Found this one in a Hogs Breath Cafe. It had been sitting in the restaurant for over 10 years, so what looks like dust on top of the radio was actually grease and fat. This grease and fat had eaten into the bakelite, especially on the top and all leading edges which required alot of attention.

It took about a week of elbow grease to get rid of the 10 years of grease. I made a new plastic dial cover for it and will be replacing the missing badge soon.

This is a 6 volt vibrator set, and the knobs, as far as I know are original for this type of set. The chicken head knob is for on/off and it has a push in sleave around the third knob which has a mechanism so that the dial light only comes on when you need it ie. when changing stations at night. This was to save the battery's life. Still learning about the electrical restoration side of things, so wont be restoring it.

Anyway hope you all enjoy.

Click on image for larger resolution

Thanks Brad.

Another of these here (not mine) with comments that might be of interest

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/AWA-RADIOLA-Big-Empire-State-Bakelite-Art-Deco-Radio-/160494685831?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item255e3a8e87

This auction has ended now ($405) so here are the comments

This is the battery version of the model often referred to as the "Big Brother" made by AWA and released in 1938 at the height of the "golden era"
Points to note;
* Cabinet free of cracks, warps and bulges.
* Bakelite is not oxidised and has retained the original lustre as new. I have only given it a quick polish to check on this but polishing is not complete.
* Lovely clean chassis free of corrosion.
* All original knobs in place.
* All valve filaments intact and speaker transformer continuous.
* The badge is missing, but excellent repros are available.
* There are some rub marks on the sides, but they do not detract unduly from the great overall look. ( see pics )
* there are 2 screws missing from the back.
Some people think of battery sets as poor cousins to mains powered versions, but I think there are many advantages thus:
* Easy to make a dedicated power supply using modern solid state devices, should you want to use it.
* No potentially lethal voltages inside.
* They run cool.
* No power transformer to self destruct and start a fire!
* Most were designed to operate in remote areas, so have good RF performance.
* And they're GREEN, typically consuming less than 5 watts against 40 - 50 watts for a mains powered equivalent!!
I think I've said it all now. Good luck and happy bidding!

Yeah watched it all the way to the end.

This one will be on ebay next week.

And they're GREEN, typically consuming less than 5 watts against 40 - 50 watts for a mains powered equivalent!!

Valve radios still contribute to 'green' values today. All us collectors have saved thousands of these radios from ending up on the tip and a few, including me, have even pulled one or two back off the tip, risking heavy fines and damage to skin and bone in the process.

Try that with the new crop of digital radios. The first generation of these will be on clean-up piles in the next year or so as early uptakers invest in improved models.

When one looks back at the history of AM radio broadcasting it is easy to discover that it is one of few technologies that has truly survived the test of time and we are certainly helping it along by listening in with the radios best designed for the purpose.