1941 Canadian Mitchell 1260 "Lumitone" Rocket Lamp Radio
Rare Rocket-shaped Radio-Lamp Lamp-Radio, made in 1941 by Mitchell - Brand & Millen in Toronto, Serviced and Perfectly Working
In a Nutshell
WWII themed rare novelty radio
Introduction:
The Mitchell Mfg. Co. in Chicago made only a few radios, the two most famous one's being the "Lullaby" bed lamp radio and this "Lumitone" lamp radio, both from 1941. Mitchell's Canadian branch was in Toronto (pict.12). Inside the radio I found a sticker saying the radio was in fact manufactured by Brand & Millen (pict.19). Brand & Millen Ltd., in Long Branch, Ont., which is part of Toronto, too made only a few radios and seem to have distributed also Crosley and Garod radios in Canada. The radio is obviously influenced by the achievements of Robert Hutchings Goddard [1882 – 1945], an American professor, physicist and inventor. Goddard is credited with creating and building world's first liquid-fueled rockets, which he successfully launched between 1926 and 1941 (pict.26), and which were starting point for Wernher von Braun's A4 and V2 rockets shortly later and spaceflights a decade later. The radio came in different versions, with and without a golden base, and with different factory made lampshades.
About my radio:
The radio is in mint condition, with no cracks, chips scratches in its ivory painted bakelite shell. I am convinced the milkglass shade is original, I know the outer shade is not. The latter is however perfectly fitting and in style and size almost authentic. The radio's chassis is in mint condition and was thoroughly cleaned, electronically serviced and partly recapped. It has a built-in loop antenna and works with excellent sensitivity, selectivity and volume (click on thumbnail 25). Please
e-mail me (Kris) for any questions, ich spreche Deutsch, je parle Français.
