Is anybody familiar with the Silvertone Model 1970? I am being given one. I will be picking it up this Thursday, more than likely.

It will need both electrical and cosmetic repairs, but I'm not turning down a freebie ! It has has an eye-tube retrofitted to it, but I plan to keep it in the radio as a part of its history (and no, I don't know what the tube is yet).

Also, what is the difference between the 1970 and the 1970A?

What year(s) were these made, and by what company?

Are they decent performers? How is the sound quality?

According to the schematics for the two models, 1970 = 20 caps, 16 resistors; 1970A = 16 caps, 14 resistors. The schematic is dated September 5, 1935, so it was probably introduced in the 1936 model year, possibly available by Thanksgiving or Christmas 1935.

I've seen the drafting style of the schematic before, but off the top of my head I can't remember which manufacturer used it.

These models seem to have been made especially for Sears. The five models on the two schematics are the only ones that used that particular tube lineup. The only other chassis with a similar lineup is the Capitol W-115 which used a 6D6 and 42 in place of the 6K7 and 6F6.

This will be my first pre-war console, so I'm pretty excited about it!

I have a model 1930 and a model 1940, both are tombstone (table) model radios that use the same chassis.

The 1970 is a seven tube set, made right they are decent performers. Of all the "green dial" radio models made by Silvertone in 1935/36, the 1970's escutchion is unique to only that set, as is the mount for the glass that covers the dial. .

Be careful when you remove the chassis from the cabinet. The antenna transformer is mounted in an exposed manner on the top of the chassis and is easily damaged.

The schematics available for this set on the nostalgiaair website are only one page.

There is a Silvertone radio web site that is excellent.

Do you have the URL?

http://sfhobbies.com/sfhobbies/radio/index.jsp

It is run by a fellow named Yuriy, he is a Silvertone expert.

There is a place on the site that has his email address, recommend you email him with Qs!!

Thanks! I'll do it once I have the radio in hand. I'll probably also ask him about my Model 2441 farm radio while I am at it.

Okay, I picked up the radio today. It was given to me by forum member Ernie Nagy (he also gave me a nice quantity of salvaged veneer and two globe 01A tubes, in exchange for helping him rake leaves this afternoon! ). The sticker on the back says "Silvertone Model 1970AE". I can't seem to find a reference to this exact model. Could the "AE" mean a model 1970A with the 6E6 eye tube added?

Rich, I do not believe the 1970 ever came with a tuning eye. BUT I could be wrong, as every year I see a "green dial" model that I did not know existed, and I have been into them for awhile.

Again, recommend you email Yuriy and get his input, as he is a Silvertone expert.

ALSO, can you post photos here, or possibly email me some at Ksictransitgloria@hotmail.com?

Here are photos of my new acquisition. Turns out the tuning eye was an add-on offered by Sears Service Centers.









It's going to need a LOT of work, especially the cabinet, but hey, it was the best purchase price: FREE!

Great project. I'm jealous!

Tom

It has a feature I have never seen on a radio before: TWO "hands" on the tuning dial! One is a standard "dual-ended" one that covers both the broadcast and the police/short-wave bands. The other one, however, is the puzzler: it points to the numbers at the outer edge of the dial, and moves much more quickly than the main pointer when the dial is turned. What is its purpose?

All of the five-knob "green dial" Silvertones had the second dial, it is a "seconds" dial that aids in precise tuning, especially if you are recording it.

All of the 1930/40/70 models that I have seen have a different ID/tube diagram label on the chassis, one that lists all 3 model numbers, while your set only lists it as a 1970. Additionally, your chassis has "1970" stamped in ink on it. Very interesting.

The tuning eye add-on is also interesting, especially if you can document that it was indeed a Sears option.

With the absence of any tube shield base around the tubes, I suspect that the AE designator may mean that your set is for metal tubes.

Definitely email Yuriy about this, he should be able to provide you with some good info about your set.

I did e-mail Yuriy. He was the one who told me the eye-tube was an add-on option from Sears Service. He will be e-mailing me the 8-page service manual for the set tonight.

Well, except for a broken on/off switch, and a burned out pilot lamp it appears to be functional - and quite sensitive. I can actually pick up more stations in the daytime WITHOUT an antenna hooked up than I can with my Silvertone 2441 farm set (which up to now was my most sensitive radio) WITH an antenna attached. Bonus: the 6E6 "magic eye" works, too!

Great!!

The on/off switch is a pain to replace because you have to drill out the rivets. If you do not have an exact replacement, you can always install an on/off/volume control and just connect the power section.

Yuriy is a great resource! With the Sears-installed tuning eye option you have an uncommon and neat set!

Of course, it goes without saying that I disconnected the old wet electrolytic caps and put in a pair of 10uF, 450 volt modern e-caps before I plugged it in! I haven't touched any of the other caps but so far it seems to work with just the filter caps changed.

It will be interesting to find out who made it for Sears; that chassis does not look familiar.

I have heard that it was made either by Corona or Echophone.

Probably made by Colonial, like the other Green Dial sets. Yuriy can tell you for sure. My 1930/1940 are Colonials.

If you intend to play this set often, you should consider replacing all of the wax paper condensers as well, not only to maintain quality but to prevent any ugly problems if/when one of the old caps goes south. Some of them are connected to B+....