1934 Northern Electric Model 55 SW Radio in Swivel Cradle No.3
Very Rare 1934/35 Northern Electric Table Radio Model 55 in a Swiveling Cradle - All Original in Mint Condition and Working
In a Nutshell
This is the third of these truly elusive Northern Electric Swivel Cradle Radios I restored, with serial number 305 - and this time - with original finish and with the correct knobs
Introduction:
This radio owns the podium - repeating what I said when I sold the first one (ref.2), which is now at RMorg (ref.3):
♣ the interplay of horizontal and vertical bars represents a paragon of post-art-deco 1930's modernist style
♠ this is the only radio in a swiveling cradle ever built (I still go unchallenged)
♥ it is the most desirable table radio by Northern Electric
♦ it has a very innovative electronic design, the first tube being a tuned RF stage that is used as a reflex audio preamp,
followed by an autodyne frequency changer, 175 kHz IF amplifier and detector and an audio amplifier
Model 55 was advertized together with models 53, 63, and 72 in 1934 (pict.34). Only model 53 (and models 54 and 57 according to ref.1) had the same unusual chassis as model 55. One may wonder why NE put this radio in a cradle. Certainly this way the small (13" wide without cradle) but 18 pounds heavy radio is very service friendly. But also it just looks much better when for example compared with model 53 or a contemporary and very similar DeForest Crosley "EARL" or a Rogers Majestic R-563, also on sale (pict.36). The radio's front (pict.13) is a masterpiece of modernism styling: horizontal and vertical black accent bars, contrasted with chevron shaped 30 degree veneer and criss-cross speaker cloth, two brass escutcheons and two anodized all-brass knobs on a trapezoid, supplemented with two larger wooden knobs with the same 3-ring pattern, a geometrical eye candy.
Additional information:
ref. 1: Northern Electric Combined Radio Service Manual 1931-1941, p.24
ref. 2: http://www.greenhillsgf.com/IndexOwn_NorthernElectric_55.htm
ref. 3: http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/northernel_55.html
ref. 4: Lloyd Swackhammmer: "Radios of Canada", page 83
About my Radio:
The radio is in mint condition. Compared to the two I had restored before, this one has the original finish with extremely nice fine and homogenous crazing. It also has three of the original knobs, the fourth all-brass one having been reproduced on my lathe machine. You can try to guess which one it is (pict.19). The dial writings were faded to almost illegibility - almost - since they could be retraced correctly by hand (pict.28)
The reception is excellent. A long wire is needed at the antenna connector. All moveable parts were treated with contact spray. Please
e-mail me (Kris) for any questions, ich spreche Deutsch, je parle Français.
