Coral 1956 Arvin Model 956T AM Vacuum Tube Radio Sci Fi Dashboard Excellent Plus Condition! Sounds Wonderful!
DESCRIPTION: This design has all the best characteristics of a collectible 50s retro radio. Cool colors - check. Contrasting tweed fabric grill - check. Gratuitous use of knobs and dials - check. Quirky design naïve futurism - check plus! The front red tone register that slides up and down seems inspired by many early science fiction movies. Tabletop tube AM radio manufactured by Arvin in 1956 Model Number 956T. This radio is in excellent working and physical condition loud as a Krell from Forbidden Planet!
SOUND QUALITY: Picks up AM and FM stations clearly and loudly up and down the dial without need of external antenna attachment. FM dipole antenna is included for even better reception. No humming or buzzing or pervasive static.
CABINET CONDITION: Cabinet is original factory molded coral color. Not repainted no over spray no touch up. None needed. The front brown, tan, and gold tweed is the clean and a striking contrast texturally with the coral plastic. No rips, no yellowing no staining no rust tracks no separated edges. No chips or major scratches on the chrome plastic trim. Chrome paint is in excellent conditoon. There one small spot where chrome paint has flaked off on the center tone register. Usually this chrome paint is thin, oxidized, or flaking off a lot worse than on the example. No missing ink, smudges, or rub-off on dial lettering on front tuning register. These 956T tuning windows sometimes break off on surviving examples but not this one.
LOGO: Arvin grill logo is intact and securely fastened.
KNOBS: Knobs are original and securely attached no cracks which is common on these surviving 956T's. The tuning dial works no slipping no squeaking no sticky or stuck spots. Tone knob works with good even tonal variation. The red tone center register slides up and down from high to low tone. Very unique and neat feature.
SPEAKERS: This radio features dual speakers so it has a much better tone than normal single speaker radios.
DIAL LIGHTS: Dial light lights brightly.
POWER CABLE: The power cord and plug are excellent original working condition with no cracks, or splits. No exposed wiring.
INTERNAL ELECTRONICS: Paper and wax capacitors have been replaced with modern equivalents so this radio has another 50+ years or more of playing time! The tubes are working fine. All out-of-spec resistors have been replaced with modern correct value and voltage equivalents. The set has been aligned according to factory specifications. The radio has been thoroughly cleaned and inspected. All wiring has been thoroughly checked for possible bridging and weak solder connection.
BACKING BOARD: Factory original backing board is intact securely attached printing faded.
FACTORY LABELS: Bottom factory labels are mostly intact.
COLOR: Coral with tan tweed grill
DIMENSIONS: Approximately 13" x 5" x 7" (l x w x h)
WEIGHT: 6 lbs 2 oz
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Product: antique radio, vintage radio, retro radio, vacuum tube radio, AM radio, art deco, mid-century product.
Category: radio
Cabinet construction: plastic
Period: 1950s
Country of manufacture: USA
Electronics: Mounted circuit board or chassis. Vacuum tube circuit.
Vacuum tubes: tested and working. Amplifier, converter, detector, pre-amplifier, rectifier