Angelo's Allied 2682 Multi-Band Radio

 

New delivery:  The Allied Model 2682 shortwave and multi-band radio.  This same radio was sold under at least two different brand names----Allied and the more frequently seen Aircastle version.  I believe I might have also seen it branded as a Realistic or Lafayette but I'm not positive about that.  

I first saw one of these (the Aircastle version) on E-Bay a few years ago.  I was in the market for a vertical format, small footprint vintage shortwave, but I didn't win the auction.  Over the years, I've seen at least a dozen more (probably closer to 20), usually Aircastle but sometimes Allied.  The radios were either "Buy It Now" at an inflated price, or non-working/untested---and a few times, I simply lost the auction.  I liked the style of the radio enough to be interested, but refused to pay a lot of money for an unfamiliar brand.  Finally, last weekend, I snagged one at a very good price. 

The radio is larger than it appears in the photo and it's heavy.  The high quality chrome cleaned up beautifully, as did the black vinyl/leatherette case.  I have to say, I'm pleasantly surprised by its performance----as I'm listening to Toronto's AM 740 oldies station as I write this----early evening, loud and clear.  That station is sort of a litmus test for my newly acquired radios.  Sometimes it doesn't come in at all.  Other times, faint and wobbly.  With this Allied radio, it's pretty strong----very listenable.  This is a good quality radio chassis.  It was made in Japan.  It appears that all bands are working and I'm eager to try out the shortwave later tonight.  It has a nice, long power cord, still flexible and in great condition, even though I place this radio at about 35 or more years old.  I've noticed that on some older Panasonics I've owned, the power cord gets very stiff and brittle.  Overall, the Allied materials are very good, bordering on excellent quality. 

I'm sort of happy I ended up with the Allied version.  Aircastle was a great old radio manufacturer, but by the time this model was introduced, I'm sure the name was just licensed for imports----probably had very little relationship to the original Aircastle.  Meantime, I understand Allied was a competitor to Radio Shack and they imported this as a house brand offering.  I'm almost certain I've seen this same style band selector on old Radio Shack models too.  Maybe they offered a clone of this radio??? 

One reason I love collecting vintage radios is that it's an inexpensive way to posess some "active" history.  It's fun to think about how this radio traveled throughout the years----and who the original purchaser was.  I'm wondering if a Dad and his kid walked into an Allied store and got this as a birthday or Christmas gift.  Maybe someone wanted it for their Summer cottage----an area with good shortwave reception, during a time when shortwave listening was hot.  They'd sit on their screened in porch late at night listening to the world.  And where has it been for the last 35 years?   I think it will be with me for a good long while.

 

Angelo           

Comments

[Radio Russ]

I've also wanted one of those Angelo. Way to go on this snag. That baby looks clean.

I'm picking up 740 clear as a bell tonight also. Now playing "Hang on Sloopy".

[Angelo]

Russ: It arrived in pretty clean condition, but I still did a quick detailing on it.
I tried Shortwave tonight----it's adequate but not a "station stalker." I'd consider it average on SW, which is to say it doesn't compare well with some of the better Sonys I've used, but it's far from deaf. Overall, I'd recommend one.

[Doug]

Angelo. Nice score! Those vertical format radios seem to have an especially vintage look. I enjoyed your little mini-essay at the end, re how owning old radios is a way to own a piece of "active history", and one that brings new enjoyment every time it is used. This is indeed a major part of the strong allure vintage radios have, and you nail it. Thanks, Doug

[Angelo]

Doug: One thing that's fun to ponder, especially on the older radios, is "What broadcasts came out of those speakers?" For example, my GE P780 probably dates to around 1958. I wonder if that radio was on for historic World Series games? Or, was it playing in someone's bedroom late at night giving details of the Kennedy assasination? (Back then, many people only had a television in their living room and turned the radio on when they turned in for the night.). Maybe this Allied/Aircastle(assuming it's as old as I think it is) was broadcasting the Watergate hearings or news about Martin Luther King, Bobby Kennedy and Vietnam body counts. That's the magic of old radios---little time machines.

[Dan]

The 2682 was the 2nd radio I used as young DX'er -- I thought it was a major leap into pro radio listening at the time. It did in fact bring me many countries before I upgraded to a Hammarlund HQ-180 in the late 70's.

Numerous 2682s and the Aircastles have been on EBay in recent months, some in better condition than others.

I was lucky to snag a NEW IN BOX 2682 a couple of years ago -- it's absolutely unused and pristine.

One of the bonuses of the 2682 is that it's a pretty darn good AIR/VHF receiver.

Watch those antennas -- if you break one of the rabbit ears it's impossible to obtain a replacement unless you buy a second radio to do it.

[Angelo]

Dan: The antennas on mine are good---but just curious, couldn't you use a stock Radio Shack replacement antenna if these broke?

[Steve]

Angelo - Congratulations on snagging an excellent radio! I had an Allied 2682 many years ago in college (1971-1975). My father helped me order it from the Allied catalog. I used it in college, graduate school, and finally gave it away when my wife and I moved to Houston, TX, in 1990. The one disappointment I had with the 2682 was that the dial cord broke from over-use. Rather than try to re-string a new cord, I purchased a vernier dial and mounted it to the side of the radio, connected it to the tuning capacitor, and I was good to go! It was a very durable radio. I hope you get as many years out of yours as I did mine!

[gerrie pearce]

i have a model 2682 solid state 8 band receiver .can i get an owners manua anymore?

[Dan]

To answer a question posted earlier this year on the antenna for the 2682 -- no you can't just use a RS replacement, because the rabbit ears come out of a solid metal "ball" at the bottom of the ears -- if one breaks, that's pretty much it.

[kay]

does anyone know if i can get an owners maual for a 2682 radio.I have a really nice radio ,but cant figure out short band.

[Paul Schuler]

Any reco's for a good external SW antenna configuration for this unit? I want to use mine primarily for SW.....Thanks!!

paulcschuler@gmail.com

[Ed Strnad]

Angelo, I found a really clean Allied 2682 today at a hamfest for only $25. Works well on DC, but plugged into AC, the internal transformer has a bad mechanical hum that is audible even when the power switch is off! It must be a a defective xformer, for it seems to be screwed down really well, and even has locktite on the screws... Guess it will have to be a battery-only set. It is amazingly well built, as you mentioned, and I can say it's much more solid than equivalent models I've had from Lafayette and RadioShack. The "fine tuning" dial effect seems very minor on AM band. The noise reduction switch doesn't seem to do anything. As you mention, it is great on the AIR band, but so-so on SW and PSB bands. Antennas are perfect, unique kinda rabbit-ears. A little hard to grasp the shallow tuning knob.... Nice sound from a big speaker. Only other problem is the cover knob you grasp to open up the fold-down cover has been broken off. What does it look like? Maybe I can make a replacement.

[Angelo]

Ed: I will get a photo of that cover knob to Jeff. I haven't used the radio in a while, but I know where it is!

[Dan]

Yes, on the antenna issue for the 2682, the previous comment was correct -- the antennas are built into a ball at the base so you can't just use a replacement from RS

[Joe Manoliu]

Angelo,liked your review of your Allied 2682.Yours looks like new!I received mine for my 11th Birthday in NYS.Yes, my father and I spent many evenings on our screened porch DX'ing!This radio followed the family to Texas (20 yrs) than to Alabama (17 yrs.).After my folks' passing,I brought the same radio with me back to NYS in 2011.Everything still works (including indicator bulbs).Both antennas though,haven't survived too well- both now about 10" long.Still use this radio almost every day and with each use carries with it great memories!