I usually only collect radios that I like the look of and this has at times made me spend more than I normally would on a radio. At the same time I've been fortunate enough to gain good radios for a low cost or in one case, nothing at all.

Some years ago now I swore blind that I would collect a mint example of every colour of the 500-series AWA Radiolettes - seven colours that I know about and still to collect one and find a dial pointer for the green one I have. The green one cost me $80 and came from an antique shop whose proprietor was probably not aware of the radio's true worth. Years later I acquired a slightly marbled turquoise one off Ebay for $950.00. One could say that I got both radios for just over $400 each when it is averaged out and that is a bargain for those rare colours. Back in the days when I worked for myself as an electrical contractor one of my punters gave me an Astor Mickey DL. Covered in layers of full gloss enamel was a marbled green Mickey, probably worth a grand in today's dollars. Unfortunately efforts to remove the paint lead to the cabinet breaking but I was able to sell the radio as a going concern for $650 to someone who was able to have the cabinet repaired professionally and then restore the chassis. In one way I made a profit from that radio but lost due to the devaluing of the cabinet due to breakage. That's life.

In the last couple of years I have been paying more attention to timber radios, apart from a desire to own one of each of the colours the Healing 401E came in. I still need a few of the colours of that model. With the move towards timber radios I have picked up some true classics - recently a Raycophone Peewee and a year ago, most of the Airzone cathedrals. I'd love a Raycophone cathedral added to my collection - but who has one they no longer want? If there's one available I'd be happy to hear the seller's terms.