless shipping claims.
Let\'s face it, once it\'s broke, it\'s broke.
We have lost a significant amount of money in packaging costs over the past 25 years, and will continue to do so to get it to you in one piece.
6) YOU & US: Note that the majority of what we sell is antique, vintage, and/or collectable electronics.
For liability purposes, Radioorphanage / Bruce Phillips accept NO responsibility for how the buyer uses or misuse of the items.
We see you as a valued customer, and want you to be happy.
Buy with confidence, as we are in this for the long haul- not for a quick buck.
If you are not happy, for any reason, let us know and we\'ll try to make it right.
7) Questions? Please ask!
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