Rare Oddity Wood 1956 Guild Model 484 "Spice Chest" AM Vacuum Tube Radio - Now I've Seen Everything!
DESCRIPTION: Wood artisan hand-crafted tabletop radio manufactured by Guild Radio and Television Company of Los Angeles CA in the 1956 time fame. This radio was manufactured before the days of LSD. So something else must have led to this design! Very high quality wood construction with a lot of details which would have made this radio pretty expensive to manufacture back in its day (and today).
CABINET CONDITION: Cabinet is original factory construction in excellent condition with solid wood panels not ply or particle board. No cracks, no chips, no peeling veneer of rot. Original factor stain and clear coat shows wear throughout. There are areas where the finish has chipped, worn through, weather checked, like it came over on the Mayflower. Probably made of pine because it's not too heavy. Front plantation shutters are functional. The other models of Spice Chest have flat panel wood door. This version is much fancier. Doors open and shut as designed snap closed in place.
Now when there's a question, "Honey, where are the salt and pepper shakers?" you can answer, "Did you check the radio?"
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS: Front plantation doors and original hinges are in excellent condition with alignment within specification. Plantation shutters open and close as designed but are a little tight. Strangely, the doors cannot be closed completely if shutters are in anything but fully closed position because of radio knobs which is by design. The two lower wood compartments are original and matching.
SOUND QUALITY: Picks up AM stations up and down the dial without need of external antenna attachment.
LOGO: Front metal radio panel is in excellent condition with clear factory printing and graphics.
KNOBS: Original matching real wood radio knobs are in excellent condition. No cracks, no chips, and securely attached. All white porcelain knobs on doors and drawers are original, matching, securely attached, excellent condition. Tone knob works.
SPEAKERS: This radio features 4" original factory speaker.
DIAL LIGHTS: Dial light lights brightly. Replaced with modern LED for longer life.
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 wood backing board is intact securely attached.
FACTORY LABELS: Back factory label plaque is in excellent condition
COLOR: wood
DIMENSIONS: Approximately 11" x 7" x 14" (l x w x h)
WEIGHT: 10 lbs 6 oz
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Product: antique radio, vintage radio, retro radio, vacuum tube radio, AM radio, art deco, mid-century product.
CATEGORY: Belongs on your gift list for that person who already has everything. They don't have one of these!
Cabinet construction: wood
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