Mother of All Radios

This is one awesome AM pre-WWII radio. The 1936 Crosley WLW Super-Power Radio was built to answer a challenge from Zenith who had just built the similar Stratosphere radio. Crosley also owned the radio station WLW, a 50KW AM station in Cincinnati, OH.

The Crosley radio had 37 tubes, six loudspeakers and 75W of power in a cabinet 58" tall, 42" wide and 22" deep. The chassis's were all chrome plated and the unit weighed 475 lb. There was an 18" woofer, two each 12" midrange speakers and three tweeters with frequency response form 20-20,000 cps. A microphone with a 25' cord was included so the radio could be used as a PA system. The radio tuned 540 kc to 18,300 kc.

 The radio cost $1500 at the time. A new Ford then cost $652. This radio now sells for $55,000 on E-Bay.

For more details visit Radio Magazine Online.