Cornflower Blue 1959 GE General Electric Model 913D AM Vacuum Tube Clock Radio Holy Smoke Working Clock Light!
DESCRIPTION: Table top vacuum tube clock radio manufactured by General Electric in 1959. Has extremely rare gas bulb clock light which still WORKS! Before LEDs, incandescent filament clock lights were not standard because these bulbs would only last a few weeks before burning out. It is hard to find a clock model from this era with clock light which either stay on all the time, or turned on with a switch. This GE is one of those few models which had a gas light bulb (like neon light) which turns on when you press the button on the clock face.
SOUND QUALITY: Picks up AM stations clearly around the dial without need of external antenna attachment.
CABINET CONDITION: Cabinet is in excellent condition. No cracks, no chips, no major scratches. Original factory molded cornflower pastel blue color plastic. Not repainted. No over spray. Not touched up. Factory original silver clock face is in excellent condition with no cracks, chips, or major scratches, no greening, no micro-inclusions in the clock face. Small patch of hazing by 12 o'clock. Bezel securely attached. Clock and radio function lettering is clear and readable. Original factory molded color matching blue back cover has no cracks, no chips or major scratches. Securely mounted.
KNOBS: Original matching knobs are in excellent condition and securely attached. No broken attach posts. Little clock knobs are all original factory matching clear barrel ridged knobs and securely attached not yellowed. Volume and tuning knob and gold centers are in excellent condition, no chips on edges, slightly tarnished gold metal inserts. Original clock light knob.
LOGO: No missing logo. The factory original "General Electric" raised lettering is in excellent condition.
DIAL LIGHT: Tuning dial light is working. Hooray! Usually this light is not working on surviving examples. There is a radio dial light as well which also works. Comes on when radio is powered on.
SPEAKER: Original 4" speaker
CLOCK: Clock works and keeps accurate time. Clock motor is silent no humming no buzzing no ticking noises. Alarm and clock set function works and goes off at the correct set times. Alarm buzzer works. Wake to radio or radio and buzzer. Sleep timer works. Snooze button works.
INTERNAL ELECTRONICS: All paper and wax capacitors have been replaced with modern equivalents. Both Intermediate Transformers have been rebuilt 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. There is no loud or pervasive hum. There is no loud or pervasive static between stations. The set has been aligned according to factory specifications. All wiring has been thoroughly checked for possible bridging and weak solder connection. The radio has been thoroughly cleaned and inspected.
POWER CORD: The original power cord and plug are in excellent condition with no cracks, or splits. No exposed wiring.
FACTORY LABELS AND STICKERS: Bottom factory label is missing. No other missing labels.
BACKING BOARD: Original factory molded color matching blue back cover has no cracks, no chips or no major scratches. Securely mounted.
YOUTUBE VIDEO here
DIMENSIONS: Approximately 13" x 6" x 6.5" (l x w x h)
WEIGHT: 5 lbs 14 oz
COLOR: blue
ADD BLUETOOTH MP3 See info here
ADD SMART SPEAKER: See info here
ADD ALWAYS-ON DIAL LIGHT: See info here
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