The Fine Things are Always Hand Made

McMurdo Silver Masterpiece V obtained!

A gorgeous Masterpiece V came up for sale local to me, and after hmmm and debate (ok, I didn't actually debate much) I contacted the seller and after some back and forth schedule conflicts, we finally met.

He was selling the radio on behalf of a family that moved to the U.K. and decided not to have the radio shipped over. I looked it over, made a fair offer, and done deal!

The Masterpiece had been in the same family since new! And it came with all the paperwork!

It was ordered in early December 1936, and shipped December 18. It arrived in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on December 23, just in time for Christmas. Shipped by Canadian National Express out of Chicago. And we think that fast shipping is a modern convenience?

Tariff and taxes are not a modern problem (?) either. The duty on radios not built in Canada at that time was 25%, with another 8% sales tax and a 3% excise tax. With the broker fees, shipping and set...all in the purchase cost $312.07 CDN. Surprisingly , the exchange rate at the time was almost on par. Maybe why the family ordered such a high end set from the U.S. instead of buying something built here.

In todays $, the Masterpiece would have cost over $7100!

I cleaned it up a bit. It was very dusty inside and out. It was last serviced in 1979. I will change out the electrolytic filter caps before I attempt to bring it up on my variac.

3 members like this

Attachments: