Very Rare 1934/35 Northern Electric Table Radio Model 55 in a Swiveling Cradle - All Original in Mint Condition and Working
In a Nutshell
Have you ever seen anything like this? A 77 years old rocking radio?
Introduction:
This radio owns the podium - I think:
♣ the interplay of horizontal and vertical bars represents a paragon of post-art-deco 1930's modernist style
♠ this is the only radio in a swiveling cradle ever built (please correct me)
♥ it is the most desirable table radio by Northern Electric
♦ it has a very innovative electronic design, the first tube being a tuned RF stage that is used as a reflex audio preamp,
followed by an autodyne frequency changer, 175 kHz IF amplifier and detector and an audio amplifier
One may wonder why NE put this radio in a cradle. Certainly the small (13" wide without cradle) but 18 pounds heavy radio is very service friendly. But also it just looks much better when for example compared with a contemporary and very similar DeForest Crosley "EARL", also on sale (pict.26). The radio's front (pict.3) is a masterpiece of modernism styling: horizontal and vertical black accent bars, contrasted with chevron shaped 30 degree veneer and criss-cross speaker cloth, two brass escutcheons and two anodized all-brass knobs on a trapezoid, supplements by two larger wooden knobs with the same 3-ring pattern, a geometrical eye candy.
Additional information:
ref. 1: http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/northernel_55.html
ref. 2: http://www.antiqueradios.com/gallery/v/Northern_Electric/Northern_Electric_55A.jpg.html
ref. 3: Lloyd Swackhammmer: "Radios of Canada", page 83
About my radio:
The radio is in mint condition; when you look at pict.25 ("before"), you will empathize with me about the need to refinish the cabinet, and by comparing with pict.8 ("after"), you will have to agree that a perfect match was achieved with a water-based walnut stain and matt laquer refinish. The 4 knobs and the speaker cloth are original to this radio.
The reception is excellent. A long
wire is needed at the antenna connector. All moveable
parts were treated with contact spray. Please
e-mail
me (Kris) for any questions, ich spreche Deutsch, je parle Français.
Here are the specifications:
Technical Description of Item |
| Manufacturer |
Northern Electric Co., Ltd. Canada |
| Model |
55 |
| Production Year |
1934 - 35 |
| Serial Number |
1 82 |
| Type |
5-tube 2-Band (AM-Police) Autodyne Receiver, IF=175 kHz |
| Cabinet |
Chevron style veneered wood with accents, suspended in swiveling cradle |
| Knobs |
2 original wooden, 2 original brass knobs |
| Dial |
Vertically split dial, reverse lit by red and green bulb |
| Frequency Range |
BC 530-1600 kHz, Police 1.5-4 MHz |
| Controls |
Left to right: volume, on/off - tone, band select, tuning |
| Tube Lineup |
6F7 (RF, 1stAF), 6A7 (Autodyne), 6B7 (IF, Det.),42 (2ndAF), 80 (Rect.) |
| Size (WxDxH) |
15½" x 9½ " x 11", all including cradle |
| Weight |
8.2 kg = 18 pounds, including cradle |
| Comment |
All original 1934 Northern Electric Radio, restored Collector's dream radio |
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