RARE/UNIQUE 20s BATTERY/WIRELESS MYSTERY RADIO–WHAT IS IT? WITH BRASS BASE WD-11 for Sale

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RARE/UNIQUE 20s BATTERY/WIRELESS MYSTERY RADIO–WHAT IS IT? WITH BRASS BASE WD-11 For Sale

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RARE/UNIQUE 20s BATTERY/WIRELESS MYSTERY RADIO–WHAT IS IT? WITH BRASS BASE WD-11:
$98.99

A detailed description of this beautiful, unique, and rare 1920s battery/wireless "mystery" radio (with brass-based WD-11 tube) is provided after the following photos:

***DESCRIPTION OF THE RADIO***

I recently purchased a small group of antique radios from an estate and the radio being sold in this sale was part of that group. It is really a strange, beautiful, and bizarre-looking radio and check out the many photos of it that I have provided. I’ve never seen another radio like it and it looks like it has a very early and unusual design (early 1920s? – I don’t know for sure). The radio has a nice-looking wooden cabinet along with many different and very distinctive controls, switches, etc. on both the front and on one the side of the cabinet as the photos show. From the look of these controls and rest of this unique radio, it would appear that it is a very early example of a battery/wireless set with a really fantastic vintage look to it. I know virtually nothing about this radio and, sadly, its former owner passed away and took all of his knowledge about the radio with him. The family of the owner knew nothing about the radio so it is truly a “mystery” set.

Is this radio factory-made? Made from a kit? Custom-made? I have no idea whatsoever. There is, however, a small paper tag/label inside the cabinet (see the picture of it that I have provided) which says “RADIO RECEPTOR CO., INC.” with an address of “No. 1 Madison Ave., New York City”. I don’t know if this tag/label is correct for this radio, if it is original, etc. Regarding the cabinet, it has a nice finish on the top, front, rear, and sides, and all of the cabinet panels seem to fit together nicely and it looks factory or professionally made in my opinion. The cabinet does have some dings, chips, scratches, scuffs, discolored areas, cracks, etc. on it but, in my view, it looks quite good for a radio that is most-likely around 100 years old! The top of the cabinet opens in a very unusual way – there are two decorative metal posts on the top of the cabinet which, when unscrewed/pulled, allow the entire top (and back) to tilt rearward in order to allow access to the inside of the cabinet. I’ve never seen a radio cabinet that opens up like this and it is very unusual. The metal posts sometimes have to be wiggled and pulled a bit in order to open the cabinet and there is some cracking of the wood around the openings in the cabinet into which the posts are positioned. However, as stated above, this is a radio which is most likely around 100 years old and it is in very good cosmetic condition for its age. Please review the photos that I have provided as they provide a good overview of what this radio and its cabinet look like inside and out.

Regarding the controls on the front and side, they appear to be of a very early design and are very distinctive-looking. I have no idea that these controls do, if they are original, if they are functional, etc. and I will leave an assessment of all of the controls and all of the other components and parts associated with this radio to the Buyer and/or the Buyer’s antique radio expert. All of the controls move when turned although sometimes they have to be wiggled, pushed/pulled, etc. in order to turn them and otherwise operate them. Again, I know nothing about these controls or anything else associated with this radio.

Inside the radio there are a number of parts, a big rotating coil, and various other structures which I likewise know nothing about. The wires used to connect all of the internal components to each other likewise appear to be very early date-wise and are covered with a green cloth-like material. In addition, there is a large white tube-socket which is designed to hold the WD-11 tube inside the radio. More information about the WD-11 tube will be provided below. In addition to the controls, there are a number of binding-posts on the front and one side of the cabinet, the function of which I again don’t know. There are some numbers and letters scratched into the cabinet adjacent at least some of the binding posts and I don’t know what these numbers and letters mean.

On the top of the radio, there is a very interesting circular mesh screen which is directly above the WD-11 tube. This screen looks factory-made as the photos show and there is a metal ring which surrounds the screen giving it a very distinctive look. I don’t really know what the function of this screen is. Ventilation of the tube? The ability to look at the tube filament to see if it is glowing? I don’t really know. However, the presence of this screen gives the radio a very unique look as the photos show. As noted above, there are also a number of binding posts secured to the outside of the radio cabinet. All of these binding posts have a screw associated with them which is sticking out of the front of each binding post. Some of these screws are different from each other and I don’t know if at least some of them are replacements, not-original, etc.

Regarding the tube that came with the radio, it is a brass-based WD-11. It has both the Westinghouse and RCA logos printed on the glass which is quite unusual in my view. From what I’ve read on-line, this is a fairly early version of this tube. Furthermore, like many other brass-based WD-11 tubes that I’ve seen, this tube has some splits in the brass covering which surrounds the base of the tube. Likewise, this brass covering may have come off of the tube at one time since it appears that the former owner somehow glued the brass covering back in place. As a result, the tube looks quite good in my view. Furthermore, I checked the tube filament for continuity and the filament appears to be intact and not burned-out since continuity was present. However, I don’t know if this tube (and its filament) is good or not and it is being sold as-is with no warranties or guarantees of any kind. Furthermore, I don’t know if the WD-11 tube which came with this radio is correct for this radio or not. Likewise, in view of its age and the fact that I was not able to test or operate the radio (it is being sold untested), this entire radio and all of its parts, tube, controls, etc. are being sold as-is with no guarantees or warranties of any kind.

In conclusion, this is a very rare, unique and special radio that is probably around 100 years old. I’ve never seen another one like it and, in fact, it may be a One-of-a-Kind radio! Accordingly, now is your chance to own a very special and unique radio and don’t let this one get away since one like it will probably never appear on again in my opinion.

***TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE sale***

**Very Important Information – Please read carefully before you offer**: Regarding the radio being sold in this sale, this is an estate sale item and I honestly don’t know anything about how it works, whether it works, whether its internal and external wiring is correct or good, whether its components and parts are good, whether it is factory made, custom-made, etc., whether or not its tube is good/correct, and whether it is complete. I have not done anything to this radio and all of its parts, controls, binding posts/screws, wires, electrical components, tube, socket, cabinet, coil, and all of its other components and I know nothing about their condition. The above-described radio may have been worked on, repaired, had parts replaced/repaired, had parts added/subtracted, and/or been modified by someone else in the past, but I don’t know whether this is true or not. I also don’t know who made this radio and whether or not the tag/label inside is original, correct, etc. Likewise (and since this is a battery-powered radio), I have not powered-up and/or tested the radio being sold in this sale and all of its parts, controls, wires, electrical components, tube, socket, cabinet, coil, binding posts/screws, and all of its other components, with all of these items and the above-mentioned radio as a whole being sold untested just as I purchased it/them at the estate sale. In this regard, I have done nothing to this radio and I have not inspected it (or any of its parts/tube/socket/components) internally or externally. In addition, please note that this sale is for a single radio with 1 tube (a brass-based WD-11 as discussed above).

Please also note: The equipment being sold in this sale (including but not limited to the radio and all of its parts, controls, wires, electrical components, tube, socket, cabinet, binding posts/screws, coil, and all of its other components) is being sold entirely as a non-operative display item only. Since this radio is an untested, vintage estate sale item, the Buyer of this radio should therefore assume that, in order to restore it, the radio is going to need at least some work, parts, electrical components/parts, wires, wiring work/replacement, repairs, rewiring, upgrading, replacement/repair/adjustment of the controls, replacement/repair/adjustment of the electronic components, additional parts, replacement of the tube, replacement/repair/adjustment of the tube socket, replacement/repair/adjustment of the binding posts and screws, cabinet repairs including replacement/repair/adjustment of the cabinet hardware, etc. However, I do not know how much work, parts, electrical components/parts, wires, wiring work/replacement, repairs, rewiring, upgrading, replacement/repair/adjustment of the controls, replacement/repair/adjustment of the electronic components, additional parts, replacement of the tube, replacement/repair/adjustment of the tube socket, replacement/repair/adjustment of the binding posts and screws, cabinet repairs including replacement/repair/adjustment of the cabinet hardware, etc. would be needed to get everything operating properly in the above-listed radio and I will leave this up to the Buyer and/or the Buyer’s antique radio expert. I know nothing more about the radio being sold in this sale (and everything associated with it) and, accordingly, all of these items (the radio and all of its parts, controls, wires, electrical components, tube, socket, cabinet, binding posts/screws, coil, and all of its other components) are again being sold for non-operational display only with no guarantees or warranties of any kind. Furthermore, no other items such as paperwork, instructions, schematics, boxes, cartons, spare parts/wires/sockets, additional tubes, or any other items are included with this radio.

I will leave any changes, modifications, repairs, inspections, assessments, tests, replacement of any parts, replacement of the tube/socket, upgrades, corrections, rewiring, additions of any parts, subtractions of any parts, expansions, revisions, alterations, etc. to the Buyer and/or the Buyer’s antique radio expert. As noted above, since this radio is being sold entirely as a non-operative display item, the Buyer will be receiving this radio in the exact condition that it was in when I purchased it at the estate sale and, in this regard, I have done nothing to it.

Shipping Information (Important): The radio associated with this sale will be shipped via the U.S. Postal Service. This radio is quite large as the photos show (it is approximately 1.5 feet long!). The radio will be very carefully packed and double-boxed, with the tube being removed from its socket and separately wrapped. Accordingly, the packed radio will be heavy, will require large boxes and, for these reasons, will be fairly expensive to ship. I'm sorry about the shipping cost but, unfortunately, there has been a steady stream of major shipping price increases recently which have made shipping costs rise significantly. From my location in the center of the country, the U.S. Postal Service remains the least expensive way to ship and I've had very good service from them. Please note that, if the final shipping cost is more than the amount quoted above, I will pay the difference and if it is less than the quoted amount, I will keep the difference. I am an excellent packer and shipper. Check out my 100% positive response and the wonderful compliments that I have received about my packing and shipping. In addition, the quoted shipping cost is not applicable for shipments to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and US territories/possessions/locations outside of the Continental US which will be higher and will be separately quoted (if applicable) after the sale ends. While I will pack this item very securely, some of the wires, components, parts, socket, cabinet parts/hardware, controls, wires, binding posts/screws, knobs, etc. associated with the radio may detach, break, or otherwise come off of the items to which they are connected/attached during shipment due to possible rough handling during shipment, etc., thereby requiring reattachment/replacement/repair by the Buyer and/or the Buyer’s antique radio expert if he or she desires. Likewise, it is always possible that one or more of the internal components in the above-listed tube may experience problems during shipping (the filament, the internal components of the tube, the tube's glass envelope, etc. may break, crack, detach, become displaced, etc.). In addition, the brass covering associated with the tube base may entirely or partially come off, crack, break, etc. and the glass tip at the end of the tube may break off, etc. Furthermore, the markings on the tube’s glass may partially or entirely rub off, again due to possible rough handling during shipment. However, I will do my best to try and prevent these situations by very carefully packing this radio although I cannot guarantee that they won’t happen. This radio is already packed-up for shipping. Accordingly, I cannot honor any special packing and shipping requests. Please make a note of this. Additional note: I will not disassemble anything associated with this radio and the entire radio will be shipped totally assembled.

I did not inspect, repair, examine, modify, update, alter, test, and/or work on the equipment being sold in this sale (including but not limited to the radio and all of its parts, controls, wires, electrical components, tube, socket, cabinet, binding posts/screws, coil, and all of its other components) and it is therefore important and necessary that this radio (along with all of its parts, controls, wires, electrical components, tube, socket, cabinet, binding posts/screws, coil, and all of its other components) be examined thoroughly by an antique radio expert inside and out before the radio is connected to one or more batteries or other power sources/supplies, handled, tested, worked on, repaired, connected to any other equipment, instruments, speakers, or components, modified, disassembled, upgraded, altered, the addition of any parts/components thereto, the removal of any parts/components therefrom, and/or used. Any repairs to this radio as well as the connection of this radio to any other equipment, instruments, speakers, and components, the connection of this radio to one or more batteries or other power sources/supplies, the modification of this radio, the disassembly of this radio, the alteration of this radio, the handling/testing of this radio, the handling/testing of the tube, the upgrading of this radio, the addition of any parts/components to this radio, the removal of any parts/components from this radio, the replacement of any parts/components from this radio, repair/modification of the radio cabinet, and the use of this radio and all of its parts, controls, wires, electrical components, tube, socket, cabinet, binding posts/screws, coil, and all of its other components should only be attempted by an antique radio expert. I do not know if the radio being sold in this sale works (it is being sold untested as noted herein) and, since it is used vintage equipment, the Buyer should again assume that it will need at least some work, parts, electrical components/parts, wires, wiring work/replacement, repairs, rewiring, upgrading, replacement/repair/adjustment of the controls, replacement/repair/adjustment of the electronic components, additional parts, replacement of the tube, replacement/repair/adjustment of the socket, replacement/repair/adjustment of the binding posts and screws, cabinet repairs including replacement/repair/adjustment of the cabinet hardware, etc. However, I do not know how much work, parts, electrical components/parts, wires, wiring work/replacement, repairs, rewiring, upgrading, replacement/repair/adjustment of the controls, replacement/repair/adjustment of the electronic components, additional parts, replacement of the tube, replacement/repair/adjustment of the socket, replacement/repair/adjustment of the binding posts and screws, cabinet repairs including replacement/repair/adjustment of the cabinet hardware, etc. will be needed. The equipment being sold in this sale should therefore not be considered to be a “power-up and play” item, may need replacement parts, components, tube/socket replacement, repairs, etc. and should be considered to be non-working. Please make a note of this. Likewise, I cannot guarantee or warrant that the radio being sold in this sale (and any of its parts/components/tube/socket) is restorable if that is desired by the Buyer and/or the Buyer’s antique radio expert. Furthermore, the tube, tube socket, all of the radio’s other components/parts need to be checked out by an antique radio expert before the radio is powered-up, tested, used, worked on, modified, altered, connected to any other equipment, instruments, speakers, or components, connected to one or more batteries or power sources/supplies, upgraded, etc.

The radio being sold in this sale and all of its parts, controls, wires, electrical components, tube, socket, cabinet, binding posts/screws, coil, and all of its other components are being sold as-is with no warranties express or implied. Likewise, I have no idea whether everything is original or not in the above-listed radio and I therefore cannot make any warranties regarding originality. In this regard, I do not know if any of the parts, tube, socket, controls, cabinet hardware, wires, knobs, and all of the other components used in the radio are original or if they have been repaired/replaced at some time in the past. I also do not warrant that this radio is complete and I do not know if there are any missing or incorrect parts/components, etc. Thus, I cannot warrant completeness of the radio being sold in this sale. This radio involves a piece of used vintage electrical equipment (which may be 100+ years old to the best of my knowledge) which needs restoration and it is being sold entirely for non-operational display purposes only (important). No returns or refunds, and Seller is not responsible for any damages or injuries of any kind resulting from the use, inspection, operation, connection to other equipment, components, speakers, or instruments, connection to one or more batteries or power sources/supplies, repair, work on, modification, disassembly, handling, alteration of, the upgrading of, the addition of any parts/components thereto, subtraction of any parts/components therefrom, handling/testing of the tube, etc. of the radio being sold in this sale, as well as all of its parts, controls, wires, electrical components, tube, socket, cabinet, binding posts/screws, coil, and all of its other components. Likewise, Seller is not responsible for any damages or injuries of any kind resulting from anything else that the Buyer does or intends to do with the radio being sold in this sale and all of its parts, controls, wires, electrical components, tube, socket, cabinet, binding posts/screws, coil, and all of its other components. Buyer uses, inspects, operates, connects to other equipment, components, speakers, or instruments, connects to one or more batteries or power sources/supplies, repairs, modifies, disassembles, works on, handles, upgrades, alters, adds parts/components thereto, subtracts parts/components therefrom, replaces any parts/components, handles or tests the tube/socket, and/or tests the radio being sold in this sale and all of its parts, controls, wires, electrical components, tube, socket, cabinet, binding posts/screws, coil, and all of its other components at his or her own risk.

Furthermore, the colors of the items being sold in this sale as they appear in the photos may differ compared with the actual items due to the lighting which existed when the photos were taken. Likewise, Seller is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this listing. If you have any questions, please ask before you offer and I will be happy to respond to the best of my ability. Payment within 2 days of end of sale. Also, and this is important, should shipping damage occur, the filing of the insurance claim will be the Buyer’s responsibility. Should go “down” for any period of time within two (2) hours from the end of this sale, we also reserve the right to terminate/cancel the sale. ***Finally, by offerding on this item, the buyer and/or Buyer agrees that he or she has fully reviewed and entirely understands all of the detailed information in the paragraphs listed above and completely accepts such information***. Thanks and happy offerding!