How to identify and date your radio - help needed

Hi Steve

That is a very comprehensive write up you have done there. I think that anyone who is seriously interested in finding out how old their radio is would find it very helpful. I’m pleased you have an explanation of Radio (1936) Ltd in there, it is not uncommon to see people trying to sell Ultimate sets from the 50’s as “Old radio from 1936”

I think that adding a few photos of the different types of valves would be helpful, most people have no idea what a ST or GT Octal is.

To help with dating radios with slide rule dials the location of the station 1YA can be helpful sometimes, I’d have to look it up to be sure, but 1YA moved from 650kHz to 750kHz in 1948 I think. The only catch with this is that some earlier radios were fitted with replacement dials with the new station locations. For example I have a 1940 / 41 Ultimate FJ with 1YA at 750kHz on the dial.


If you want to add a section regarding value a good opening statement might be: “The majority of vintage radios in New Zealand are not worth a significant amount of money, they were mass produced items and the survival rate through to today quite high. This doesn’t mean they don’t deserve to be preserved, just that you are unlikely to sell your old Columbus radio found in Grandad’s shed for hundreds of dollars. There are exceptions such as coloured Bakelite radios in good condition, some early radios made before 1935 and some rare radios with special features like Art Deco styling.” I would avoid singling out any individual radio as “valuable” in this section.

Regarding photos, I concur with Richard that one of the most important ones to take is of the back of the radio with the chassis and speaker clearly visible.