Barn Find Imperial Allwave in Westminster Cabinet

[Frank]

Hello all.  Found this unit recently at an estate sale.  Not a radio guy so bear with me on the description.  As I understand it based on what I've read on these pages - Allwave Imperial 23 in Westminster cabinet, Jensen Q4s and 10" pedestal speaker, paperwork from Scott regarding rectifier tube plates getting red hot with schematics.  Looks complete except for some tubes on the amp?  There are tubes in the receiver under the covers.  I haven't attempted to plug it in and I wouldn't know how to.  1934-1937 because of the side grills on cabinet?.  Any opinions on value?

[Frank]

more pics

[Frank]

serial number for database

[Kent King]

Frank -

Thanks, that is a new serial number, as I'd expect since it came from an estate sale and not another collector. 

You are correct on what you have, this is a Westminster cabinet, and you have the earlier (5-knob) version of the Allwave Imperial later called the Allwave High-Fidelity. Overall, the set is in good shape, a very restorable radio. You are missing some tubes on the amp, and you are absolutely right about not plugging it in! It should be checked by someone familiar with old radios, it will need work before it is safe to run it.

As to value - the tweeters in these sets command significant $, often times more than the rest of the set and cabinet combined. There may be others here interested in the set if you want to sell it. Others may buy it only for the tweeters, but that would be a shame as it could be restored to a nice operating radio. It can be run without the tweeters, its value adjusts downward accordingly.

Kent

[Kent King]

Oh...age...given the serial number and the 5 knob version, your set probably dates from late 1935 or perhaps early 1936, but not much later than that...

Kent

Kent King said:

Frank -

Thanks, that is a new serial number, as I'd expect since it came from an estate sale and not another collector. 

You are correct on what you have, this is a Westminster cabinet, and you have the earlier (5-knob) version of the Allwave Imperial later called the Allwave High-Fidelity. Overall, the set is in good shape, a very restorable radio. You are missing some tubes on the amp, and you are absolutely right about not plugging it in! It should be checked by someone familiar with old radios, it will need work before it is safe to run it.

As to value - the tweeters in these sets command significant $, often times more than the rest of the set and cabinet combined. There may be others here interested in the set if you want to sell it. Others may buy it only for the tweeters, but that would be a shame as it could be restored to a nice operating radio. It can be run without the tweeters, its value adjusts downward accordingly.

Kent

[Frank]

Thanks Kent.  I will be selling it and I'm near Boston if anyone is interested.

Kent King said:

Frank -

Thanks, that is a new serial number, as I'd expect since it came from an estate sale and not another collector. 

You are correct on what you have, this is a Westminster cabinet, and you have the earlier (5-knob) version of the Allwave Imperial later called the Allwave High-Fidelity. Overall, the set is in good shape, a very restorable radio. You are missing some tubes on the amp, and you are absolutely right about not plugging it in! It should be checked by someone familiar with old radios, it will need work before it is safe to run it.

As to value - the tweeters in these sets command significant $, often times more than the rest of the set and cabinet combined. There may be others here interested in the set if you want to sell it. Others may buy it only for the tweeters, but that would be a shame as it could be restored to a nice operating radio. It can be run without the tweeters, its value adjusts downward accordingly.

Kent

[Norman S Braithwaite]

Frank:  Would it be possible to post scans of the Scott paperwork related to the rectifier tubes red plating?  Curious minds want to know!

Norman

[Troy Taylor]

I found the listing for this radio on an auction site.  Here is a picture of the referenced 1947 letter regarding overheated plates in the rectifier tubes.

-Troy

[John T. Meredith]

Hi Frank,

If you are interested in selling this radio, please let me know.

Cheers,

John Meredith

Frank said:

serial number for database

[Frank]

The paperwork is shown above (eh12b.jpg)

Troy Taylor said:

I found the listing for this radio on an auction site.  Here is a picture of the referenced 1947 letter regarding overheated plates in the rectifier tubes.

-Troy

[Frank]

Hi John, it's for sale and I'm in the Boston area.  Let me know if you want to see.  I also have a lot of photos.

John T. Meredith said:

Hi Frank,

If you are interested in selling this radio, please let me know.

Cheers,

John Meredith

Frank said:

serial number for database