Plaskon radio page

Plaskon Radios

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Admiral

Model:	168-5D
Year:	1939
Dimensions:	12.5x7.5x7
Tubes:

This radio came in several similar models - with or without pushbuttons and one, two, or three knob versions. I have seen this radio in white, brown, beetle.

Admiral

Model:	517-5C
Year:	1938
Dimensions:	8.5x5x6.5
Original Price	12.95
Tubes:

This radio was sold under at least three different name brands. An original ad called the dial area " a comforting pillow shape". It was manufactured by the Continental Radio Corporation.

Brown model No. = 516-5C

Admiral

Model:	117-5A
Year:	1938
Dimensions:	10.75x6.25x7
Original Price	$16.95
Tubes:

This radio has a couple of unusual features: The two sets of pushbuttons are incredibly long and the small dial window is magnified by a thick curved piece of plastic causing the bright red numbers to show up nicely.

Brown model No. = 113-5A
Black model No. = 115-5A

Airline

Model:	62-352
Year:	1938
Dimensions:	11.5x6.5x7
Tubes:

This is one beautiful radio! This basic cabinet style was so successful for Belmont that they produced many variations and versions for several different labels.

Clinton

Model:	58-GP
Year:	1938
Dimensions:	8.5x5.25x6.25
Tubes:

This radio was manufactured by the Clinton Mfg. Co. and sold to several other companies. This popular cabinet style was used for several years. The plug between the knobs covers a hole used in three knob versions.

Coronado

Model:	43-8190
Year:	1947
Dimensions:	9x5.5x7
Tubes:

This radio is most often found as painted bakelite. This plaskon model is one of the cleanest examples I've seen. The blue knobs and trim are sometimes mistaken for catalin but is in fact made of an early polystyrene.

Emerson

Model:	U5A
Year:	1935
Dimensions:	7x9.25x5
Tubes:

This radio is my all time favorite. If I could only have one antique radio I'd probably be this one. It came in white, brown and black. I'm still looking for a black one.

Emerson

Model:	BA-199
Year:	1937
Dimensions:	9.5x5.5x7
Tubes:

I simply love this radio. For some reason it reminds me of the U5A above.

Emerson

Model:	157
Year:	1937
Dimensions:	7.75x6x7.25
Tubes:

This Emerson radio known as the "Clockette" employed a three piece design - front and back panels which slide into the "U" shape side/top piece. The chassis slides in from the bottom. The set also came in a black & white combination as well as the bakelite version displayed on my "Bakelite" page.

Emerson

Model:	D-Grill
Year:	1938
Dimensions:	9x4x5.5
Tubes:

I called this radio "D-Grill" because I don't know the model number. This highly sought after Emerson came in a variety of colors including green and red.

Fada

Model:	454V
Year:	1938
Dimensions:	10.75x6x7.5
Tubes:

Radio Retailing Magazine - June, 1938

Modernistic ivory plastic cabinet with two-tone illuminated "Golden Glo" dial. Features inverse feedback network to reduce distortion, tonal impurities, undesirable harmonics to give smoother tone at all volumes.

Fada

Model:	148
Year:	1941
Dimensions:	9.25x5.5x6
Tubes:

This cute little fada has a couple of nice features: the Fada logo above the grill area is very deco and the handle adds pizzazz.

Fada

Model:	260V
Year:	1936
Dimensions:	11x5.75x7.5
Original Price:	$24.95
Tubes:

This may be Fadas most desirable prewar non-catalin style. It came in many color variations some with chrome or brass grill area. The plaskon back on this radio has "FADA" molded into it. The company even produced several battery versions.

Radio RetailingMagazine - September, 1936
Model 260V. . . $24.95
6-tube AC-DC
Superheterodyne in Ivory Cabinet

Fada

Model:	790
Year:	1948
Dimensions:	14.5x7x8.5
Tubes:

This popular Fada has very deco styling typical of the late 1930's even though it was first sold in 1948. It was one of the first bakelite radios to have the modern "FM" band available. Check out my bakelite version of this radio.

Fada

Model:	740
Year:	1940
Dimensions:	8x6.5x6.5
Tubes:

Check out the bakelite version of this radio located on my "bakelite page".

Fada

Model:	LA60
Year:	1940
Dimensions:	14.5x7x8
Tubes:

This radio is very similar to Fada's model L96 but with four push buttons. The handle sure seems odd on such a large radio. I am almost afraid to pick it up by it alone. It just goes to show how popular "handled" or "portable" radios were in 1940.

Firestone Air Chief

Model:	R-320
Year:	1939
Dimensions:	13x6.5x7
Tubes: 25Z6, 25L6, 6K7, 6A8, 6Q7

This beautiful and unique design is also known as a "World's Fair" radio. My guess is that it was introduced there but that is only an assumption. You can see the bakelite version, which also has a different chassis design at John Pelham's site www.radiophile.com/fireston.htm.

Firestone

Model:	Unknown
Year:	1940
Dimensions:	6.5x4.5x4.5
Tubes:

This is one of the smallest tube radios in my entire collection.

If you have any idea of the model number I would love to hear from you.

General Electric

Model:	H-500
Year:	1939
Dimensions:	10.5x6x6.75
Tubes:

This is a beautiful radio! I also have two beetle versions one with pushbuttons as well as a bakelite version.

Goodyear

Model:	"Wings"
Year:	1938
Dimensions:
Tubes:

This is set was made by Belmont for Goodyear. Check out the black version of this radio in the bakelite section. The black one has the name "Skyrover" on the brass medallion.

Knight

Model:	Unknown
Year:	1938
Dimensions:
Tubes: 25Z5, 6d6, 6c6, K55LC (ballast)

This beautiful bright red set was made by the Allied Corporation who's trade name was Knight. It one of the very red plaskon radios that I own. It is exceedingly rare for a couple of reasons - The red color was more expensive to manufacture, also due to the poor knob placement the set probably didn't sell well.

Lafayette

Model:	JS-178
Year:	1938
Dimensions:	9x6x5.5
Tubes:

This set was manufactured by the Fada Corporation and sold to Lafayette. The chassis is the same as a Fada L56. This model came in at least four variations.

Lafayette

Model:	Unknown
Year:	1939
Dimensions:	10x6x7
Tubes:

There are several similar versions of this radio found in resource books. It came with or without a tuning eye and either two or three knobs. Colors: White, brown, red, and possibly others.

If you know the model number to this radio I would love to hear from you.

Mantola

Model:	Unknown
Year:	1938
Dimensions:	9x6.25x7
Tubes:

Simply a great deco radio. To me one of the most attractive aspects of this model is the very exaggerated grill area bulge.

If you have an idea of the model number I would like to hear from you.

Mantola

Model:	Unknown
Year:	1937
Dimensions:	10.5x6x6.75
Tubes:

This is a cool radio! It was designed so that it could either stand vertical or lay horizontal. The Mantola logo on the dial is placed at an angle so as to look normal in either position.

Mantola

Model:	477-5LQ
Year:	1940
Dimensions:	10.5x6.5x7.5
Tubes:

Another Mantola machine age radio with lots of character. The unknown manufacturers "Mantola was just a brand name" seems to have thrown in many popular items into this set - handle, buttons and Aeroscope antenna.

Majestic

Model:	5T-1
Year:	1940
Dimensions:	8x8x6
Tubes:

This beautiful example of the deco era incorporated a clock into the radio. Unfortunately, the clock almost never worked, presumably due to the tube heat.

Click here to see the beetle version.

Pilot

Model:		X203
Year:		1936
Original Price:
Dimensions:		13x9.5x7.5
Tubes: 25L6, 25Z5, 6A7 6D6, 75

Another great radio its very rare and somewhat unusual. It has twenty tiny holes in the front (see image). To me, these holes are a mystery. During restoration, I discovered they held very small pin like pieces of metal. As far as I can tell they did not hold the grille cloth in place.
This radio also came in black.
Pilot made a very similar version but quite a bit larger.

Silvertone

Model:		4505
Year:		1938
Original Price:		8.95
Dimensions:		9.5x6x7
Tubes:

This model, called the "Streamliner" by Sears, was very successful and produced for several years starting in 1936. It is considered a milestone in plastic radios because of this success and marked the beginning of the end for wooden sets. It was also available in brown (walnut) and black.

Stewart Warner

Model:	97-562
Year:	1938
Dimensions:	13x6.5x7
Tubes:

My wife thinks this radio is one of the ugliest in my collection. I, and many other antique radio enthusiasts happen to believe it's a great design. You decide. This model was used for a "Varsity series" set which was painted in several popular College colors.

Tiffany Tone

Model:	50-B
Year:	1938
Dimensions:	10x5.5x6
Tubes: 6d6, 6A8, 80, 42, 75

The is an incredibly rare red set from 1938. I've never seen another model like this radio anywhere. It was manufactured by Herbert H. Horn Radio Mgr's in Los Angeles, California. Check out the "K" stations printed on the dial.

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