While there are many different levels of collections, Some folks like wood, Some Bakelite, Some love boat anchors while others prefer consoles, So I know there is a lot of variety here.
We all hear of the Zenith Big dog Strat which could cost as much as a small house,
I personally have found most of what I am looking for but would like to add a nice 16 Tube Zenith Baby start to my collection and I would like it for $400 or so,,, So it may be a while,
As a radio collector, What is your pride and Joy and what would you realistically like to find?

You just might get lucky, you never know what might lurk around the corner!
I have heard a few stories of collectors finding Strats for ridiculously low prices.

I was hoping to find a Strat for cheap (well at least reasonable) for 28 years.
I first found out the radio existed in 1979 (yeah, I was only 12 years old) and wanted to find one from then on. It wasn't until 1986 that I finally found out what the darn thing looked like! I only knew of it from the Schematic in Riders Vol VI.
It was also that year I found out how sought after the radio was. I asked a radio guy from Cleveland if he had any for sale and he almost fell on the ground laughing at me.

Anyhow, they are out there. Still being discovered, so keep haunting every antique shop, garage sale, junk shop, fleamarket you can! Keep an eye on old affluent neighborhoods where such radios existed.

I suppose with my luck at finding a girl in my life also kept me from finding a reasonable cost Strat.

-Steve

I'm convinced there is at least 1 more Strat in Denver. There was one here in the 1980s. The owner moved to the NW I think. I know there was a 16 tube Strat here because I used to have some dealer correspondence with the Zenith service department that talked about a problem the owner was having with it.

350 Strats made and about 50 of them known in collections. We've got a ways to go!

Of course, you do have to figure that not all of them survived, that would be a stretch.

I wouldn't doubt that the majority of the undiscovered ones are sitting in mansions up here in the NE. There are hundreds of great old mansions beween Rhode Island and Maryland. At least a handful are bound to have a 1000Z or a Scott Philharmonic. There's a mansion down in the historic section of Lancaster up for sale that just sold off much of its original contents.

http://lancasteronline.com/article/loca ... nsion.html

2nd, the Strats and the Scotts. Did you see that Setchell Carlson 'Jet' on eBay a couple weeks ago? It had the same model# as other examples shown around the web, but it was AM/FM! Find another one like that and you've got something.

Personally, I'd be happy with a 12S267 or a 37-116X Standard.

Setchell Carlson Jet on Fargo ND CL now.

These tend to be very arbitrary discussions.

Almost all of the radio collectors that I know collect based on personal preferences, previous ownership/use (family, military, etc.), personal likes, and historical/geographical perspective... as opposed to what has been "pointed out/handed directly" to them (not my style but it was too good a deal to pass up). This is versus what you are specifically looking for (I collect "fill-in-the-blank"). There are some "collectors" who will buy without a criterion but simply because it was available...not because they were specifically looking for that manufacturer, model, era, etc.

I think there is a major distinction between being able to buy a desirable radio because it is close/you've been given inside information on/worth more than the asking price and one that is based on your actual collecting interests.

Just my opinion...

My pride-and-joy(s) and what would I realistically like to find are one-and-the-same - Grebe and Kennedy radios/receivers/speakers/equipment.

BR,

Terry

I have most everything I ever wanted. A Climax Ruby would be nice to have, but I'm probably not willing to spend what it would take at this point. I'd like to find a Majestic Park Avenue console to go with my Ritz and Lido.

Honestly, I'd really like a nice place to display my collection before adding anything else.

Peter

Ive restored a few 1000Z's that never left New England and know where several others are and none are for sale and owners want privacy.
While Ive hauled some Scotts and others out of RI the 1000Z's have all been from Maine, Mass., and NH, states where the wealthy either lived or had large summer homes. One came out of the "big room" in a resort where it sat in a storage closet for decades.

Those and VT are also prime states for finding some of the vehicles those folks owned.

Carl

I am sorta at this same point. Not really looking to ADD anything but more to upgrade and replace what I have. I have no interest in a 1000Z. I have seen one in person and they are nice but I just can't justify that much expense for one.

Peter-I am pretty sure there is going to be a Park Ave in the near future showing up on ebay.
Not mine but a friend's who is selling out.

I decided I wanted a "Row of Big Dogs" Consoles. The top radios from several manufacturer's. In my lineup I currently have the following With the list being in my Favorite order.
Zenith 1000Z strat
Philco 37-690
Scott 30 tube Philharmonic
McMurdo Silver Masterpiece Six
Zenith Junior Strat 16a61
GE 15 tube Colorama E-155
Zenith 15u269 (daily player)

John k9uwa

Out here in the sticks i don't have much hope of finding a 1000z as most sets are mail order types but i guess you never know.I have always wanted an ozarka model 93 since i first saw a pic of one but i've only seen one for sale and it went for over 6 grand on ebay.The big attraction for me is cabinet style and these are very ornate.Butch

I thought about it some more, and if I had to pick one, it would be the Sparton Nocturne. In fact, I'd be willing to dispose of quite a few of my existing sets if I thought I had the chance at one. At about $70,000 though, doesn't seem likely!

It's my general belief that this will become (if it isn't already) the most valuable radio. The design elements place it into a category where they are being bought up for art museums, unlike other high-priced consoles which appeal to collectors of radios but not much else.

Peter

There's a lot to be said for collecting what you happen to find, as opposed to searching for rare models, wallet in hand. Obviously it will cost you a lot less. I find it much more enjoyable to collect what I like, instead of what others like. A Zenith Strat is what others like; doesn't do a thing for me. I'll collect anything with an interesting story, but very often you don't know the story until you actually own something and begin researching it. There's nothing like ownership to pique your interest.

I couldn't count the items I've found accidentally and only later discovered their stories. Did I go to that AWA annual meet with the idea of finding a 1914 Poulsen Telegraphone wire recorder in the flea market? Hardly. Do I ever expect to buy another wire recorder? No.

Now there are a few things I'd like to find, mostly oddball radios to go along with stories in the works. Like a Simplex or other cathedral with a Loftin-White circuit (but it has to be original; a "restored" one is worthless). I guess I could haunt ebay waiting for one to show up, but somehow I'd rather spend the time replanting asparagus in the garden, which is what I was doing today.

Like most collectors I started by buying every thing that came along. After accumulating a lot of stuff I saw the light and evolved to what I consider historical and interesting. A strad is not what interests me although I can certainly see the attraction. Nor are wireless era pieces. I actually had a Crosley WLW once but didn't get that excited over it either.

My thing is rare stuff from primarily New England companies that made only a few radios in the early 1920's and disappeared forever. I enjoy researching these companies. I have said this before - if it is in a price guide it is too common for my taste. Like Alan I enjoy doing searches for information and displaying in contests. The one exception is Atwater Kent cathedrals and tombstones. I think my collection of magazines would be the last thing to go. Monetary value doesn't have much to do with what I find interesting and collect.

I'll plant French's horticultural beans and parsnips over asparagus though.

To the poster of the Setchell Carlson Jet on Fargo ND CL now, the poster forgot to mention the unreasonable price of $1375. As far as the original question goes, let me bring you all down below the stratosphere. I've collected for 15-20 years and have had many high priced battery sets. They are all gone now, because I collect anything that strikes my fancy, and most battery sets do not strike my fancy. A big box with a black panel and a bunch of knobs does not strike my fancy. I'm currently adding a few Ingraham cabinet radios because of their beauty. I have wood and plastic sets. I have a couple of catalins, but they are way overpriced considering their mediocre asthetic qualities. My collection also changes constantly. I do not keep every radio I obtain (that would be hoarding, not collecting). I buy, I sell and I enjoy the change. My advice to a new collector is to obtain what they like, not the Zenith strat that everybody seems to want but will never have.

These days that is unknown . Lately i have found a few things that just basically dropped in my lap . Those real neat ( neet ) small interesting hard to find radios for around 20 to 50$ .

If we consider the title in it's truest sense of the meaning....Zenith Trans-Oceanic is the answer.

Bruce Webster

ok, Ill bite, what is a Park Ave?

no kidding, still that much in demand?