Cardinal Red Vintage 1955 Sylvania Model R598-18637 Vacuum Tube AM Radio Sounds Great Rare Working Panelescent Screen Wow!
DESCRIPTION: Tabletop vacuum tube AM clock radio alarm manufactured by Sylvania in 1955 time frame in excellent working and physical condition. Has original Panelescent clock display that still works!
SOUND QUALITY: Picks up AM stations clearly and loudly around the dial without need of external antenna attachment.
CABINET CONDITION: Cabinet is original factory molded red plastic. No chips or major scratches or missing pieces. Hairline crack beginning at the top back edge. Clock glass cover has cracks, no chips, no flaking numbers or rub off. Gold color metal clock surround trim is shiny slightly tarnished.
KNOBS: Original all three red matching clock function knobs are securely attached. Usually some or all of these little knobs is missing. Original matching red factory tuning and volume knobs are in excellent condition.
LOGO: No missing logos. Sylvania gold painted raised logo is tarnished.
DIAL LIGHT: Original Panelescent clock light works! This was a glow-in-the dark technology offered only on Sylvania models in the 50s. There is a dimmer knob on the back which adjusts the level of glow brightness! Holy cow. This is one of the few models from any manufacturer from the period with any kind of clock light. Usually these Panelescent displays stop working so it is rare to find one that is still working. No tuning dial light. Not designed with one but can be added for an extra charge.
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. Buzzer works. Sleep timer works. Snooze button works.
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! 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: Fiber board back cover is original securely mounted. factory printing is almost completely faded. Copper rectangular antenna is securely adhered throughout..
FACTORY LABELS AND STICKERS: Np missing bottom factory labels.
COLOR: red
YOUTUBE VIDEO here. The Panelescent display is not demonstrated in this video because the video was recorded during daylight light.
DIMENSIONS: Approximately 13.5" x 6" x 7" (l x w x h)
WEIGHT: 6 lbs 7 oz
ADD BLUETOOTH MP3 See info here
ADD A SMART SPEAKER: See info here
ADD 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