Stunning Rare Art Deco 1936 Silvertone Model 1955 Tombstone Radio, All Restored!

Description

Back in the 1930’s, when Sears, Roebuck was the largest retailer in the world and millions of Americans eagerly awaited the arrival of their new catalogue in the mail, the company had some of the finest radio designers in the United States producing beautiful, tech-forward sets for them, which Sears sold under its own brand name, Silvertone. To this day, many Silvertone sets are highly prized by radio collectors, including a handful they produced in 1936 that featured a very special dial, a series of green and orange rings with a globe in the bullseye, under a banner emblazoned with the name Silvertone. It was the era of the “airplane dial” radio, and this particular example is still considered to be one of the most beautiful ever made. As I said, Silvertone only produced a handful of sets with these dials – and only for one year, 1936 – and of those, only a few were tabletop sets. Of those, the finest and most expensive was the model 1955 an 8-tube “tombstone” style set in a stylish Art Deco Machine Age cabinet. In the depths of the Great Depression, not many were sold; they are very, very hard to find today.
I came across this example at an estate sale here in Maine many years ago, snapped it up, had it meticulously restored, and have enjoyed listening to – and looking at it – ever since.
In fact, it has been prominently displayed in my living room for all that time, and never fails to attract the attention of visitors, even before they listen to it. I don’t know of another cabinet like it – just look at those scalloped sides and grille bars! Truly magnificent. The designers didn’t want to mar their gorgeous cabinet with decals, so they actually engraved the knobs’ functions into the knobs themselves! (See last picture.) The finish on this impressive cabinet – it measures 18”h x 15”w x 11”d – is completely original, with a lovely warm patina. The dial glows bright, thanks to new bulbs, and the tuning can be set to fine or broad. The set produces rich bass and clear, crisp treble, and is highly sensitive besides, picking up stations from many hundreds of miles away on Broadcast (AM) band, and around the world on shortwave.
Indeed, I have spent many a night listening to it, and have enjoyed every minute; now, though, I’m running out of space, so it’s time to pass it along to another collector who will appreciate it as much as I do. If you’ve always wanted one of these but thought you’d never find one in any condition – much less one in such fine, restored condition – this is your lucky day; you won’t find another one like it. Best of all, I offer it here with NO RESERVE – high bidder takes it!
I will ship this item ONLY within the United States. If you live elsewhere and are interested in it, please contact me before bidding so we can discuss the shipping charges, which can be very expensive outside the U.S. I ship once a week (whenever possible). Having received, over the years, some items that did not survive shipping, I always take care to pack very carefully. If you prefer, I will be happy to drop it off at a nearby UPS store and have it professionally packed and shipped at your expense. I reserve the right to raise or lower the shipping charges should they prove to be significantly different than those determined by the shipping calculator. I reserve the right to refuse sale to anyone with excessive negative feedback or an otherwise suspicious history. Payment is due within three (3) days of the auction's close. Due to its age I am selling this item without any warranty. All sales are final. I am not a dealer, and don’t have a big operation with a staff, so I would appreciate your patience while I take the time to pack your items with the care they deserve.
Be sure to see all the pictures! I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have, but please try to ask as early as possible, as it sometimes takes me a while to get to my email. Please see my other listings, as I am running out of space and am thinning out my collection considerably. I have several fine items up on Ebay right now, and will be listing many more in the weeks and months to come, so please keep checking. Good luck and happy bidding!