Anyone Ever Hear Of A. . . .

[FalconEddy]

Crosley model 02BC console radio?

I just 'inherited' one that's in need of an overhaul. But, not really sure I want to tackle it.

Looks like late 30's early 40's.

Haven't had time to take a photo yet.

. . Falcon

[Tom Bavis]

10 tubes, appears to be a 1942 model. Schematic:

http://www.nostalgiaair.org/PagesByModel/157/M0003157.pdf

[bricktop]

Wow, Tom you are the go-to guy for schematics. What would we do without you? :dunno: There would probably be a lot more tubes exploding from people fixing up amps with no schematics :D Much appreciated :thmbsp:

[GordonW]

In general, Crosleys weren't "top-end" products... but, they have historical significance, because of who Powell Crosley was, and what he did.

Crosley was one of the original "faster, better, cheaper" people... his main modus operandi was building radios for "common people"... in a lot of ways, he was to radio, what Henry Ford was to cars (with his Model T). Not high performance, but inexpensive enough that anyone who wanted one, could pretty much afford one.

Now, he realized early on, that inexpensive radios had their drawbacks... the key one being lessened reception sensitivity. This is, primarily, the reason he was so into "super power" radio transmitters... and the epitome of that genre was his station WLW in Cincinatti, with it's might 500 KILOWATT RCA "Big One" transmitter, which operated for several notable years during the 1930s. He figured, put enough signal out there, and pretty much anything could receive it... :D He was right... to the extent that he had listeners in England and other countries in Europe, who could easily pick up the signal from WLW in Ohio, on evenings and nights!

Unfortunately for Crosley, other radio station owners and broadcast people were frightened by the "radio power arms race" that he started (which also included stations such as Dr. Brinkley's XERA, the original "Mexican border blaster" station, also with a 500KW transmitter, and a proposed installation of a second station with the same transmitter as WLW, which would have gone in in New Jersey). Many folks became concerned of the "consolidating effect" that mega-power would possibly engender... the fact that the radio band could theoretically be "owned" by a few super-power stations. This led to the Communications Acts of 1934 and following years, a broadcasting treaty with Mexico and Canada in the late 1930s, and other regulations... which, among other things, limited power output to 50KW. This is why you see so many 50KW AM stations... this was the top allowed, after 1938...

So, with Crosleys, you're buying the name and the legend, more than the actual technical prowess of the product itself, in some ways... he was definitely one of those un-ignorable people of that era!!

Regards,
Gordon.

[FalconEddy]

10 tubes, appears to be a 1942 model. Schematic:

http://www.nostalgiaair.org/PagesByModel/157/M0003157.pdf

Awesome! Thank you, Tom!

In general, Crosleys weren't "top-end" products... but, they have historical significance, because of who Powell Crosley was, and what he did.

Crosley was one of the original "faster, better, cheaper" people... his main modus operandi was building radios for "common people"... in a lot of ways, he was to radio, what Henry Ford was to cars (with his Model T). Not high performance, but inexpensive enough that anyone who wanted one, could pretty much afford one.

Now, he realized early on, that inexpensive radios had their drawbacks... the key one being lessened reception sensitivity. This is, primarily, the reason he was so into "super power" radio transmitters... and the epitome of that genre was his station WLW in Cincinatti, with it's might 500 KILOWATT RCA "Big One" transmitter, which operated for several notable years during the 1930s. He figured, put enough signal out there, and pretty much anything could receive it... :D He was right... to the extent that he had listeners in England and other countries in Europe, who could easily pick up the signal from WLW in Ohio, on evenings and nights!

Unfortunately for Crosley, other radio station owners and broadcast people were frightened by the "radio power arms race" that he started (which also included stations such as Dr. Brinkley's XERA, the original "Mexican border blaster" station, also with a 500KW transmitter, and a proposed installation of a second station with the same transmitter as WLW, which would have gone in in New Jersey). Many folks became concerned of the "consolidating effect" that mega-power would possibly engender... the fact that the radio band could theoretically be "owned" by a few super-power stations. This led to the Communications Acts of 1934 and following years, a broadcasting treaty with Mexico and Canada in the late 1930s, and other regulations... which, among other things, limited power output to 50KW. This is why you see so many 50KW AM stations... this was the top allowed, after 1938...

So, with Crosleys, you're buying the name and the legend, more than the actual technical prowess of the product itself, in some ways... he was definitely one of those un-ignorable people of that era!!

Regards,
Gordon.

Gordon, many thanks for the valued information.

. . Falcon

[Sandy G]

Yeah, but w/10 tubes, I'd wager it was one of Crosley's "Top End" models...That, in & of itself, oughta make it worth restoring...