The first radio I ever bought was a console, as was the one that hooked me on collecting.  I was coming home from a camping trip up on the Bruce Peninsula (during which I managed to put my dad's new car into a swamp, but that's another story) and stopped at a little junk dealer just outside of Wiarton.  Sitting out front was an old Stromberg Carlson 62.  This had sat out in the rain for years, it seemed.  The veneer was all coming off, it had no knobs, the dial was ruined, the tubes were all smashed out.  I got it for $10.  It turned out that the thing was totally infested with spiders, including one big fat grey one that was still hiding under the tuning capacitor days later and took very poorly to my alcohol spray.  To this day, it is still known among our friends as 'the Spider radio'. (This also inspired a comic strip which is on the 'comix' page.)  What can I say?   I was hooked.

Lots of the consoles listed here are no longer in my possession.  They take up too much room and don't stack well in the basement.  I've found they make great gifts for major occasions. (Hey, Uncle Herb, that's a mighty attractive corner over there in your living room....)
 
 
 

Make: Admiral  Model: 7G11  Year: 1948-49  Tubes: 6SQ7 (2), 6K6 (2), 6SK7, 6SA7, 5Y3  Power: 60-cycle  Schematic: Unavailable  Acquired: family, 1993  Made in: Toronto

 

Make: Brunswick  Model: 15  Year: 1930  Tubes: 224 (4), 45 (2), 80  Power: 25-cycle  Schematic: Available  Acquired: Aberfoyle, 1993  Made in:

 This is probably the choicest of all the consoles, but it is languishing downstairs waiting for a problem with the gain to be sorted out. This thing is built like an absolute tank with the heaviest chassis I have ever seen, but the manufacturing is absolutely beautiful. It's like dealing with 1930 lab equipment. Very nice, clean, sophisticated control setup. The lower knob appears to be a tone control of sorts, the outer knob on the double is tuning, the inside is an on/off/volume control that moves in and out as well to give local and long-distance settings. I don't know where these were built here, or whether this set was imported. Our first thought, upon seeing the name, was that it was an Eastern manufacturer (ie. New Brunswick). Probably not.

This radio has its own finish, though I had to redo the top surface. Thankfully, the grille cloth is immaculate, because there would be no way to match it.

Now

Make: CGE  Model: E56  Year: 1936  Tubes: 42, 80, 6A7, 75, 6D6  Power: 25/60-cycle  Schematic: Available  Acquired: Circle M,          Clappison's Corners, 1996  Made in: Toronto

Then

Make: Deforest-Crosley  Model: 10D691 "Cambrian"  Year: 1940  Tubes: 20J8M, 12K7M, 12B6M, 50C6G, 50Y6G, 6X6  Power: 60-cycle  Schematic: Available  Acquired: Aberfoyle, 1996  Made in: Toronto

Make: Majestic  Model: 90  Year: 1929  Tubes: 27 (5), 45 (2), 80  Power: 25-cycle  Schematic: Available  Acquired: Aberfoyle, 1996  Made in: Toronto

Make: Philco  Model: 3118H  Year: 1934  Tubes: 78 (2), 6A7, 75, 42 (3), 80   Power: 25/40-cycle  Schematic: Available  Acquired: Aberfoyle, 1993  Made in: Toronto

Make: Philco  Model: 3116A  Year: 1936  Tubes: 78 (3), 77 (2), 76, 37, 42, 6A3, 5Z3  Power: 25/40-cycle  Schematic: Available  Acquired: Circle M,          Clappison's Corners, 1996  Made in: Toronto

 

Make: Philco  Model: 39-331  Year: 1939  Tubes:6A8G, 78, 37, 75, 41, 84   Power: 50/60-cycle - 45W  Schematic: Available  Acquired:Big Garbage Night,                    1991  Made in: Toronto

Yes, believe it or not, Dan found this radio on big garbage night.  It took a lot of work to bring it back.  The chassis was stripped down to ground zero, sandblasted and reassembled.  The speaker was never found, and a modern one is currently making do.  This set is a monument to the power of positive thinking.  It also was the first one in which we noticed the tendency among these sets to receive an oldies station as the first signal after being rebuilt. (Probably has more to do with Toronto's airwaves.)  In a lot of ways, I think this set is Dan's answer to the Spider radio.  (Note: Apparently, 'big garbage' night is a local phenomenon.  Basically, once every couple of weeks or so, you can put out any oversize items for collection.  This is where you throw out your old couches, easy chairs, radios, etc.  Many students (myself included) have furnished their apartments on big garbage night.)

'hiked-up' finish

Make: RCA  Model: 17K  Year: 1940  Tubes: 6SK7 (2), 6SA7, 6H6, 6SF5, 6K6GT, 5Y3  Power: 60-cycle  Schematic: Available  Acquired: Jordan Hollow, 1984  Made in: USA (Camden, NJ)

original finish