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RARE RCA Victor Q103 1940s Brown Bakelite Radio AM Shortwave SW Band Powers On

$ 68.63

Availability: 100 in stock
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
  • All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
  • Brand: RCA
  • Condition: Used
  • Modified Item: No
  • Time Period Manufactured: 1930-49
  • Featured Refinements: Bakelite Tube Radio

    Description

    Vintage RCA Victor Model Q103 tube radio in really nice condition.
    Has been really well taken care of. The bakelite has no cracks, repairs, or major damage (there's one small missing piece on the back left along the bottom, difficult to see). Overall it just shows normal surface wear like swirls and scratches.
    Electronics and tubes are all 100% original. It will need a new main filter capacitor as I'm sure the original is all dried up. The signal path uses all domino capacitors, so there are no leaky wax or paper capacitors in this circuit to replace. One domino capacitor had split itself open somehow, so I replaced it with an orange drop capacitor of the same value. See last photo.
    The tuning mechanism was frozen up and needed lubrication, so all of the pulleys that the tuning needle string goes through were newly lubricated, as well as any other friction points in the mechanism. This freed it up a little more and it moves much easier and smoother now.
    This radio powers on safely (tested on dim bulb tester), but there is only a loud hum after the tubes warm up and put out signal to the speaker. The hum is unaffected by the volume control. This radio needs work, at least all new tubes and the aforementioned main filter capacitor, but maybe more. The tuner dial needle is off center and needs to be slid over to line up with the numbers on the dial--I accidentally moved it while I was cleaning the inside of the radio.
    Overall this is an extremely nice example of what appears to be a really rare radio. These are getting harder to find in nice, displayable cosmetic condition like this.
    Ships free.
    Thanks for looking!