The PHILCO Phorum

Full Version: Graybar 770 (Radiola 82)
You're currently viewing a stripped down version of our content. View the full version with proper formatting.
I had this radio offered to me a couple months ago, but passed on it because of price and the fact it wasn't one of the Radiola models I was aiming for. Well, I had it offered to me again today at a bit of a discount and since I was fuming a bit about driving all day for nothing, I bit and bought the set. To my amazement, this filthy radio actually came to life after I blew most of the crap off of it and brought it up slowly. I have only been running it at roughly 90-95% power, but I hear no hum and the new cord leads me to believe this unit at least had the power chassis serviced sometime in the past. Also this thing is a hot performer that sounds good and even can pull in my local station without the antenna! Only issue I have is the tuner. I either have a plate scraping or need to blow more crud out of it as it crackles like crazy when I am tuning until I get above 1000. I think I am in love with this radio though. Icon_smile

[attachment=2014]
Beautiful piece. From end of 1920-s to 1930 I guess?
Not bad, I think it's an early superhet design hence the decent performance. There were a few G.E and Westinghouse sets that used that same setup as that Greybar.
At least whoever you bought the set from got the message about the price somewhat and reduced it to sell. One radio I looked at about a month ago, was a Canadian Westinghouse model 80 also from 1930 but it was a TRF. The seller wanted $150 for it and it was listed for two months at that price in spite of the fact that it needed refinishing, has mostly ST style tubes, and is in unknown condition electrically.
Now the set has ended up in a local junk "consignment" shop for $350, well if it didn't sell after two months on craigslist what makes these chuckleheads in the shop think they can get $350 for it if the current owner couldn't get $150? That shop has exactly the same clientele that Craigslist has, in fact they post a lot of their crap on C.L to try and sell it, they don't think that someone will recognize it? The first thing anyone is going to ask is that magic question "Does it work?" the answer is of course going to be "No", unless the dummies try plugging it in, they they will say "Oh" and walk away. Nobody is going to give them anywhere near $350 that for that thing for the same reasons that nobody is going to give them $65 for a Guild "Country Belle".
Regards
Arran

P.S It also has a price of $170 written on the chassis with a felt tip pen, that was likely the price the current owner paid for it if not less.
Jayce, that is a really nice looking radio. Love the styling and with some clean up on the cabinet it will be stunning. Nice find.
Jerry
Thanks! I am hoping to straighten out the tuner problem issue later on this week. Other than that, the radio seems good and is a nice performer. One of those cases of a radio that performs as nice as it looks. Icon_smile
You have the same taste as I do in liking that old leg styling on radios. I really like my Philco 111. I just brought home a relatively unknown radio because I liked the cabinet style. I have not started on it but looking forward to try to figure out what it is. Thus far, no real ID and no schematic. Should be fun. Attached is a link to the thus not identified radio. Probably not a high production but I like the cabinet style. Yours is lovely.
Jerry

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-30s-Cath...7675.l2557

A link to the discussion on the radio;

http://antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopi...1&t=223590
That looks like an interesting radio as well. Hopefully you get some info on it! It's a bit like the Sterling radio I owned for a short bit.