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Scored a nice Dewald Pierce Airo 632
#1

Bought a Zenith 7S363 from a guy and he included a nice Dewald 632 Cathedral.
Interesting radio, but I have never run across any of these before.
Might just see what this one would bring.
Anyone have an idea what the value would be on this one.
Cabinet is pretty nice.
Put it on the variac and brought it up slowly.
All lights and tubes lite.
Humms of course. Needs recap.
Chassis in good shape as well as the Rolo speaker.
Thanks,
Murf
#2

Murf;
  I think I would keep the Pierce Airo (Dewald) and sell the brand Z, it's probably not worth as much but they are a lot less common then the Brand Z sets. One note of caution, the DC may mean that it's a 110 volt DC mains radio, not a battery set, which makes it somewhat rare, but it also makes them a pain if you want to try powering it up. Don't worry, you probably did not ruin anything powering it up an AC, but all it would do is hum since it has no rectifier tube, nor filters if it is a DC mains set.
Regards
Arran
#3

Murf;
  Here is the schematic, at least a Nostalgia Air version of one, it seems to use a set of battery type tubes, many other DC mains sets used AC tubes and a big dropping resistor, such as the Philco models. It would not be too difficult to power up this set, but the performance would be something akin to a farm battery radio from the era, it's a TRF set in case you were wondering, sort of like a Philco 20.

http://www.nostalgiaair.org/pagesbymodel...043827.pdf

Regards
Arran
#4

Those sets aren't too hard to find, but I've never seen the DC version.  Unfortunately rare doesn't always means it's worth more, and I suspect that's the case with your radio.  I can't recall offhand what I sold my AC version for, but without pictures of the cabinet and chassis it's impossible to even guess what yours might be worth, although I suspect it's less than you're hoping Icon_e_wink

A few years ago cathedral radios that would have sold before I made it to my table don't garner near as much attention these days Icon_confused

Also post a pic of the Zenith, in nice condition those are very nice looking cabinets.

John KK4ZLF
Lexington, KY
"illegitimis non carborundum"
#5

My mistake guy's,
It is not the dc version.
I found one online that was a dc model and assumed it was the same as mine.
Mine has an ac  cord and I was able to power up.
Probably a good thing.
This thing weighs a ton.
Might be a gold bar under the chassis.
I will post a couple pics soon.
Murf
#6

Murf;
  The DC mains sets have a power cord just like AC sets do, but they do not have a power transformer nor a rectifier, and in the case of these Pierce Airo/Dewald models would also have AC tubes verses the battery tubes of the DC only version.
Regards
Arran
#7

Ok you guy's, here is a couple pics.
You tell me, AC or DC?
Has no transformer that I can see, so it must be the DC version?
Has 5 tubes. I believe the AC version has 6 tubes?
[Image: http://i1161.photobucket.com/albums/q509...C_0371.jpg][Image: http://i1161.photobucket.com/albums/q509...C_0370.jpg]
murf
#8

Murf, the AC version is model AC-524, has 5 tubes, and the transformer is under the chassis:

http://www.nostalgiaair.org/pagesbymodel...043822.pdf

Just pull the chassis or look at the tube numbers to be sure, but I think you have the AC version.  It looks pretty decent, but that grille cloth has got to go Icon_e_wink

John KK4ZLF
Lexington, KY
"illegitimis non carborundum"
#9

Finish on the case looks very good for the age. 

Paul

Tubetalk1
#10

Guess I will pull the chassis after I finish the 2 I am working on presently.
The cloth has to go!
Murf
#11

Here is pics of the zenith I promised.Recapped and cleaned up the cabinet. Works great now.
murf
[Image: http://i1161.photobucket.com/albums/q509...C_0372.jpg][Image: http://i1161.photobucket.com/albums/q509...C_0374.jpg][Image: http://i1161.photobucket.com/albums/q509...C_0373.jpg]
#12

The Zenith looks great Murf Icon_thumbup

   

John KK4ZLF
Lexington, KY
"illegitimis non carborundum"
#13

Pulled the chassis and took a look.
Saw something of interest.
The E caps are in cans that screw in to a base similar to a light bulb.
One has 2 new caps installed to replace the old caps and the other can was still original, but loose.
Tightened it up and tried it and it plays fine with no humm.
Does need a new rubber installed which is used to rotate the dial.
Just turned it by hand.
Gonna try to sell this one.
Probably try Craigslist ad I don,t want to ship it.
Wish me luck!
Murf




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