This completely restored and upgraded Silvertone model 4465 is a standout. The model first appeared in the Sears Golden Jubilee catalog in the fall of 1936. It continued to be offered through the spring and summer of 1937. This is a tombstone style radio and is sometimes referred to by collectors as the Silvertone "pyramid" model because of its tapered front and sides. Its commanding appearance is enhanced through its embodiment of an over-sized gold dial featuring a nautical sunset/sunrise motif and magic eye tuning indicator. Today this handsome radio is sought after by collectors but seldom found.
We acquired this radio in early 2019. It had been in one Texas family since it was new. However, after all these years the cabinet and chassis were showing their age and the seller regretfully parted with it.
Cabinet – The repairs took some time but as you can see it was well worth it! First, we had the inner cabinet and footing reinforced. Next, we replaced the single piece walnut burl that covers the top and front face. We also replaced the sides with new walnut grain veneer. We then toned the side piping and footer in ebony and sealed the entire cabinet with a semi-gloss lacquer. We also added a period-correct reproduction grille cloth and installed modern reproductions of the original control knobs. The result is this handsome looking radio that will last many, many years into the future.
Dial – The large 7” gold dial displaying all the station frequencies is quite an impressive sight - especially in a dim or dark room. The dial displays the broadcast scale and numerous "bands" for reference. All letters and number are legible and show virtually no signs of wear. The dial is illuminated by two dial lamps creating a soft yellow glow. The dial glass is clear and free from any chips, breaks or cracks. The surrounding brass escutcheon has been polished and will acquire a soft patina as it ages. This will add to its overall elegant antique look in the future.
Chassis - This is a top of the line high grade eight-tube chassis and it is a fantastic player! Made for Sears by Stewart Warner (chassis 100.151) this model was the best offering of their assortment. However, after 88 years this radio’s chassis was showing signs of rust, so we polished it, added rust inhibitor and paint as needed. We went through the entire underside of the chassis replacing all the capacitors, checking, and replacing resistors and wires where needed. We aligned the radio, and it plays well across the dial and all bands. All tubes were checked and replaced where needed with NOS (new old stock) tubes including the Magic Eye green tube. The dial cord is brand new and we lubricated the gears for smooth tuning operation. A new power cord and power resistor was installed for electrical safety.
Speaker – Even though it performed well, we had the 6-inch speaker reconed with new paper and installed a higher performance voice coil. The result is clear audio across the entire audio frequency range. This radio produces exceptional bass tones for its size.
Bluetooth - Additionally, this radio has been fitted 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 “analogue” combined.
Watch a demo of this radio here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=t733sle0LCY
Year of Manufacture: 1936
Tuning ranges: Band A (American) 526-1750 KC, Band P (Police) 1800-6000 KC, Band F (Foreign) 6-18 MC.
Dimensions: 22"H x 16"W x 10"D
Weight: 32 pounds
We acquired this radio in early 2019. It had been in one Texas family since it was new. However, after all these years the cabinet and chassis were showing their age and the seller regretfully parted with it.
Cabinet – The repairs took some time but as you can see it was well worth it! First, we had the inner cabinet and footing reinforced. Next, we replaced the single piece walnut burl that covers the top and front face. We also replaced the sides with new walnut grain veneer. We then toned the side piping and footer in ebony and sealed the entire cabinet with a semi-gloss lacquer. We also added a period-correct reproduction grille cloth and installed modern reproductions of the original control knobs. The result is this handsome looking radio that will last many, many years into the future.
Dial – The large 7” gold dial displaying all the station frequencies is quite an impressive sight - especially in a dim or dark room. The dial displays the broadcast scale and numerous "bands" for reference. All letters and number are legible and show virtually no signs of wear. The dial is illuminated by two dial lamps creating a soft yellow glow. The dial glass is clear and free from any chips, breaks or cracks. The surrounding brass escutcheon has been polished and will acquire a soft patina as it ages. This will add to its overall elegant antique look in the future.
Chassis - This is a top of the line high grade eight-tube chassis and it is a fantastic player! Made for Sears by Stewart Warner (chassis 100.151) this model was the best offering of their assortment. However, after 88 years this radio’s chassis was showing signs of rust, so we polished it, added rust inhibitor and paint as needed. We went through the entire underside of the chassis replacing all the capacitors, checking, and replacing resistors and wires where needed. We aligned the radio, and it plays well across the dial and all bands. All tubes were checked and replaced where needed with NOS (new old stock) tubes including the Magic Eye green tube. The dial cord is brand new and we lubricated the gears for smooth tuning operation. A new power cord and power resistor was installed for electrical safety.
Speaker – Even though it performed well, we had the 6-inch speaker reconed with new paper and installed a higher performance voice coil. The result is clear audio across the entire audio frequency range. This radio produces exceptional bass tones for its size.
Bluetooth - Additionally, this radio has been fitted 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 “analogue” combined.
Watch a demo of this radio here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=t733sle0LCY
Year of Manufacture: 1936
Tuning ranges: Band A (American) 526-1750 KC, Band P (Police) 1800-6000 KC, Band F (Foreign) 6-18 MC.
Dimensions: 22"H x 16"W x 10"D
Weight: 32 pounds