10-20-2013, 08:14 PM
I have been looking for the very 1st model of McMurdo Silver's Masterpiece radios for several years to complete my collection of MP's.
Only about 6 of these 1st year MP's have publicly turned up so far. They date back to circa 1932 fall introduction and were considered a 1933 model.
(Kind of like car models that come out in the fall)
Recently I was made aware via a private collector of a possible sighting of an MP 1 (henceforth called just a Masterpiece,
as there was no firm plan originally for follow-up models when it was introduced)
Further information on another web site disclosed that an auction was going to be held over several days in Tenn of a 10 year old estate
that had been held for all those years looking for an heir.
Pictures from the auction house showed what did appear to be an original MS Masterpiece found in the attic. It was later
determined that it was indeed a complete set with all 3 pieces: main chassis, amp and speaker. There was also a very large high boy cabinet
of the same era in the home that had been converted into a storage unit.
A friend who lives in the area agreed to attend the auction for me and was able to procure the entire set, including the unknown cabinet.
These are pictures of the set as found. A restoration is going to be started and hopefully will be successful. This particular set has a bad tuner design
that has a high failure rate. Initial indications are this set may still have a functional tuner.
Anyone recognize the tall boy cabinet ?
The chrome seems to be surprisingly nice for its age:
[Image: http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc249...7ed8d7.jpg]
[Image: http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc249...a6a35f.jpg]
[Image: http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc249...5aca5b.jpg]
[Image: http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc249...1f8eb8.jpg]
Only about 6 of these 1st year MP's have publicly turned up so far. They date back to circa 1932 fall introduction and were considered a 1933 model.
(Kind of like car models that come out in the fall)
Recently I was made aware via a private collector of a possible sighting of an MP 1 (henceforth called just a Masterpiece,
as there was no firm plan originally for follow-up models when it was introduced)
Further information on another web site disclosed that an auction was going to be held over several days in Tenn of a 10 year old estate
that had been held for all those years looking for an heir.
Pictures from the auction house showed what did appear to be an original MS Masterpiece found in the attic. It was later
determined that it was indeed a complete set with all 3 pieces: main chassis, amp and speaker. There was also a very large high boy cabinet
of the same era in the home that had been converted into a storage unit.
A friend who lives in the area agreed to attend the auction for me and was able to procure the entire set, including the unknown cabinet.
These are pictures of the set as found. A restoration is going to be started and hopefully will be successful. This particular set has a bad tuner design
that has a high failure rate. Initial indications are this set may still have a functional tuner.
Anyone recognize the tall boy cabinet ?
The chrome seems to be surprisingly nice for its age:
[Image: http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc249...7ed8d7.jpg]
[Image: http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc249...a6a35f.jpg]
[Image: http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc249...5aca5b.jpg]
[Image: http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc249...1f8eb8.jpg]
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