Chocolate Brown 1959 General Electric Model 861 Vacuum Tube AM Radio Sputnik Atomic Age Beauty!
DESCRIPTION: This vintage radio manufactured by General Electric in 1959 in excellent plus physical and working condition. Rare and beautiful. Embodies all the design elements of the Jetsons, atomic age, space race era. Was same model seen in Leave It to Beaver TV series and movie The Professional with Jean Reno and Natalie Portman.
SOUND QUALITY: Picks up AM stations around the dial without need of external antenna attachment.
CABINET CONDITION: Cabinet is original factory molded dark brown switly plastic back and ivory front. Not repainted, no tough up, not over sprayed. The white front is in excellent condition with no cracks, chips, or yellowing. Original bottom front aluminum fascia panel is not oxidized reglued on the left side. The front circular tuning dial and shroud are in excellent condition with little oxidization or fading some lettering rub off which is common with this model. The atomic looking dial center symbol is in excellent condition and securely attached. Rotates with tuning.
KNOBS: Factory original matching knobs are factory original matching with no missing gold metal center caps. Gold metal center caps are not tarnished. Atomic symbol tuning wheel rotates when you tune stations. Sweet!
LOGO: Factory aluminum bottom edge logo plate is in very good condition no rub off some minor waviness in the left side.
DIAL LIGHT: Dial light works and lights up brightly.
INTERNAL ELECTRONICS: All paper and wax capacitors have been replaced with modern equivalents so this radio has another 50+ years or more of playing time! Both Intermediate Frequency Transformers (IFTs) have been rebuilt to ensure static free performance in the future. 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.
BACKING BOARD: No backing board. Not designed with one. Original factory molded marbled swirly brown plastic back is in very good condition with no chips and no major scratches. No melted heat vanes. Bottom has two cracks on either side which have been reglued.
FACTORY LABELS AND STICKERS: Missing factory labels.
PROVENANCE: Previous owner identity is not known. Was gently used then stored in a dry cool environment for a long period of time. No evidence of prolonged exposure to cigarette smoking, moisture, cooking grease, pets or carpet.
DIMENSIONS: Approximately 13" x 5" x 7" (l x w x h)
COLOR: brown and white
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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