Rare opportunity-
The condition is as follows:
This is a Crosley Model 59 Oracle Grandmother Clock Radio (1931) for restoration
The chassis is unrestored. The finish; grill cloth; knobs; speaker, and tube shields are all original to the best of my knowledge. The cabinet is in good condition with few if any deep scratches or dents to the wood. About 3/4 of the strip of trim around the top has broken off and is missing (see pics) The cabinet measures 61 1/8”” high x 12 ½”” wide x 9” deep.
The clock works and was fairly accurate over a 2 hour period. The radio was powered on using a dim bulb tester to prevent electrical shorts. It did power on, but further testing indicated a problem with the chassis the could either be a short, a bad tube, or bad capacitors (most likely). In any case it will need to be looked at by a knowledgeable person and definitely NOT plugged directly into an outlet!
Check out the following review from a fellow aficionado:
I always marveled at the design of the cabinets and those craftsmen who built these radios. Not only did they invent the cabinet designs, they also invented the machinery and the process to produce the designs; absolutely amazing. There is no question that the greatest furniture was created during the depression. These “craftsmen”, were immigrants who migrated to the United States . When they came to this country, they brought their trades and skills. During that time in history, labor was cheap and business was very competitive and survival was always a threat, therefore, companies put that extra work into radio furniture to out do the other competing company. One other point I would like to make is: a third of all furniture produced during the depression was radio furniture; this was a huge industry. At that time, I would consider this industry to be one of the corner stones of manufacturing for the United States ; this country was built on manufacturing, as well as built on innovative ingenious designs.
Crosley became famous for their Art Nouveau Grandmother clock styling. This radio will truly compliment any home decor.