Sell Your Radio or Collection of Radios for the Highest Price at Auction
Most valuable radios are old, but most old radios are not valuable. Here in Massachusetts we’ve got a surfeit of vintage and antique radios. On the one hand, that means collectors can be especially picky. On the other hand, your radio or collection of radios could be one they latch onto, and so it could bring you a surprising amount at auction – whether at live or online auction. Radio collectors go through phases, individually and collectively, and so we pay attention to what’s “hot” right now.
Your radio is worth what someone pays for it. We help increase the worth of your radio or collection by getting passionate and knowledgeable collectors to tune in. We’ll appraise your radios, get it or them dialed in for auction, and make sure that you’re getting every dollar possible.
We work throughout Central Mass, Greater Boston, New England, and beyond. You can contact us now, or read on to find out more about valuable radios and selling yours at auction.
What makes an antique or vintage radio valuable?
There are many factors we consider when deciding whether it’s worth taking a radio to auction.
First, is it rare? Rarity makes a big difference to radio enthusiasts. An unusual vintage radio can fetch a solid price at auction. Something that was the first, last or only in a given category of radios often will fetch a higher price.
The pedigree matters. At one of our biggest radio-collection auctions (the collection of John Terrey in Carlisle, MA) were many early battery models. Some of the early radio manufacturers represented in that sale were Grebe, Adams Morgan, R.C.A,. Federal, Clapp-Eastham, Amrad, Crosley, Kenned, Atwater Kent, John Firth, Magnavox, and Tuska. Many radios produced by those brands have already made their way into the radio-collecting community, but if you have one it may be worth a good sum at auction.
A radio that’s been restored is far more valuable than a broken-down old radio that’s been an attic decoration. Many radio collectors want their antique radios to work. This isn’t fully necessary as long as certain components still exist and function, because some collectors like to repair their radios themselves.
If no restoration work has been done, look for a radio that’s still in excellent condition. If you have the original packaging, manuals, and accessories your radio might be worth even more. The closer it appears to “new in box,” the better.
The number of tubes can make a big difference. Radios with twelve or more tubes are more likely to come from high-end, luxury brands.
The appearance can matter. An rare radio that looks a certain way can add to its value. The material and color often factor into that. Catalin is a brightly colored plastic similar to Bakelite. Both Catalin and Bakelite are both made from phenol and formaldehyde. They can be made in many different colors but the brightly colored Catalin radios – like orange, green, red, blue, and maroon – can be worth thousands of dollars. Collectors also look for cabinets in good condition.
One type that typically isn’t very valuable is the large floor model radio, which are fairly common and easy to find. (Some people repurpose the cabinets into liquor cabinets or into other objects.) On the other hand, 1930’s plastic radios still sometimes can be found in homes and are popular with collectors.
Crystal radios can have value. Greenleaf Whittier Pickard was an American scientist who discovered that some crystalline minerals could pick up radio signals when a crystal meets a tip of wire, hence the name. Crystal radio sets came in cases, on breadboards (boards where the tubes were attached), and some in unusual forms. One radio we sold was shaped like a ladybug, and another was built inside a coffee can. Those one-of-a-kind radio sets can be very collectible, sometimes selling in the high hundreds of dollars
Most collectors look for pre-WWII tube radios, rather than transistor radios. Though some collectors really enjoy transition radios, most of the radios we auction come from the earlier generation.
How much might my radio sell for?
Most of the radios we auction sell for between $200 and $500, but we’ve seen them go much higher. We’ve seen some units for as high as $3000. Of course, we will give you a thorough appraisal of your radio when you call us, and will work both smart and hard to get you the highest selling price at auction.
Why call Central Mass Auctions?
Selling with us will always give you a better price than selling on eBay or Craigslist or through most other auctioneers or auction houses. If we take on your radio or radios to auction, we will get the word out to serious radio collectors.
