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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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Vintage Zenith Model 7G605 Clipper TransOceanic Radio
Jul 31, 10:00 AM EDT
Vintage Zenith Model 7G605 Clipper TransOceanic Radio
by Mebane Antique Auction
Est: $100- $10,000
$15010 Bids
VINTAGE FADA MODEL 116 CATALIN 'BULLET' RADIO
Jul 24, 10:00 AM EDT
VINTAGE FADA MODEL 116 CATALIN 'BULLET' RADIO
by Fairhill Auction LLC
Est: $500- $800
$3202 Bids
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Sony Radio
Jul 23, 5:00 PM EDT
Sony Radio
by Apple Tree Auction Center
Est: $0- $0
$72 Bids
RADIO NURSE BY ISAMU NOGUCHI
Jul 24, 10:00 AM EDT
RADIO NURSE BY ISAMU NOGUCHI
by Fairhill Auction LLC
Est: $2,000- $4,000
$1,5002 Bids
HADSON TRANSITOR RADIO
Jul 31, 6:00 PM EDT
HADSON TRANSITOR RADIO
by Legacies Old & New, Inc.
Est: $0- $0
$101 Bid
RAMS, Dieter/ GUGELOT, Hans für Herst. Braun/ Frankfurt/ M.,
Aug 02, 10:00 AM CEST
RAMS, Dieter/ GUGELOT, Hans für Herst. Braun/ Frankfurt/ M.,
by zeitGenossen Antiquitäten - Kunst - Design
Est: €0- €0
€2211 Bid
Original 1929 VICTOR Radio with Electrola Phonograph Model RE-45
Jul 24, 9:00 AM CDT
Original 1929 VICTOR Radio with Electrola Phonograph Model RE-45
by Western Sportsman
Est: $0- $0
$100 Bids
RUNDFUNKEMPFÄNGER/ RADIO, Herst. Roland Brandt/ Berlin, 1950/51,
Aug 01, 2:00 PM CEST
RUNDFUNKEMPFÄNGER/ RADIO, Herst. Roland Brandt/ Berlin, 1950/51,
by zeitGenossen Antiquitäten - Kunst - Design
Est: €0- €0
€750 Bids
BOSE WAVE RADIO
Jul 31, 6:00 PM EDT
BOSE WAVE RADIO
by Legacies Old & New, Inc.
Est: $0- $0
$100 Bids
RUNDFUNKEMPFÄNGER/ RADIO, Herst. Wega, 1968/ 69,
Aug 01, 2:00 PM CEST
RUNDFUNKEMPFÄNGER/ RADIO, Herst. Wega, 1968/ 69,
by zeitGenossen Antiquitäten - Kunst - Design
Est: €0- €0
€750 Bids
BRAUN, Fritz/ EICHLER, Dr. Fritz, für Herst. Braun/ Frankfurt/ M.,
Aug 02, 10:00 AM CEST
BRAUN, Fritz/ EICHLER, Dr. Fritz, für Herst. Braun/ Frankfurt/ M.,
by zeitGenossen Antiquitäten - Kunst - Design
Est: €0- €0
€650 Bids
BRAUN, Fritz/ EICHLER, Dr. Fritz, für Herst. Braun/ Frankfurt/ M.,
Aug 02, 10:00 AM CEST
BRAUN, Fritz/ EICHLER, Dr. Fritz, für Herst. Braun/ Frankfurt/ M.,
by zeitGenossen Antiquitäten - Kunst - Design
Est: €0- €0
€810 Bids
VOLKSEMPFÄNGER, VE 301 W, Herst. Schaub/ Berlin,
Aug 02, 10:00 AM CEST
VOLKSEMPFÄNGER, VE 301 W, Herst. Schaub/ Berlin,
by zeitGenossen Antiquitäten - Kunst - Design
Est: €0- €0
€1110 Bids
RUNDFUNKEMPFÄNGER/ RADIO, Herst. Schaub/ Berlin, 1948-50,
Aug 01, 2:00 PM CEST
RUNDFUNKEMPFÄNGER/ RADIO, Herst. Schaub/ Berlin, 1948-50,
by zeitGenossen Antiquitäten - Kunst - Design
Est: €0- €0
€650 Bids
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Pilot Electric Mfg. Co. Radio, Model G-508
Jul 26, 10:00 AM EDT
Pilot Electric Mfg. Co. Radio, Model G-508
by Roland Auctions NY
Est: $100- $200
$500 Bids
An RCA Victor Catalin "Ox Blood" Red Tube Radio, c.1940's
Aug 05, 6:00 PM AEST
An RCA Victor Catalin "Ox Blood" Red Tube Radio, c.1940's
by Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers
Est: AUD300- AUD500
AUD1400 Bids
A Westinghouse H-124 "Little Jewel" Radio, c.1940
Aug 05, 6:00 PM AEST
A Westinghouse H-124 "Little Jewel" Radio, c.1940
by Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers
Est: AUD200- AUD300
AUD1000 Bids
A Bush DAC90A Cream Radio, c.1950
Aug 05, 6:00 PM AEST
A Bush DAC90A Cream Radio, c.1950
by Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers
Est: AUD100- AUD200
AUD500 Bids
DELPHI CD AUDIO SYSTEM ,SKYFI RECIEVER,VEHICLE KIT
Jul 21, 6:00 PM EDT
DELPHI CD AUDIO SYSTEM ,SKYFI RECIEVER,VEHICLE KIT
by DejaVu Estate Sales & Auctions
Est: $100- $200
$300 Bids
Radio-Phono combiner, Braun SK 61, Phonosuper,so-called
Jul 26, 11:00 AM CEST
Radio-Phono combiner, Braun SK 61, Phonosuper,so-called
by Henry's Auktionshaus
Est: €180- €360
€1600 Bids
A McIntosh AM/FM receiver
Jul 19, 9:30 AM PDT
A McIntosh AM/FM receiver
by Clars Auctions
Est: $200- $300
$1000 Bids
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Early 20th C Radio Mfg Engineers inc. Radio
Jul 24, 9:00 AM EDT
Early 20th C Radio Mfg Engineers inc. Radio
by Keystone Auctions LLC
Est: $25- $125
$250 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Radios


Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers

Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers

zeitGenossen Antiquitäten - Kunst - Design

zeitGenossen Antiquitäten - Kunst - Design

Fairhill Auction LLC

Fairhill Auction LLC

Apple Tree Auction Center

Apple Tree Auction Center