Item: Radiola VIIB – RCA – Rare Wireless Specialty Radio Receiver 1924 WORKING & Nice
Sold For: $4,430.00
Bids: 21
Date: Feb 12, 2012
Auction: Ebay
Seller: r_a_d_i_o_1
Feedback: 100% (367)
Description and Image By: r_a_d_i_o_1
One of the finest looking sets to be made during the early years of broadcasting was the much sought after Radiola VIIB (7B). Wireless Specialty Apparatus Co. (WSA) manufactured just 2,569 of these for RCA in early 1924 (ref: Douglas and Wenaas). They were never advertised in print, so low sales volume was predictable, besides, WSA was not a typical high volume manufacturer.
The VIIB was actually a repackaged 1923 Radiola IX, made to mount in the lid of a phonograph. My guess is that accidentally dropping the phonograph lid a couple of times, especially with lit filaments, resulted in some pretty unhappy customers. Also, the position you’d have to be in to tune the set had to be uncomfortable. Not many were sold. So what to do with a load of chassis back in the warehouse that aren’t moving? Simple; design a new more conventional cabinet and hope to get back the relatively large engineering and tooling investment that must have gone into the original design. Look under the panel; virtually every major part of this set had to be an inch or less in depth to fit the inside of a typical phonograph lid. Even at a $275.00 selling price in 1924, WSA must have lost a load of money on these.
This VIIB is fully operational with all original components. Considering the number of transformers and coils in this radio (eight- six RF and two AF) this is a minor miracle. None have been repaired, they are as they were when they left the factory almost 90 years ago. The battery cable (all batteries were contained inside the cabinet) is in outstanding condition. The ORIGINAL speaker driver is good and loud. Even with my poor (and short) antenna, this regenerative receiver works quite well.
As you can see, the finish, both inside and out, is very nice. It’s not perfect, but I think you’ll be more than satisfied. If the outside was ever refinished, someone did an expert job. The cabinet has all four of its original unbroken feet. Note that the grill cloth has what appears to be an old repair, it shows on the third photo.
I non-destructively labeled each battery cable connection to make your life easier when it comes time to power it up. The five brass based tipped UV199’s are good and strong and really enhance the beauty of this radio. I used an ARBE III power supply (not included) and it worked well with this set. A copy of the installation and operating manual as well as the replacement parts manual are included.
I’ve posted a short video showing this radio in operation, just go to YouTube and search “Radiola VIIB”, that’ll be it. (Sorry, but trying to link to or embed a video in an eBay listing is virtually impossible!)
Collecting early radio equipment is a hobby of mine, not a business. I do not guarantee that an almost 90 year old radio will work forever, or even for a minute, after it leaves my hands. I guarantee that it works now and has worked every time I’ve tried it over the years (watch the video referenced above). Transformers fail, tubes burn out and capacitors change value or short. ALL future failures will be your responsibility. Please keep that in mind as you bid. However, saying all that, I’ll bet you won’t have any problems with this set during your lifetime, after all, it’s lasted this long.