Sparton (Sparks-Whittington) model 557, Sled 1937, Designed by Walter Dorwin Teague

Sparton brand radios were produced by the Sparks-Withington Co. of Jackson Michigan. Originally involved in the manufacturing of automotive parts (particularly horns and radiator fans), the company had been formed in 1900 by General W. H. Withington and his sons Philip and Winthrop. William Sparks, a young immigrant from England joined the company shortly after it was formed. It was not unusual for Automotive parts makers to produce radios, Firestone, Delco, and Western Auto produced some of the most iconic radios in the 30's into the early 50's.

Radio production was added to the company in 1925 under license from Roy Weagant, who formerly designed DeForest TRF sets. Sparton was one of the first to use Kellogg AC tubes. In the late 1920s, Sparton at first refused to license RCA's patents, which led Sparton into the business of making its own tubes under the Cardon brand to guarantee its supply. Sparton's Equasonne models in 1928 were another measure to avoid RCA's patents - these models used a special circuit licensed from Technidyne Corp. In 1929, Sparton finally negotiated a license with RCA - after showing that it had the capability and will to do without RCA if necessary. Once licensed by RCA, Sparton ceased making its own tubes.

Sparton was not particularly successful in the radio business after 1930, but continued to produce radios and TVs until 1956, when some of its assets were sold to Magnavox to form the "Spartan" (note different spelling) division of Magnavox. The name of the company changed from Sparks-Withington to Sparton Corp. in 1956, and it continues as a successful company today, making a variety of products in aerospace, defense, medical, and other product lines.

In 1935 The Sparks-Withington Co. commissioned designer Walter Dorwin Teague to design cabinets for their Sparton line of radios. Teague did not disappoint he designed four iconic Deco radio cabinets. Sparton saw these cabinets and decided to do a national promotion for them. Sparton released these new radios one at a time starting with the Bluebird, the Sled, the Cynclosure, and the Nocturne which is a console radio. All models were produced in two flavors: Midnight Blue and Old Rose (Peach). The Old Rose color was not as popular and fewer sales resulted in those sets being a little rarer today than the Blue.

This radio was also manufactured as a Deluxe model 558 with four control knobs in 1938/39. The chrome bands (third picture) are beginning to show their age.