1942 Airline 14wg-8065 AM SW & Phono Tube Radio (WithMagic Eye Tube!
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Up for offer, this stunning, restored art deco GEM of aradio from Airline! The 14wg-8065 – introduced in 1941 as a 1942 model - wasmade by Wells-Gardner radios exclusively for Montgomery Ward catalog andstores. This radio has amazing presence – and is quite large at over 21inches long and 11 inches tall & 11 inches deep. The working phono inputwas tested and I was able to play my I-Pod (see video) – Short Wave came inat night with a long wire antenna and I was able to tune stations in fromEurope and Cuba! The solid wood andwood veneer cabinet on this model is restored - this model is rarely foundthis nice and certainly not electronically restored! It sounds exceptional andit gets very good reception. This Airline was one of the last radio modelsbuilt before WW2 – when radio makers geared up for wartime production tosupport the war effort. The attention to detail on this radio – with its Green Magic Eye tube embedded behind thedial, Push Buttons, distinctive dial lighting, and protruding carved woodgrill – the 14wg-8065 stood out in a crowded market of art deco styled woodradios – giving Montgomery Ward a sales edge. It sold for Just under $40 in1942 – that’s the equivalent of $600 in today’s dollars – this radio was hightech and people paid for it! The average monthly rent in 1942 was $35 dollarsfor some perspective.
This Item is offered with & at a low starting offerprice! Please view the video demo below and then scroll down below formore information! Thanks!
As you can hear. The radio sounds excellent powered by 8tubes and a large 6 inch speaker. There are only very minor imperfections andblemishes on the cabinet. The Tenite plastic dial bezel, surround, and knobsare in amazing condition - Tenite is the oldest thermoplastic resin that isstill being made. Introduced in the late 1920’s. Because of its ability to beeasily molded into intricate shapes, it was widely used for dial bezels andknobs for radios in the 1930’s and 1940’s. However, it had a tendency not tobe as stable in high heat, so usually these bezels are found to be distortedin some way- not this one – the bezel on this Airlinelooks like it was bought yesterday!
This radio has recently been electrically serviced! The chassis was cleaned and the controls were lubricated, filtercaps were replaced as needed, and tubes were checked and any weak onesreplaced. The radio was thoroughly bench tested. It’s now ready for years ofuse!
(Please note: As a special bonus – we willgive the winner of this salea copy of a Airline 14wg-8065 catalogueadvertisement from 1942. It’s printed on nice card stock and suitable forframing. A nice accompaniment to your new vintage radio! – please see lastphoto!)
As you may know - Montgomery Ward’s was an Americandepartment store chain, founded as the world\'s first mail order business. Itwas founded in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward. At its height, it was one ofthe largest retailers in the United States competing with Sears, Macy’s andother successful department stores. The Airline radio brand was their premierradio brand just as Silvertone was for Sears. Many radio makers made radiosfor ‘Airline’ over the years. In the early days Airline sets were made byseveral companies including Wells-Gardner, Davidson-Hayes and US Radio and TVCorp. Over the decades they produced some of the most classic and uniquelydesigned radios around. Declining sales in the late 20th century forcedMontgomery Ward to close all of its retail stores and catalog operations byearly 2001.
The overall appearance of the radio is simply amazing andit sounds and works perfect. A great opportunity for a collector to own afunctioning piece of art! They do not come up for sale often – and rarely with the cabinet restoredand the electronics serviced - and its being offered with and at a lowstarting offer! Thank you for reading and good luck on your offers!
