1929 Howard Radio US $29,000.00

[Larry Dighera]

I wonder why there are no bids for this lovely set:



http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-1929-Antique-Vintage-Howard-Radio-Massive-Ornate_W0QQitemZ170185834606
Starting bid price: US $29,000.00

Model GD8
Serial# GD 65525

Manufactured by Howard Radio Co, Chicago, IL

The last time the owner had this appraised was 8-9 years ago and it
appraised at $26,000. It was the definitely THE CADILLAC of its time.

The radio does not work

[TwoMuttHeads]

Post by Larry Dighera
The last time the owner had this appraised was 8-9 years ago and it
appraised at $26,000.  It was the definitely THE CADILLAC of its time.

The appraisal means almost nothing. Depends on who did the appraisal.
I doubt if it's really worth more than $2k.

[Larry Dighera]

On Mon, 21 Jan 2008 08:35:54 -0800 (PST), TwoMuttHeads

Post by TwoMuttHeads

Post by Larry Dighera
The last time the owner had this appraised was 8-9 years ago and it
appraised at $26,000.  It was the definitely THE CADILLAC of its time.

The appraisal means almost nothing.

It probably meant a substantial fee for the appraiser (who was
obviously unqualified to provide a professional opinion). :-)

Post by TwoMuttHeads
Depends on who did the appraisal.
I doubt if it's really worth more than $2k.

Due to the difficulty in shipping large, heavy console radios, the
market for them is much smaller than for table top sets. That tends
to depress their value in the marketplace. I doubt this set would
fetch $1K.

[Gary Tayman]

Yes; especially considering what it would be worth if that one bad tube is
replaced, and it starts working like new again.

We all know that when a radio stops working, it's a tube.

:-)

[J.B. Wood]

Post by Larry Dighera
http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-1929-Antique-Vintage-Howard-Radio-Massive-Ornate_W0QQitemZ170185834606
Starting bid price: US $29,000.00
Model GD8
Serial# GD 65525
Manufactured by Howard Radio Co, Chicago, IL
The last time the owner had this appraised was 8-9 years ago and it
appraised at $26,000. It was the definitely THE CADILLAC of its time.
The radio does not work

Ok, the set looks real pretty. Does the "Cadillac" categorization refer
to the cabinetry, the set's performance (sensitivity, audio fidelity,
etc) or both? When was the last time you saw a radio set on the
Antiques Roadshow? Except for those of us on r.a.r+p most folks
consider vacuum tube radios relics of a bygone era having no lasting
value and dispose of them as such. Which of course then makes the
remainder rare. But $29,000? Makes me wonder what the set would be
worth absent its vintage electronics. I can think of other antiques to
spend $29,000 on and old radios ain't one of them. Sincerely,

[William Sommerwerck]

I'm bothered by the fact that the seller includes blurry and badly
underexposed photos in his listing. Not prepossessing...

[y***@qconline.com]

Post by Larry Dighera
. I doubt this set would
fetch $1K.

I noticed the listing was both a new listing and expires tonight.
Maybe a 1 day wonder ?

The woodwork looks exotic but not worth more than $500 to me. Alot of
the Chicago radio companies used cabinets from the many Rockford
Illinois furniture companies. Perhaps the same company who made the
special Zenith 10 tube consoles in the mid 1920's ?

Bruce

[nesesu]

 When was the last time you saw a radio set on the
Antiques Roadshow?  
- Show quoted text -

I saw a Pre-war Baird TV on the British Antiques Roadshow and it was
supposed to be in working condition if one had the method of
generating the correct RF and Video format for it. Estimated value of
200 Pounds.

Neil S.

[Ron in Radio Heaven]

Post by nesesu
I saw a Pre-war Baird TV on the British Antiques Roadshow and it was
supposed to be in working condition if one had the method of
generating the correct RF and Video format for it. Estimated value of
200 Pounds.

Was it a Baird scanning disk TV or a CRT TV.
If scanning disk the 200 pounds estimate was at least
1/10 or less of the value.

Ron

[William Sommerwerck]

Was it a Baird scanning-disk TV or a CRT TV?

I don't believe Baird ever produced a CRT receiver.

John Logie Baird is a classic example of engineering self-delusion.

[Larry Dighera]

On Mon, 21 Jan 2008 16:14:27 -0800, "William Sommerwerck"

Post by William Sommerwerck
John Logie Baird is a classic example of engineering self-delusion.

http://www.leslielanes.com/
How is it possible that so few are able to find the only thing
that can never be lost? It's not easy. It takes everything we
have, but it's the one thing at which mankind truly
excels....there is one thing we do remarkably well, and only when
you get clear of it can you look back and see what a miracle of
consciousness engineering self-delusion really is. -- Jed Mckenna

[jim menning]

Post by William Sommerwerck
I don't believe Baird ever produced a CRT receiver.

http://www.thevalvepage.com/tvmanu/baird/baird.htm

[norml]

Post by jim menning

Post by William Sommerwerck
I don't believe Baird ever produced a CRT receiver.

http://www.thevalvepage.com/tvmanu/baird/baird.htm

I was gonna say.

Norm

[michaeljpro]

I wonder why there are no bids for this lovely set:
http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-1929-Antique-Vintage-Howard-Radio-Massive-Or...
Starting bid price: US $29,000.00
Well, if I was going to spend $29,000 on a radio I'd at least want to
see ONE picture of the chassis.

[jim menning]

Post by michaeljpro
http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-1929-Antique-Vintage-Howard-Radio-Massive-Or...
Starting bid price: US $29,000.00
Well, if I was going to spend $29,000 on a radio I'd at least want to
see ONE picture of the chassis.

Actually, there are several pictures of the chassis, way down at the bottom of the
auction.

Included are a couple pictures that show that the board holding the Jensen speaker
has broken loose.

Loading Image...

Loading Image...

Loading Image...

[michaeljpro]

Post by jim menning
Actually, there are several pictures of the chassis, way down at the bottom of the
auction.
Included are a couple pictures that show that the board holding the Jensen speaker
has broken loose.

Oops, missed them. Well, I might just have to buy it now.

[jim menning]

Post by michaeljpro

Post by jim menning
Actually, there are several pictures of the chassis, way down at the bottom of the
auction.
Included are a couple pictures that show that the board holding the Jensen speaker
has broken loose.

Oops, missed them. Well, I might just have to buy it now.

I plan on sniping. ;o)

[Ron in Radio Heaven]

Post by michaeljpro
Well, if I was going to spend $29,000 on a radio I'd at least want to
see ONE picture of the chassis.

The only way that thing would be worth $29,000
would be if it were inside of a new $30,000 Chrysler
minivan to haul it home it.
$29k it don;t even have all it;s knobs.
Can you say P.O.S.

Ron

[jakdedert]

Post by Ron in Radio Heaven

Post by michaeljpro
Well, if I was going to spend $29,000 on a radio I'd at least want to
see ONE picture of the chassis.

The only way that thing would be worth $29,000
would be if it were inside of a new $30,000 Chrysler
minivan to haul it home it.
$29k it don;t even have all it;s knobs.
Can you say P.O.S.
Ron

Well, looking at her completed items sold, she's successfully completed
only about five auctions out of 47 in the last couple of weeks, grossing
less than $125. It's hard to imagine, at that rate, how she 'earned'
her 1325 feedback score in the nine years she's been a seller.

jak

[William Sommerwerck]

Post by jim menning

Post by William Sommerwerck
I don't believe Baird ever produced a CRT receiver.

http://www.thevalvepage.com/tvmanu/baird/baird.htm

ISC. Thank you.

[Brian McAllister]

On Tue, 22 Jan 2008 08:09:14 -0800, "William Sommerwerck"

Post by William Sommerwerck
ISC. Thank you.

Is that thanks to your new Dr. Scholl's Orthopedic Inserts? :)

Brian McAllister

Sarasota, Florida

email bkm at oldtech dot net ***@hope.thespambots.die

[William Sommerwerck]

Post by Brian McAllister
On Tue, 22 Jan 2008 08:09:14 -0800, "William Sommerwerck"

Post by William Sommerwerck
ISC. Thank you.

Is that thanks to your new Dr. Scholl's Orthopedic Inserts? :)

Yes! The support is fantastic.

[nesesu]

Post by Ron in Radio Heaven

Post by nesesu
I saw a Pre-war Baird TV on the British Antiques Roadshow and it was
supposed to be in working condition if one had the method of
generating the correct RF and Video format for it. Estimated value of
200 Pounds.

Was it a Baird scanning disk TV or a CRT TV.
If scanning disk the 200 pounds estimate was at least
1/10 or less of the value.
Ron

It was a CRT console, but not like any on that web site IIRC.

Neil S.

[Scott W. Harvey]

Post by J.B. Wood

Post by Larry Dighera
http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-1929-Antique-Vintage-Howard-Radio-Massive-Ornate_W0QQitemZ170185834606
Starting bid price: US $29,000.00
Model GD8
Serial# GD 65525
Manufactured by Howard Radio Co, Chicago, IL
The last time the owner had this appraised was 8-9 years ago and it
appraised at $26,000. It was the definitely THE CADILLAC of its time.
The radio does not work

Ok, the set looks real pretty. Does the "Cadillac" categorization refer
to the cabinetry, the set's performance (sensitivity, audio fidelity,
etc) or both? When was the last time you saw a radio set on the
Antiques Roadshow?

OK, $29,000 is ridiculous...let's get that out of the way really quick.

On the same token, The cabinetry is several cuts above the norm, and
Howard is not a brand you see every day, particularly the early ones.

About six years ago, I sold a 1920s Zenith console with elaborate carved
wood like this one. It had a Chinese theme, but craftsmanship-wise it
was the same sort of thing. The radio inside was completely
unremarkable, but oh.....the cabinet was to die for.

I put it on eBay, and it fetched $4700 and change. The guy who bought it
was from Southern California and had an address on Mulholland drive.
Even though I didn't have a very high feedback rating on eBay at the
time, he sent me a check a month in advance of him actually picking up
the radio and didn't seem at all concerned about the possibility that I
would simply take his money and run. When he came and picked it up he
drove up in a cargo van that was less than a year old but already had
40K miles on it and he brought an appliance tow dolly that cost nearly a
grand. He told me he liked radios with really elaborate cabinets and
drove all over the country to get them. Watching him haul away my Zenith
(which easily weighed a couple of hundred pounds), it was obvious that
he had done this MANY times before. Yup, there are certainly people out
there who will pay a premium to get what they want, and have the money
and moxie to do it. That Howard ain't worth $29K, but it's not
outrageous to think it might fetch a few thousand under the right
conditions.

-Scott

[Mark Oppat]

EXACTLY right, Scott. THe radio hobby can be fairly incestuous, so seeing
the value of some sets is hard. But, there are some cabinets that will
bring much bigger money than most of the readers here are used to thinking
about. My motto at radios swaps is "If its got legs, it begs" because
these pre SW era consoles usually dont fetch much. However there are a few
strong exceptions, and this would likely be one of them. $2500 is not
outrageous for this set, I think. I wonder if the appraisal was for $2600
and they heard it wrong.

This Howard GD8 = "Green Diamond" 8 tuber. Most Howards used the name
Green Diamond on their sets before 1933 or so. Not sure why. Howard
started on the west coast of Michigan, in the Holland area if I recall
correctly... then, moved to Chicago and ended up making Hallicrafters sets,
and being bought by them too I think.

Mark Oppat

Post by Scott W. Harvey

Post by J.B. Wood

Post by Larry Dighera
http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-1929-Antique-Vintage-Howard-Radio-Massive-Ornate_W0QQitemZ170185834606
Starting bid price: US $29,000.00
Model GD8
Serial# GD 65525 Manufactured by Howard Radio Co, Chicago, IL
The last time the owner had this appraised was 8-9 years ago and it
appraised at $26,000. It was the definitely THE CADILLAC of its time.
The radio does not work

Ok, the set looks real pretty. Does the "Cadillac" categorization refer
to the cabinetry, the set's performance (sensitivity, audio fidelity,
etc) or both? When was the last time you saw a radio set on the Antiques
Roadshow?

OK, $29,000 is ridiculous...let's get that out of the way really quick.
On the same token, The cabinetry is several cuts above the norm, and
Howard is not a brand you see every day, particularly the early ones.
About six years ago, I sold a 1920s Zenith console with elaborate carved
wood like this one. It had a Chinese theme, but craftsmanship-wise it was
the same sort of thing. The radio inside was completely unremarkable, but
oh.....the cabinet was to die for.
I put it on eBay, and it fetched $4700 and change. The guy who bought it
was from Southern California and had an address on Mulholland drive. Even
though I didn't have a very high feedback rating on eBay at the time, he
sent me a check a month in advance of him actually picking up the radio
and didn't seem at all concerned about the possibility that I would simply
take his money and run. When he came and picked it up he drove up in a
cargo van that was less than a year old but already had 40K miles on it
and he brought an appliance tow dolly that cost nearly a grand. He told me
he liked radios with really elaborate cabinets and drove all over the
country to get them. Watching him haul away my Zenith (which easily
weighed a couple of hundred pounds), it was obvious that he had done this
MANY times before. Yup, there are certainly people out there who will pay
a premium to get what they want, and have the money and moxie to do it.
That Howard ain't worth $29K, but it's not outrageous to think it might
fetch a few thousand under the right conditions.
-Scott