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Coca Cola bottle tube radio from 1933 - 24" high
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side view |
dial area
insides
click on the small images to enlarge |
rear view |
This is a RARE radio!
made by Crosley, model 165
ca. 1933
This item is NOT for sale
I just acquired
this radio and am seeking any historical information on it to include on
this page.
Background
My interest in radio began as a child in the
early 1950's (see my
"Bio" page).
Most of the old radios I acquired then would end up
dissected. Around the age of 12 - 13 years, I found a radio
just like the one pictured above and repaired it. I was so proud of
myself as this was the very first time I did such a thing. Up 'til
then, they usually ended up as parts stored in several coffee cans.
The copper wire which I removed from the speaker fields and
transformers I sold at the scrap yard for spending money.
My Special Interest
Ever since I started collecting radios (in the mid 1960's), I
would occasionally think about that large "Coca-Cola" bottle radio
I had back then and what a
nice piece it would be for my collection. I have no idea what
became of it, I probably sold it for $5.00 and it's
likely sitting on the shelf of a "Coke" memorabilia collector
somewhere.
The Restoration
I
restored the electronics for the previous owner (Cal Nicholson of
Hanover, PA), he did the beautiful restoration of the cosmetics and
painstaking repainted it being very careful to match the original
color perfectly.
Afterwards he offered me the opportunity to purchase the radio. Since the one of
my childhood, I had never seen or come across another until this one
(and I've seen a lot of radios and collections in my lifetime). So
acquiring this piece has a lot of special meaning to me. I understand
few were made and most all of them are in the collection of those who
collect Coca-Cola memorabilia.
The Circuitry
For those of you who
are technically oriented, the circuitry used in this is a bit unusual.
First, it is a Super-Het with the IF frequency of 456 Kc. (or KHz for
you modernaires). The unusual part is the volume control circuitry,
it's like that which is used in the TRF type radios of the late 1920's. The volume is
controlled by a variable resistor in the antenna circuit. When the
volume level is decreased, the antenna is shunted to ground while the
cathode resistor value of the IF amplifier is increased (reducing the
gain of that stage). A very poor way to control volume.
I modified the
circuitry a bit by removing the antenna control, fixing the bias of
the IF amp, adding a variable resistor in the grid circuit of the
audio amplifier and
adding AVC. This greatly improved the performance of the radio
without any alterations to the external appearance of the
chassis. Since no schematic for this radio could be found, I spent
several hours detailing and drawing one.
Year: 1933
Case: painted Bakelite
Dial: Backlit
Back: N/A
Finish: perfect like new
Knobs: original
Chassis: very clean
Tuning type: capacitance, super-het
Power transformer: yes
Grille cloth: N/A
No. of tubes: 5
Electronic condition: restored, excellent
Flaws, cracks, blems : none
Frequency coverage: AM, standard broadcast
Antenna requirements: long wire
Measurements: 24" tall x 8" dia. Schematics for sale
I offer for sale;
professionally drawn schematics for the model 165 Coke Bottle Radio.
The package includes:
Original schematic
My improved circuit modifications
Chassis pictures (inside & out, before & after restoration).
PLEASE CLICK
HERE
BEFORE ORDERING
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