Posted 14 years ago
chriswcu
(4 items)
I picked this little radio up at a yardsale b/c it looked so weird I just had to have it. So I did a little research on the internet and found that this is an Algene AR-R-U radio from 1947. It sounds like something the govt. manufactured as Roswell. I couldn't find much else about it. I know it has tubes and a funky snakeskin cover. The mirror's a little strange. I plugged it in and got a nice little shock. The cord is all worn and frayed. What I'm wondering is, was this the boombox of its day? How many of these are there? And what's in worth in its present condition?
Thanks,
Chris
Hi. This is a Model AR-5-U. There is not a lot of info out there about this radio. I do have a schematic for the one you have. I have one also but it must be a later version with the same model number but completely different tubes. Mine has the newer miniture type tubes however the label shows the older type tubes like your has. Mine has round knobs while yours as well as all others I have seen have square knobs. Yours is a green color? Mine is a brown color. I suspect mine was a short run model and judging by the tubes in it must be from 1950 or so. Yours is definitly 1947. Sometimes manufacturersa would use cases and chassis that were left in stock and make a short run radio with the same model number as a previous version. I think they knew they were going to drive us crazy 50-60 years later. LOL. If your radio works without any major problems its worth around 100 dollars. It probably needs filter capacitors replaced which is not a major repair but you shouldn't run it if you hear a hum untill it gets fixed. Hope this helped you
Sorry I forgot to mention this radio is known as the Jewell Box Radio to collectors and was probably marketed to the female customers of the day