Angelo Takes a Look at 3 Vintage RCA Radios

I enjoy the oldies----the vintage radios of the 1960's and 1970's that we write and read about often on this blog.  Obviously, I like the well known and collectible, high quality sets from Zenith, Sony, Panasonic, Grundig and the other big names.  Not so obviously, I also love finding bargains on the lesser known brands such as Ross, Lloyds and Arvin.  And a third group that I've become interested in is the second tier of well known brands---Westinghouse, RCA, Motorola, etc.  Here are three RCA radios, presumably from the 1960's and 70's.

 

The set on the left is heavier than its compact size would indicate.  It's solid, made of metal and good quality plastics.  It's not up to Sony or Panasonic standards for reception or sound, but it's no slouch.  For performance, this is probably the best of the three.

 

In the middle is a set that is probably from the mid 1970's.  I like this one because the dial colors transport me back to when I was about 11 years old----I remember seeing RCA advertisements in magazines back then, using these same bright, 1970's era colors.  I probably read about Secretariat winning the Triple Crown, or about Watergate---and in the same magazines, RCA advertised radios and televisions and these colors were a corporate identification.  Oh, and the radio is competent---with an "instant weather" button.

 

On the right is a radio that I'm guessing was made sometime between the first two---  probably late 1960's or early 70's, but I don't know for sure.  It's a fine radio too.  The materials are good---it's not disposable junk.

 

None of these would make you throw your Panasonic 888 away, but in their own way, they're nice collectibles and inexpensive too.  I think my Westinghouse radios (review forthcoming) are a notch better, but the RCAs hold their own.  All of this makes me consider coming full circle and getting a $42.00 (free shipping) RCA Superadio III from Amazon.     

    

Comments

[Angelo]

Speaking of old and interesting RCA radios, check this E-Bay listing out:
290318557047