Antique Radio Find. 1952 RCA 1-R-81, Livingston Model

AM and FM. (The best of both worlds). 1952 RCA 1-R-81.
Radio sounds Wonderful on both AM and FM. Radio has the RCA Golden Throat Seal. It's built like a tank. Lighted airplane or compass type dial. Good condition Bakelite Cabinet. Yes, after checking the radio is an 8 tube radio. Not bad for 45 bucks. Need to find or fabricate (somehow) the diecast emblems for the front. The rear cardboard cover needs a slight repair to the area where the cardboard and the metal cabinet clips attach to each other. Actually, the radio is a "Livingston", and not "Livingstone", as in "Dr. Livingstone, I presume". Dr. David Livingstone was an important historical figure.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• RCA 1R81
• RCA 1-R-81

[Godlesspanther]

It looks like an airplane approaching head-on. Except it has very short wings.

[Lockemeister]

@Godlesspanther exactly. a little airplane for gremlins

[mznxb9872]

That dial is very well lit. Can you tell how many dial bulbs are used to light it?

[Lockemeister]

@mznxb9872 Sorry for the delay in response. That's a very good question that I thought of myself. the dial lights up terrific. I have to dissasemble the radio to see. Better yet. I'll download the schematic/parts list, maybe that will tell.

[Lockemeister]

@mznxb9872 Just 2 light bulbs, on the left and right sides of the dial. It's amazing how evenly the dial lights up. RCA certainly had the knack!

[Lockemeister]

@videostunad It sounds pretty good. I think it can use an alignment though

[Thermionman1970]

That is a cool radio and I love that dial! IT is also great that it has a power transformer! That FM must sound really sweet.

[Lockemeister]

@UmaBlinky Theve been dumbing down the schools since the 70's. The book makers dumbed the books down since the powers that be felt the kids were too smart. You know, they knew about the world and rebelled about the vietnam war. My older sisters history text book was a LOT harder and more comprehensive than the one I had when I went to school. Same for other stuff. I have old school books from the 40's that show grade schoolers how series and parallel circuits worked. It was geared for 6th grade.

[Lockemeister]

@UmaBlinky yes, exactly. At 12 years old I was helping my dad put in a water pump on his Plymouth. At 15 years old I was doing complete tuneups, plugs, setting the breaker points, rebuilding carbs. My dad use to take me to the drug store to test TV tubes as a little kid. I read Adell's books my mom got from the library. They were selling the old radio TV books for 5 cents! At 16 I pulled a stomberg Carlson set apart and replaced the vertical output transformer after diagnosing the problem

[Lockemeister]

@kirbykallen Thanks Joe and Thanks for you other email you sent. You're super, thanks!