5 comments about Collector's Guide to Antique Radios.

1. When I first started searching for tube radios to buy, I knew I needed a price guide. And, I had doubts about this volume after reading some negative reviews. Now, I find it invaluable and can't imagine shopping without it.
   
   Any buying guide must be portable to be useful. This book is about as big as a practical buying guide can be. With 317 pages (7th edition) printed on 8.5 x 11 inch paper, you cannot stuff this guide into your shirt pocket. However, you can carry it in your briefcase or a shipping bag. (I assume that future editions will be available in a digital format for use on portable electronic devices.)
   
   I had some concerns about omissions. Well, after attending radio swap meets, flea markets, yard sales and making inquiries about Craigslist and eBay postings, my experience is that the omissions are not huge relative to the radios I have seen on the market. Moreover, several times I have found data on similar models that gave me valuable insights into a model not listed.
   
   No guide can account for all variables, but I can tell you that this guide can help you to avoid costly mistakes. Many sellers have no clue about market value, and are wildly optimistic about what they think their antique tube radio should sell for. I always define a "bargain" or "too costly to buy" by reference to this guide.
   
   The book presents several pages explaining its approach to valuation. After reading the detailed comments, you will be better equipped to make adjustments for unique situations and your buying interests.
   
   There are 800 color photographs in the 7th edition. Do I wish there were more? Sure, and typically each guide has more photos than the previous edition. Again, a buying guide must be portable and cannot contain all the data and photographs that we would want in an encyclopedic history of all tube radios ever produced.
   
   Given that there are no comparable buying guides published, are there reasons to praise this book? There are indeed. If you are buying, don't leave home without it. There are very few buying situations where a beginner or even an expert would not be helped by referring to this book. This is a superb presentation of otherwise rare data on a niche hobby ... and a stunning bargain at under $25.
   
   I have performed several market research projects in my professional life. And, I can only respect the years of research and data accumulation that have gone into the production of this unique work. If either the author or publisher ever stop producing this guide, it would be a huge loss to radio hobbyists. Moreover, this superb guide keeps getting better ... even as the population of collectors is likely diminishing.



2. I have owned previous issues of "Colector's Guide to Antique Radios" and found them very helpful in giving me much needed values of old radios in which I wanted to sell. They have also helped inform me about certain specs. about items that I was interested in purchasing. I am a big fan of old tabletop tube radios and old transistor radios. As a smalltime collector, I very much like the color pictures of some of the radios included in the issues. This issue gave me more of the same much needed info, as well as fascinating photos!



3. Collector's Guide to Antique Radios: Identifcation and Values (Collector's Guide to Antique Radios)
   This book is a valuable reference for me as I look for bargains in antique radios.



4. I really enjoyed the book and have taken it along on radio hunting trips. It gives you a place to start but there are a surprising number of radios that are not in the book. Still, it has provided me a good basis for valuation and a real education of the universe of antique radios. Thanks.



5. Collectors who enjoy antique radios and specialty libraries catering to specialty collectors will have to have the updated 7th edition to Collector's Guide to Antique Radios by John Slusser: it packs in color photos of each antique to accompany the very latest values, organizes chapters by makers for quick and easy consultation, and includes plenty of reference material perfect for identifying the radios and their values.

5 comments about Old Time Radios! Restoration and Repair.

1. This is an absolutely indispensible book for those just getting into radio restoration, especially if they don't come from a technical background. For instance, because of this book, I now know how and why vacuam tubes work.



2. A very informative book. I recently began renovating old radios have have found this book to be a tremendous help. Although I have a degree in electronics, it was great reviewing tube theory for AM and FM circuits.



3. I have been interested in and tinkered with electronics since I was a boy, but I didn't have the knowledge to do any involved repairs. Over the years my family and I have had tube radios that worked fine at one time, then started to hum, with the humming eventually getting so bad it drowned out everything else. I remembered my folks taking one of these sets to a radio/TV repairman when I was a kid and being told it wasn't worth fixing. For years I have wanted to find out what caused this and maybe fix those radios. Some 30 years later I spied this book, bought it, and found out what all that humming was caused by. I have proceeded to fix 3 of those old radios that now work like new, for only a few dollars in parts! This book taught me everything I needed to know to do it. I couldn't be more pleased. I had to re-read some sections a few times to "get it", but the info I needed was all there. I can't recommend this book highly enough!!



4. If you want a book on how tube radios work, this is a great book. If you want to know how to actually restore radios, not so good.



5. Very thorough. This is a good book if you want to restore old radios. Gives a good explanation of history, and how the tubes and circuits work. There is a good section on troublshooting and repair. The only complaint is that the author goes into great detail to explain how the circuits are effected using equations in calculus ect. It is just a bit much for the novice to grasp. Otherwise a good book on old radios.

5 comments about Wade Miniatures: An Unauthorized Guide to Whimsies, Premiums, Villages, & Characters (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. Clear and crisp photos, but information is lacking. Only a small portion of this book is devoted to the most cherished and popular collection category - the free premiums issued in boxes of Red Rose Tea. Much of the book talks about the Crackers, the Whimsies, the Whoppas and other Wade figurines including villages, dishes and trays. I've never heard of those things until now.
   
   Do color variations mean anything? I don't know. The book doesn't say. Do variations in stance and position affect value? How do I tell the difference between a Whimsie, a Whoppa, a Cracker and a Premium? I don't know that either. The table of context and the index are not helpful. The animals are listed in alphabetical order, but I had to hunt for the entire series. The Pet Shop Series (2006-2008)isn't mention anywhere. Neither are the different Tea Pot Series from the late 1990's.
   
   I have many Red Rose Tea premium figurines that I can't place in a series because I don't know what they are, where they belong or what year they were made. Maybe they're Whoppas or Crackers? I'll have to keep searching elsewhere for an answer.
   
   If you're mainly interested in researching information about the free premiums packed in tea boxes, this book is not for you.



2. As a new Whimsey tragic, I found this book most illuminating. The photos were particularly invaluable for helping me sort my many little characters into order.
   It is an excellent book for Whimsey beginners. I have since bought a more comprehensive Wade book, but find myself resorting to this 4th edition more often than not. In fact, I have had to buy more copies for friends who wanted to borrow mine.



3. If you are into the little people of Wade ,England and the other pieces you can find tucked away into your box of Red-Rose Tea, then you need this book. It is invaluable in it's listing of every piece of Wade that is out there hiding in those booths at flea markets and antique malls. The pictures are wonderful in showing color variations that exist. This book is a definite must-have for even the beginning collector.



4. Great pictures of the Wade figurines, very helpful in identifying them. Info is also very good, but hard to find. Index covers only the names of the figurines (Gorilla, Little Red Riding Hood, Bush Baby). Where is the table listing Canadian and American Red Rose Tea sets of whimsies? Where is the description and discussion of colourways? Which whimsies had single-color glazes when reissued? You'll thumb through the book to find the answers; the text is not indexed.
   
   And I'd really appreciate photos of flaws: What is a fleabite? How important is roughness at the base of a figurine? What about color coverage: Little Miss Muffet's spider in this book has relatively little coloring. Some Muffets have well glazed spiders but less perfect painting of the skirt. How important are these differences? Photos and discussion would be so helpful in answering these questions.
   
   When I use this book, I wonder if I should have bought The World of Wade Whimsies by Ian Warner and Mike Posgay. A good guide book doesn't raise that question.



5. This book is definitely useful when collecting Wade miniatures. There are many clear pictures with lots of information. The only thing is that they do not clearly specify the difference from the boxed whimsies and the ones that came in the Rose Tea. They could be a bit clearer on that issue. Other than that, I think this book is a must have if you are interested in Wade.

3 comments about Zenith Radio, The Glory Years, 1936-1945: History and Products (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. This book is a first class production all the way, and is certain to delight any fan of Zenith radios. The high quality glossy stock supports the best reproduction of illustrations. The early B&W photos shine with stunning clarity, and the 160+ color photos (mostly of Martin Blankinship's superb collection) have a glorious fidelity and a level of detail seldom seen.
   
   This is the second volume of a two book series and focuses on tube radios from 1936-1945. (The first volume is "Zenith Radio: The Early Years: 1919-1935.")
   
   Zenith corporate history is well presented, complete with annual company reports and financial statements. Of particular interest to me were the several Zenith print ads from the era and the cabinet sketches from the engineering department of unrealized designs.
   
   Fully worth the price of admission are 41 wonderful pages of color portraits of Zenith radios. Most of the 160+ photos have a caption listing the approximate value range of the model presented.
   
   [Note: Although the Amazon description (12/09) refers to a "Database which is the most complete listing of Zenith products," the database is not included in this volume. (I assume it is in the earlier volume.) I personally would have loved to have tables in this book showing the models produced by year with some descriptive information and info on quantities produced. If needed to make room for this data, I personally could do without the chapter on Zenith hearing aids.]
   
   Bottom line: This delightful volume presents glorious documentation of a bygone era. With a list price of $35 (2009) and superb printing, it is an amazing bargain. Anyone with an interest in the subject will marvel at the delights of this volume.
   
   Tip: No value guide can account for all variables. However, if you are looking for a single-volume source of data and price information on Zenith and wide variety of other brands, I recommend the latest edition of "Collector's Guide to Antique Radios: Identification and Values."



2. Great book! wish some of the pictures were in color, but overall is a great record of the early Zeniths



3. I have to start by saying I have been a collector of antique radios for over 25 years, so this book is right up my alley.
   
   I had the pleasure of meeting Dr Harold Cones at a radio swap meet several years ago, and heard a talk about the research that went into this series of books on Zenith.
   
   Zenith radios are some of the most collectable antique radios. From the radio made famous (and expensive) by the Walton's Television series, to the more common table radios, and the large console radios with the big black dials and funny green "Magic Eye" tubes. This is from an era where worldwide communication was not instantaneous, and television was but a dream.
   
   These authors had the opportunity to go through the archives of the Zenith Radio company prior to its dissolution. Zenith was the last American radio and televison manufacturer. It was eventually purchased by LG Electronics of Hong Kong.
   
   The radios of the mid to late thirties seems to be the culmination of both the woodworking art and the art of hand made electronics. This book focuses on the story behind the company and the people who designed and made the radios.
   
   There are some beautiful photographs of many of the Zenith radios made during this period. Each photograph is accompanied by a rarity value and an estimated value range. The photography is exceptional.
   
   In addition, the book has many reproductions of advertisements of the time, and many other documents that give insight to the company during this ten year period.
   
   One section that I found very interesting was composed of several drawings of possible designs for radios that were never made. These were provided by the family of the designer (Mr Budlong), and I see these designs from the early 40's look like the designs of the late 50's and early 60's, indicating that he was way ahead of his time.
   
   All in all, this is a great book for anyone who has ever had or still has a Zenith radio, or is just interested in the story of a great American company that has since faded into history.

3 comments about Radio Receiver Design.

1. This book contains tons of practical information on receiver design. While it has a good amount of theory, what makes the book unique is that it has a lot of applied information based on the authors experiences. Once you've learned the theory (from Pozar maybe) this books will reinforce the concepts and help you apply them.
   
   Very detailed treatment of mixers, oscillators, amplifier nonlinearities, and signal chain design.



2. This book is excellent. The writing is very easy to understand and practical examples are given to help soidify concepts. Just enough technical calculation detail is given so as to not to confuse the reader. It's a must have.



3. By way of full disclaimer, I just received this book. I previously searched for customer reviews but could find none. I took a chance on the rather skimpy reviews and ordered the book. Am I ever pleased!
   
   Having read through just the first chapter, I am impressed with the authors writing style. My sense is that the book is tutorial in nature, delivers an easy-to-read discussion of all the architectural components needed understand a receiver, and is full of specific examples of the topics discussed. The book is not a "cookbook" with specific circuit examples. The book approaches receiver design from the standpoint of architecture at a systems level with discussion of the specification, considerations, and other characteristics needed to understand good receiver design.
   
   Chapter 1 "introduces many of the basic concepts". I found that chapter one was a good review of the basic concepts more so than an introduction. Review of dB math, standard use of dBHz, dbK, etc. Following topics include frequency, propagation, and wavelength, transmission lines, two-port networks, matching and power transfer, modulation theory (AM, FM, PM) in the time and frequency domain, and noise theory. Each topic is short in the sense that a 140+ page chapter cannot do justice to a complete coverage of each topic. That written, the authors provide clear explanations with great examples of each topic of discussion. I found the discussion of transmission line theory very well written, did not overwhelm the reader excessive high-level math, and covered the key transmission line concepts that a receiver designer needs to master. The authors tell "war stories" to discuss real-life issues illustrating why mastering each topic is important in practice. A discussion of transmission line propagation using "bounce diagrams" was as clear as I've ever read.
   
   More to follow as I read through the book...
   
   Note: The copy I am reading has many errors. There is no email address to reach the authors and Noble does not appear to monitor (or respond) to email. It would be nice to provide corrections or have an errata sheet of known errors. So, Kevin and Tom, if you read this and plan on revising the book...

5 comments about The All-American Five Radio: Understanding and Restoring Transformerless Radios of the 1940'S, 50'S, and 60's.

1. Amazon provided very quick and speedy service. The book I recieved in a very short time was an excellent choice. It was excatly what I was looking for.Very plain and down to earth to understand highly recommended.Thanks amazon



2. This is by far the best resource for new Antique Radio enthusiasts who are interested in restoration. The only criticism I would offer is that the index is not as complete as such a reference work deserves. Otherwise, this is a clear, concise explanation of the inner workings of what has to be the most common radio type of the period.



3. This book has a lot of detailed information for anyone interested in restoring All American 5 or 6 Radios. You will need a little knowledge of electronics to fully utilize this information however. This book is likely not for beginners. This book is however a good addition to your bookshelf if you are interested in the history of Radio and in particular Tube radio.
   Some errors in spelling and a few mistakes but there is a addendum to correct most of those. For the money invested this book is a good value if you are looking for information.



4. This book covers fundamental electronics with excellent schematic and pictorial diagrams to help the reader understand how tube radio components work. I especially liked the explanations of each stage from power supply through detector and audio amplifier, and the descriptions of the functional elements of each tube. There are many useful tips for selecting and installing replacement parts which I highlighted for future reference. Yes, there are more typos than normal but that is a minor nuisance which doesn't reduce the value of the content.



5. This book is just what I needed, just getting started in tube radio repair. It covers basic radio funamentals and electronics, in an easy to read and understand format. Even though it only covers one peticular radio, I feel I can apply it to any other radio. I recommend it to anyone with moderate electronic background.

2 comments about Zenith Trans-Oceanic: The Royalty of Radios.

1. This was an item requested for a Christmas gift. I am sure it will be much appreciated.



2. Zenith TRANS-OCEANIC: The Royalty of Radios(Second Edition)and The Zenith Trans-Oceanic, the Royalty of Radios: The Royalty of Radios (Schiffer Book for Collectors)(First Edtion)
   If you own a Zenith Trans-Oceanic, you probably own the first edition of this book. If so, you'll love the second edition: not a word has been changed. You won't have any problem finding the new materials: it's all in a new section at the end of the book. As the authors point out, cost considerations precluded revising the text of the first edition.
   What's in the new material? A page or so of updated historical information, a discusssion of the second military model unknown when the first edition went to press, nice photos of Trans-Oceanic wannabe's from RCA, Hallicrafters, and others; photos of some of the Zenith companion radios, and some other items of interest.
   What's missing? Much has happened in the collector world since the publication of the first edition, and an expanded list of parts and suppliers would have been welcome. There's an ever-growing network of resources for Zenith collectors that should be included in the book. Additionally, these radios aren't getting any younger, and an expanded section on maintenance, repair, and restoration would be helpful. More detailed information on electrical restoration would be especially useful along with discussion on building and using battery packs as many collectors want to run their Trans-Oceanics on battery power.
   Should you buy the second edition? Should you buy another Zenith Trans-Oceanic? Of course! If your first edition is getting a little dog-eared, you'll get the same book plus some new material. As a Zenith collector, you'll want to add this book to your Zenith resources. Hopefully, when it's time for a third edition, the authors can do a true cover-to-cover revision.

5 comments about Classic 80s Home Video Games.

1. I purchased this book because I am a huge collector. I love the in depth info and bright color pictures. Great info on all systems and games leading up to the 1984 crash. In fact that is the only thing I find wrong with this book...it is titled "video games of the 80's" but it stops before NES/SEGA and the climb of 1985...If you are looking for info/$$$ on the 70's-early 80's products, this price guide is for you.
   It even breaks down price info for the different versions of carts and how much a cart, or booklet, or boxed complete...also the pictures help out a lot when you are looking at different versions of the same game....



2. I'm not agree with the title of the book. There are some 'classics' missing. The items are nicly presented but the book is incomplete...
   The value guide is only applicable in the US



3. This is the only book being sold as of October 2008 that has prices listed with the descriptions of the classic era vidio games.



4. There has been some confusion about this book, caused by what I can only hope are unintentional misstatements concerning the book's content, so I'm here to clear up as much as I can.
   
   There are 7 systems featured in this book: Atari 2600 VCS, Atari 5200 SuperSystem, Atari 7800 ProSystem, Coleco Vision, Intellivision, Odyssey2 and Vectrex.
   
   The book does provide a comprehensive overview and visual guide to all the games listed. As boxes, manuals and cartridges usually all feature the same artwork during this period, we made sure we showed at least one of the three for every title, so you could see what you should be looking for (usually the box and/or cartridge).
   
   This first version of this book focuses only on U.S. production releases. As we did not have an unlimited page count, we chose to focus only on the material most American consumers would have come in contact with at the typical U.S. retail store in the 1980s.
   
   There are 1059 boxes shown, 934 cartridges, 154 overlays, 163 photos of merchandise (some photos show more than one item), and another 154 assorted photos, such as: magazines, Activision patches, catalogs and other supplemental material. That's 2435 painstakingly selected photos for those keeping track (I could be off by a handful, I kept losing my place!)
   
   The introduction does contain an offer to purchase collections in the section that lists our contact information. However, the book is not littered with solicitations as has been suggested. There are several rare items where we note "If you have this item, please contact us." This notation is for research purposes. Because there is so little sales history for some items, we need more information on them. How did you acquire the item? Is it from your childhood collection? If so, what materials were included with the game? How much did you pay for the item? And so on.
   
   Each chapter is color coded to visually separate the sections for each console. The title of the console also appears in the margin to make it easy to find the chapter you are looking for. Each console has an introduction that explains more about the console's history, followed by cartridge variation listings. Cartridges are listed in alphabetical order, by manufacturer, so they are easy to locate. Listings feature prices for the cartridge, manual, additional inserts, and a boxed, complete value, and list specific visual markers to help identify variations. At the end of each chapter are merchandise listings, with console listings first, followed by related merchandise. All of the related merchandise is listed in alphabetical order so you can locate them by the name printed on the item or package. As the majority of collectors focus on the games, not the joysticks, we chose to maximize the photos in the cartridge sections, and show a representative sampling of pictured items in the merchandise listings.
   
   The layouts vary by chapter because the size of boxes and cartridges vary by console, so it's not possible to make a square and a rectangle look the same without manipulation. The Atari 2600/7800 cartridges are rectangles, Atari 5200 cartridges are square, etc. Sometimes these changes in box, cartridge or overlay dimensions affected the overall layout for their chapter, although the changes are slight and the overall look is consistent throughout. The layouts have all items arranged on the page in alphabetical order as well, unless the material on the page prevented this arrangement. To maximize which variations are shown, you may see a box shown with a variation cart, overlay or other insert. Where possible, multiple variations are shown to provide a better visual picture of the variations.
   
   The book was very methodically and deliberately arranged to provide as much visual information as possible. The book is full, but is not crammed. Everything shown was placed on purpose and as visually pleasing as possible. We wanted to show as much as possible without being visually distracting.
   
   Jason has collected video games for more than 15 years, and I have collected for about 5 years now (plus an additional 4 years when I was a teenager). He has owned his store for 7+ years, so he has actual sales data which aided us in determining values. Economic conditions change so any price guide is always a starting point, but we were very thorough and deliberate in our pricing decisions. Luckily we didn't value the price of gasoline anywhere in the guide.
   
   We did not list game play information for each title as there was simply no room to do so. Additionally, the game play is essentially the same for a single title across consoles, so a lot of space would be wasted in duplicating text. If you are looking for game play, the manuals are your best source. For many titles, the book "ABCs to the VCS" is an excellent and affordable source of material for this information.
   
   We worked very hard to make this a very usable guide and Jason and I are both very proud of the results. Our greatest compliment about the book was given to us on April 6 of this year when Harry Rinker, the host of the syndicated radio show "Watcha Got" called our book one of the most detailed price guides he has ever seen. I agree, but I might be biased, so check out his website and listen to the interview yourself (we're about 30 minutes into the program). Video Game Trader Magazine recently reviewed the book as well and said, "None of the other guides on the market have such great color pictures and comprehensive details and data which is what makes this book standout above the competition". See for yourself in their online #7 issue. You can see excerpts in their #8 issue, also available online.
   
   Thanks to everyone who has purchased the book so far and for your compliments on the material. Watch for the next volume which is currently in the planning stages.
   
   And, last but not least, A very special thank you to those in the collector community who provided supplemental material. You will find all of their names listed in the acknowledgements.



5. I really liked the large color photos in this book. The actual prices listed are something to be debated, but overall this book delivers. It does not include alot of lesser known 80s systems like the Vectrex

4 comments about Philco Radio 1928-1942: A Pictoral History Of The World's Most Popular Radios.

1. The publisher uses a high quality glossy stock that allows the many photographs to be presented with excellent detail and fidelity. There are literally 100's and 100's of photos, nearly all in color. The shots are bright, detailed, and large enough to help you identify nearly any Philco model ever produced through 1942.
   
   Author Ron Ramirez has organized and presented the right information in the right order. After presenting corporate history, each chapter then reviews by model year the Philco line and its technical advancements. And, each chapter has large color photos of models from the year it covers. This approach is hugely more satisfying than having to refer to photos in a section of the book far removed from the subject.
   
   The content and organization are incredibly helpful to collectors and dedicated fans. The flow is superb with the book's chronological organization. Many photos have very detailed captions explaining features of the particular model presented. The information is precise and dependable.
   
   Data tables are nicely organized. Chapter 16 lists Philco tube radios produced by year from 1928-42, along with number of tubes, power source, and cabinet type. One appendix shows chassis sketches with tube layouts for the various models. This is valuable information for collectors and restorers. Another appendix includes a value guide organized by model year.
   
   This volume is sure to delight collectors and tube radio fans. Complaints? None. The author and publisher have done a superb job of documenting the technology of a bygone era. This may be my favorite of the many books I have on tube radios.
   
   Tip: No value guide can account for all variables. However, if you are looking for a single-volume source of data and price information on Philco and a wide variety of other brands, I recommend the latest edition of "Collector's Guide to Antique Radios: Identification and Values."



2. As the follow-up edition to Ron's earlier book on PHILCO, this continues to be the definitive reference for antique radio collectors and mass media historians. PHILCO (short for "Philadelphia Storage Battery Company") was the name synonymous with affordable radios for nearly three decades...along with the well-known "cathedral" style radio of the 1930s and 1940s.
   
   During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the family radio was the last household item to be sold for rent and food money.
   
   I recommend picking up your copy before this edition goes out of print.



3. This is one of my favorite reference books. The pictures are great and especially helpful when you are trying to restore an old disgarded Philco to it's former beauty. Packed with interesting history and trivia. Values listed in the book tend to be on the conservative side, but then again most reference books tend to do this. If you love old radios and their history, this is a "Must Have" for your book shelf. (PS. His website is pretty neat too)



4. Ron Ramirez (Mr. Philco to radio collectors) has compiled one of the finest books of its type. Focusing solely on Philco radios, he traces the evolution of the Philadelphia Storage Battery Co. from its roots to PHILCO, one of America's leading manufacturers of home radios. The book is organized chronologically by model year and includes a photograph and text explanation for virtually every Philco radio ever manufactured. Each chapter begins with a detailed description of the key features of the new models, how Philco responded to the fierce competion of the day, and the company's marketing strategies for the new year. The photography is outstanding with the vast majority of the pictures representing the best available examples of original or restored radios. The author wraps up the book with a listing by year of all Philco models, their tube configurations, and a "rarity" scale. While an excellent technical reference and history book, it also presents an interesting insight into how the Art Deco school of design influenced even radio cabinetry of the period. Highly recommended!

No comments about Antique Radios: Restorations and Price Guide.