Here's one you don't see every day - an eight-tube, three-band ‘Peerless’ brand radio. This gorgeous cube-style radio with its 6-inch side speaker was manufactured by Pacific Radio Corporation and marketed under the Peerless name in the 1936–1937-time frame.
History: Pacific Radio Corporation of Chicago, IL produced radios in the late 1930s under the trade names 'American World', 'Best', 'Buckingham', 'Crusader', 'Pacific', 'Peerless', 'Westone' and 'World Wide'. The 6322 radio was sold under several brands including American, Bandmaster, General, and Pacific and sold for as little as USD $19.63. It is a three-band AC/DC model having 8-tubes. Band coverage is 540-1750 KHz (Broadcast), 1.75-5.8 MHz (Amateur) and 5.8-18 MHz (shortwave).
Today this attractive radio (sometimes known as 37-6322) is sought after by collectors but almost never found this condition. We acquired this radio in early 2018 from a collector who had not restored it. The cabinet was not in great shape. The chassis was working but needed a full restoration and upgrade.
Cabinet: The cabinet got a complete restoration. We stripped the original shellac and toned the bottom footer with an ebony lacquer. All other wood got a simple (almost clear) maple stain. All of it was conditioned with grain filler and sander sealer. We then finished the entire cabinet with a flat matte lacquer. This makes the original veneer pop.
We fixed a few small abrasions in the back left corner. We added a period correct reproduction grille cloth and retained the original control knobs. No detail was overlooked - including replacing the back cover with an authentic looking reproduction. The result is this handsome looking radio that will last many, many years into the future.
Dial: The large round dial displaying all the station frequencies and bands is quite impressive, especially in a dim or dark room. The dial displays the three bands, each with its own color. All letters and numbers of the main faceplate are legible and show virtually no signs of wear. The dial glass is free & clear of any chips, breaks or cracks. The surrounding brass escutcheon has been cleaned and will keep its antique (but not worn) look well into the future
Chassis: We checked all the chassis’ capacitors, replacing resistors and tubes where needed. The 6G5 green ‘Magic Eye’ tuning tube was in great shape, and it works well. We aligned the radio (both IF and RF), and it plays well across all the broadcast band. See link to demo on YouTube below.
Speaker: Even though it performed well, we had the all-original 6-inch side speaker cleaned and reinforced. The result is clear audio across the entire audio frequency range. This radio produces exceptional bass tones for its size and the great sound will fill the room. See link to demo on YouTube below.
Bluetooth: Additionally, we fitted this radio with our custom Bluetooth / MP3 adapter, which allows you to switch between the radio or your smartphone or music device. Access your streaming audio service or the playlist on your smart device to provide classic tunes and bring the warm, bright, analogue sound to any music or recording you choose. The quality of the sound is excellent. You will have the best of “digital” and “analog” combined.
Dimensions: 14"W x 11"H x 9"D
Weight: 8 Pounds
See demo video here. If you cannot view, then copy and paste the link to browser: youtu.be/vAG2MDrwFrY
History: Pacific Radio Corporation of Chicago, IL produced radios in the late 1930s under the trade names 'American World', 'Best', 'Buckingham', 'Crusader', 'Pacific', 'Peerless', 'Westone' and 'World Wide'. The 6322 radio was sold under several brands including American, Bandmaster, General, and Pacific and sold for as little as USD $19.63. It is a three-band AC/DC model having 8-tubes. Band coverage is 540-1750 KHz (Broadcast), 1.75-5.8 MHz (Amateur) and 5.8-18 MHz (shortwave).
Today this attractive radio (sometimes known as 37-6322) is sought after by collectors but almost never found this condition. We acquired this radio in early 2018 from a collector who had not restored it. The cabinet was not in great shape. The chassis was working but needed a full restoration and upgrade.
Cabinet: The cabinet got a complete restoration. We stripped the original shellac and toned the bottom footer with an ebony lacquer. All other wood got a simple (almost clear) maple stain. All of it was conditioned with grain filler and sander sealer. We then finished the entire cabinet with a flat matte lacquer. This makes the original veneer pop.
We fixed a few small abrasions in the back left corner. We added a period correct reproduction grille cloth and retained the original control knobs. No detail was overlooked - including replacing the back cover with an authentic looking reproduction. The result is this handsome looking radio that will last many, many years into the future.
Dial: The large round dial displaying all the station frequencies and bands is quite impressive, especially in a dim or dark room. The dial displays the three bands, each with its own color. All letters and numbers of the main faceplate are legible and show virtually no signs of wear. The dial glass is free & clear of any chips, breaks or cracks. The surrounding brass escutcheon has been cleaned and will keep its antique (but not worn) look well into the future
Chassis: We checked all the chassis’ capacitors, replacing resistors and tubes where needed. The 6G5 green ‘Magic Eye’ tuning tube was in great shape, and it works well. We aligned the radio (both IF and RF), and it plays well across all the broadcast band. See link to demo on YouTube below.
Speaker: Even though it performed well, we had the all-original 6-inch side speaker cleaned and reinforced. The result is clear audio across the entire audio frequency range. This radio produces exceptional bass tones for its size and the great sound will fill the room. See link to demo on YouTube below.
Bluetooth: Additionally, we fitted this radio with our custom Bluetooth / MP3 adapter, which allows you to switch between the radio or your smartphone or music device. Access your streaming audio service or the playlist on your smart device to provide classic tunes and bring the warm, bright, analogue sound to any music or recording you choose. The quality of the sound is excellent. You will have the best of “digital” and “analog” combined.
Dimensions: 14"W x 11"H x 9"D
Weight: 8 Pounds
See demo video here. If you cannot view, then copy and paste the link to browser: youtu.be/vAG2MDrwFrY