1935 RCA Canada C14-1 (US C15-3) 15-Tube Console Radio
Superb 1935 High-End 15-Tube All-Wave Shutter-Dial Console Radio "Globetrotter" with Magic Brain, Magic Eye and all Metal Tubes, in deLuxe 4-Door Cabinet
In a Nutshell
Here is the Canadian version of the venerable RCA C15-3 Console, pioneering RCA's Magic Brain, Magic Eye and Metal tubes, beautiful baby brother of the famous buffet-style D-22
Introduction:
In the beginning was the "Magic Brain" - and the magic brain (ref.1) was with the 1934/35 luxury models of RCA enthusiastically announced as follows:
"Inside RCA Victor all-wave sets is an uncanny governing unit - ... Human in its thinking, we compare it to the human brain. You choose the broadcast - from no matter where in the whole world. Then, watchman-like, it keeps out undesired radio signals. It concentrates on that one and makes it four times stronger. Each tone has higher-fidelity ... in a quality of reception heretofore unequalled"
Technically speaking it is the combination of RF, local oscillator, and mixer stages, for which originally two tubes (6D6 and 6A7) and one year later the 3 new metal tubes (6K7, 6J7, 6L7) were used, particularly for the higher end all-wave receivers where the separation of mixer and oscillator improved performance especially for short wave reception. In 1935 RCA also introduced the "Magic Eye" (type 6E5) tube for their higher-end consoles, a tube facilitating precise tuning and being too big to be used for table models. "Magic Eye" became later a synonyme for all tuning indicators, independent of manufacturer. Four more RCA "Magics" (voice, loop, wave and key) were still to come later. The 1935 C series' deLuxe model is the 15-tube C15-3 (ref.3) (in Canada called C14-1) ; it also included a C11-1 (no doors, straight bars) and a C13-2 (only the two upper doors). D series models had an extra automatic disc changer and recorder, that today is a bit of a ballast, since there are no recording blanks available. Moreover the 22-tube top model D-22 (ref.2) is said to look like a buffet, and there is wide agreement that the C15-3 (Canadian C14-1) with their 4 doors are the most beautiful console radios made by RCA. Why the Canadian 15-tube model was christened C14-1, remains a mystery. I don't know who designed the cabinet, but wouldn't be surprised if it was RCA's chief designer John Vassos [1898-1985, RCA consultant from 1933 on], who also created the Magic Brain poster (pict.47 left), as well as in the late 1930's, the cabinet for RCA's first post-war TV set 621TS.
The C14-1 receives up to 60 MHz (normal is 30 MHz), that is the "VHF low" band, the "6m ham radio" band, and TV channel 2. Another rare feature is the long-wave band, that in contrast to Europe in North America is not used for public broadcasting, and is open to unlicensed experimental transmissions, navigation beacon call signs, etc. The radio uses a very powerful audio stage with a 6C5 tube as first audio, to drive two more 6C5's through an interstage transformer, which then drive two 6F6's in push-pull configuration, connected to a 12" field coil speaker. This should give about 20 Watt music power, which will blow your windows out.
About my Globetrotter:
The radio is in mint condition, both cosmetically and technically. The cabinet has its original finish, including the decals (pict.23), except the top (pict.12), that has however been refinished to perfectly match the original. All parts (knobs, handles, speaker cloth, chassis are original, all 4 handles nicely matching the wheat sheaf speaker cloth (pict.45). A phono RCA jack with switch has been installed for connecting cell phones, mp3 players, etc. (pict.44), following RCA recommendations (pict.52). The chassis has been cleaned and serviced, tubes replaced by selecting metal tubes with optimal performance from my stock (pict.37). The 6E5/6G5 magic eye tube has been replaced by a new very bright (NOS) one (pict.38). The radio had been recapped by a former owner using contemporary high quality caps (pict.32), the line cord and plug are original (picts.30,32). The radio plays all wave bands (see youtube video by clicking on last picture or going to ref.4), which is difficult to demonstrate, since we do not have strong stations around here in Chilliwack. Note complete absence of interferences when receiving a strong station like my wireless record player. Please
e-mail me (Kris) for any questions, ich spreche Deutsch, je parle Français.
For the techies only:
The Globetrotter's clock face dial (pict.22) is driven by a bakelite knob (pict.39) with an engraved globe, which when pulled engages its "fine mode". A full 180° turn of the clock's outer hand (tuning capacitor), corresponding to 10.1 turns of the inner hand, requires 5.3 knob turns in coarse, or 34 in fine mode. The clock face has 100 scale dots, so that one scale dot splits the whole range into 1000 divisions. This is more than my Rogers Majestic "Queen Mary" (720) coming up soon, and comparable with the red "split "second" dial pointer of Zenith's famous black dial radios (1080).
Here are the specifications:
Technical Description of Item
Manufacturer
RCA Victor Co. Ltd., Montreal, Canada
Model
C14-1 (US version C15-3)
Type
15-tube 5-band all-wave console radio
Production Year
1935
Serial Number
267, total number produced (USA+Canada) ~6000
Cabinet
5-tone walnut
Dial
Illuminated shutter dial for 5 bands, plastic lens and metal escutcheon
