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Radios

The first radios used wireless telegraphy to send audio signals in Morse code. In the late 1890s, these radios were used by ships to improve ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communication. Aviation began to experiment with radio around 1910, and during World War I, radio was used as a communication tool by the military. It was after World War I, during the '20s, that radios began to appear in private homes and radio broadcasting stations were developed for the public.

During the '20s and '30s, radio became a leading source of information and entertainment for the public. The importance of radio grew during World War II when governments relied on it to relay news and propaganda to their citizens. The entertainment provided on radio also began to change during World War II from serial programs to music. Today, the radio is a source for popular music and special-interest talk shows.

Early radios were nothing more than glass tubes mounted on a board. Later, the tubes were encased in metal or wooden boxes. By the '20s, radios became more elaborate, with radio cabinets constructed of wood in elaborate styles to make each radio look like a piece of furniture. Early plastics such as Bakelite became a popular exterior for radios during the '30s and '40s.


Quick Facts

  • Antique radios can be identified by the model number, which includes a combination of letters and numbers. The name and model number is usually stamped somewhere on the inner components of an antique radio
  • The first commercially-successful car radio was produced by the Galvin brothers in 1930. In an effort to identify their product as a motorized Victrola, they branded the radio Motorola
  • The first transistor radio available to the public was the Regency TR-1, produced in a joint effort between Texas Instruments and Industrial Development Engineering Associates. It appeared on the market in 1954

Recommended Items at Auction

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ZENITH 7-S232 CATHEDRAL RADIO
Sep 30, 10:00 AM EDT
ZENITH 7-S232 CATHEDRAL RADIO
by Milestone Auctions
Est: $200- $400
$7009 Bids
A Vintage National Panasonic 4-Band Stereo Radio Cassette Recorder
Sep 27, 6:00 PM AEST
A Vintage National Panasonic 4-Band Stereo Radio Cassette Recorder
by Theodore Bruce
Est: AUD40- AUD60
AUD1108 Bids
Vintage Porto BaRadio Stewart Warner Bakelite Bar Radio
Oct 21, 10:00 AM EDT
Vintage Porto BaRadio Stewart Warner Bakelite Bar Radio
by Mebane Antique Auction
Est: $100- $10,000
$1104 Bids
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VINTAGE KAIESER BROWN BAKELITE CASED RECORD PLAYER/RADIO
Sep 28, 9:00 AM AEST
VINTAGE KAIESER BROWN BAKELITE CASED RECORD PLAYER/RADIO
by Albion Antique Auction Centre
Est: AUD10- AUD40
AUD454 Bids
ZENITH TUBE STYLE FLOOR RADIO
Sep 30, 10:00 AM EDT
ZENITH TUBE STYLE FLOOR RADIO
by Milestone Auctions
Est: $200- $300
$1004 Bids
1970s SONY PHONOSPHERE RECORD PLAYER RADIO
Sep 30, 10:00 AM EDT
1970s SONY PHONOSPHERE RECORD PLAYER RADIO
by Milestone Auctions
Est: $200- $400
$2504 Bids
RCA RADIO LOT
Sep 30, 10:00 AM EDT
RCA RADIO LOT
by Milestone Auctions
Est: $100- $200
$1104 Bids
FADA 1000 CATLIN BULLET RADIO
Sep 30, 10:00 AM EDT
FADA 1000 CATLIN BULLET RADIO
by Milestone Auctions
Est: $300- $500
$2303 Bids
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VINTAGE WALNUT CASED MANTLE RADIO
Sep 28, 9:00 AM AEST
VINTAGE WALNUT CASED MANTLE RADIO
by Albion Antique Auction Centre
Est: AUD10- AUD40
AUD202 Bids
PHILCO #51 CLOCK RADIO
Sep 30, 10:00 AM EDT
PHILCO #51 CLOCK RADIO
by Milestone Auctions
Est: $200- $300
$1002 Bids
ZENITH MODEL 1267 FLOOR RADIO
Sep 30, 10:00 AM EDT
ZENITH MODEL 1267 FLOOR RADIO
by Milestone Auctions
Est: $300- $500
$1502 Bids
FADA 1000 CATLIN BULLET RADIO
Sep 30, 10:00 AM EDT
FADA 1000 CATLIN BULLET RADIO
by Milestone Auctions
Est: $1,000- $1,500
$5502 Bids
MIDWEST & LAFAYETTE TUBE RADIOS
Sep 30, 10:00 AM EDT
MIDWEST & LAFAYETTE TUBE RADIOS
by Milestone Auctions
Est: $200- $400
$1001 Bid
Vintage National Panasonic R-70 Red Novelty Radios
Oct 21, 10:00 AM EDT
Vintage National Panasonic R-70 Red Novelty Radios
by Mebane Antique Auction
Est: $100- $10,000
$501 Bid
Crosley Cr 37 Sparton Bluebird Replica AM/FM/Cassette Player
Oct 21, 10:00 AM EDT
Crosley Cr 37 Sparton Bluebird Replica AM/FM/Cassette Player
by Mebane Antique Auction
Est: $100- $10,000
$501 Bid
Vintage Kriesler 11-99 Mantle Radio with handle. Untested. 26cm W x 17cm T
Oct 02, 7:00 PM AEDT
Vintage Kriesler 11-99 Mantle Radio with handle. Untested. 26cm W x 17cm T
by Bargain Hunt Auctions
Est: AUD0- AUD0
AUD201 Bid
ZENITH WAVEMAGNET TABLE TOP RADIO
Sep 30, 10:00 AM EDT
ZENITH WAVEMAGNET TABLE TOP RADIO
by Milestone Auctions
Est: $200- $400
$1001 Bid
Emerson AU-190 Marbleized Green "Tombstone" Catalin Radio
Sep 30, 12:00 PM EDT
Emerson AU-190 Marbleized Green "Tombstone" Catalin Radio
by Cottone Auctions
Est: $1,500- $2,500
$7501 Bid
Motorola Aero-Vane 51x15 Bakelite Radio
Sep 30, 12:00 PM EDT
Motorola Aero-Vane 51x15 Bakelite Radio
by Cottone Auctions
Est: $1,500- $2,500
$7501 Bid
Motorola Aero-Vane 51x16 Bakelite Radio
Sep 30, 12:00 PM EDT
Motorola Aero-Vane 51x16 Bakelite Radio
by Cottone Auctions
Est: $500- $800
$2501 Bid
Patriot Aristocrat 400 Bakelite Radio
Sep 30, 12:00 PM EDT
Patriot Aristocrat 400 Bakelite Radio
by Cottone Auctions
Est: $1,000- $1,500
$5001 Bid
FADA Model 1,000 Bullet Bakelite Radio
Sep 30, 12:00 PM EDT
FADA Model 1,000 Bullet Bakelite Radio
by Cottone Auctions
Est: $1,000- $1,500
$5001 Bid
Sentinel 284 "Wavy Grill" Bakelite Radio
Sep 30, 12:00 PM EDT
Sentinel 284 "Wavy Grill" Bakelite Radio
by Cottone Auctions
Est: $500- $800
$2501 Bid
The Shadow - Original Radio Broadcast
Sep 29, 12:00 PM EDT
The Shadow - Original Radio Broadcast
by Aether Auctions
Est: $0- $0
$11 Bid

Sellers Who Sell Radios


Milestone Auctions

Milestone Auctions

Mebane Antique Auction

Mebane Antique Auction

Cottone Auctions

Cottone Auctions

Bargain Hunt Auctions

Bargain Hunt Auctions