RED Riding Hood Mid Century Retro Vintage 1956 Olympic Model 552 Tube AM Radio Totally Sick!
DIMENSIONS: Approximately 14" x 7" x 8.5" (l x w x h)
COLOR: Red and white
YOUTUBE VIDEO here
MP3: Plays MP3 for $99 more, includes cable. See details here
See my story on CNN/Great Big Story here
DESCRIPTION: Absolutely superlative design in so many ways! Very unique and instantly memorable with elegant use of contrasting colors. Reminds me of an innocent period in 1956 American psyche after Deco but before Sputnik like a humongous 1957 Mercury Monterey. Akin to its automotive brethren, this radio makes irreverent use of bold colors on an otherwise staid concept of geometric shapes, oblique angles, and masculine proportions. It's as if designers wanted to be free of past stodginess, but was lacking creative inspiration, and was not yet focused on everything outer space with Sputnik. Tabletop tube AM radio manufactured by Olympic in 1956-57 time frame in excellent+ condition. Picks up AM stations clearly and loudly up and down the dial without need of external antenna attachment. Cabinet is in excellent condition with no chips, or major scratches. Original factory molded colors. No repaints. No oversprays. None needed. The contrasting white hood is a separate molded white plastic piece not painted. Isn't that sweet? There is a small hairline crack that is just beginning on the top center of the hood. There is a small hailrine crack by the left front hood corner. This radio is original factory molded red and white plastic pieces. It is not repainted. This radio is over 60 years old! The knobs are nice aged golden color in excellent condition. Gold fabric speaker grill is clean and original. The tuning dial works fine and smooth no slipping. The dial light lights brightly. All 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. There is no loud or pervasive hum. There is no loud or pervasive static between stations unless you operate near modern megahertz devices. The set has been aligned according to factory specifications. Backing board is in good condition with crisp square corners. The power cord and plug is good original working condition. No exposed wiring. The radio has been thoroughly cleaned and inspected. All wiring has been thoroughly checked for possible bridging and weak solder connection. Comes from non-smoking, mature, clean professional environment no pets. When this radio was new, tailfins were all the rage! This thing belongs in a museum!
X