Take a look at this guys. Jump in and grab this opportunity to own this immaculate Green Empire State. For only $13,500.00
The Guy has to be joking I mean "REALLY"

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/225340312157

Wonder if it works properly.

Seriously, I could support myself for a whole year with that money.

I have never been a fan of that model -- in fact I find it ugly -- so I'll happily pass on it. I think that the $20k he refers to was paid for sets with matching cigarette cases.

This bit is interesting, to say the least. I have never seen nor heard of this before:

QUOTE: For those of you wondering about the 4 chrome inserts each side of the dial, this radio was an original prototype with 8 preset stations, and originally owned by a staff member of AWA, making it a unique example. The preset chassis has long since been replaced.

GTC oh dear me that guy couldnt lie straight in bed lol.

One of the knobs has a hairline crack.
That should take 10K off the asking price.
JJ

That is the sort of nonsense that just makes me shake my head.
All original except the chassis and back plate.....................and logo.............................

Like G.Washingtons Axe in the museum, all original except the handle and blade have been replaced.

I can make one of those in a couple of days, just got to get the paint tinted right.
Really, I can see a couple of rich guys bidding on something like that but in the real world no radio is worth that much even if it was in original condition.
I think he needs to shift the decimal point a couple of places, but I still would not buy it, quicker for me to buy a cheapy and do a drill and spray job.
That would be a legitimate as trying to pass off a prototype as original but fitted with a later chassis.

Fred.

I bid $13000 --- crypto currency.

But seriously now, in a world where crypto currency is bought by morons from speculators why not offer overpriced goods in the hope someone will take the bait?

History tells us such audacity often pays. This will be interesting.

I've been following the sale of radios on the Internet for almost 20 years.

Previous examples have sold for over $20k.

Incorrect. One jade Radiolette sold for approx. $21,000 about 12-13 years ago and it was one exceptionally immaculate radio, sold by a dealer with a very good reputation in VR circles and at a time when people were indeed paying insane prices for many different models. This period of largesse lasted a couple of years, a few at the most and the same radio would go for about eight grand if sold today in the same immaculate condition.

This radio has lost its investment value due to the holes drilled in the front panel. The seller might be correct about the reason why they were drilled and the bezels do look genuine. Where is the experimental chassis though? Even if genuine, these holes don't look right and no-one is going to pay a King's ransom for this example.

The seller's twaddle is the thing that annoys me.


"Radio is in immaculate restored condition with the utmost care taken"

REALLY?

Look at the chassis!

What has been "restored"????

This is like opening the bonnet on a Ford or Chev at a show meet and seeing an oily dripping engine and transmission with rusty bulkhead leaking radiator and 60 years of crap all over.

"Original unrestored" is more like, except it's not an original chassis????
If we believe the story about the pushbuttons as well.

I do not know much about these radios, can any member update me with this pushbutton tuning idea with this model or is the guy just dribbling?

Fred.

Fred the guy may have good reason to believe what he is saying! It may have been a experimental one! But there is no documentation to prove its history.
As we all know a one off is hard to put a value on. The fact that amother chassis is fitted also detracts from its value. I have seen chassis for these sell at auction for $500.00 so in reality this set is only worth marginally more than that if anything.

But I do believe the guy is just dribbling!

With antiques what is needed is "provenance", that in many cases, is difficult but that is not the only one of its type so there is reference to the original specs and look, in existence. If it has been restored, or altered, what has been done to it is significant.

I have a 120 year old clock. It in order to keep it running has been repaired, not altered, and that required getting the non original paint off it. It still has the factory label on it to confirm what it is. Which is provenance to its originality.

The Farm Ute has been maintained, that involves new parts but conforms with the original specs. Part of its history is the fact that it still has its original registration plates and the delivery docket from 1958. Being British if it does not leak oil somewhere, then you have a serious issue: There is probably none left to leak out.

I got a little bit of information from Kevin Poulter about this set and I will supply you with a copy and paste. The story behind this has a bit of truth to it. The original chassis was converted to push button by a HMV dealer which of cause is not AWA.

More to come.

Here is the copy and paste.

Green Empire not so bad ...
A member says he owned the radio in question many years ago. It was a modification of a Radiolette R29 which had been stripped of the tuning gang and replaced with 8 pre -set trimmers tuned for the 8 Sydney stations. AWA done by an HMV dealer experimenting with pre-set tuning.
I removed and disposed of the mutilated ratsnest chassis and fitted an original chassis and finally was sold to another member some time ago.

So, hardly an 'original prototype'. More a butchered set.

So its a butchered radio fitted with an original style chassis.
Ok so that is "near original condition, damaged and unrestored".

Hardly "in immaculate restored condition with the utmost care taken"

THAT is the point.

It is a free country, and anybody can try and sell anything for any price they like.
The market will decide if the price is fair.

Fred.