MODEL, YEAR, FEATURES: A number of blonde wood cabinet radios showed up in the 1950’s and this Trav-Ler from 1952 is a fine and well preserved example. Styling is simple with symmetrical windows for dial and clock, shiny brass trimmed knobs, and a blonde wood cabinet. This is exactly the way this model came from the Illinois factory with no touch-ups or modifications. The left hand clock knob can be used to manually turn the radio on or off, OR the clock alarm can be set to wake you to the sound of the radio at a designated settable time. The larger knobs are for Volume and Tuning, and the Telechron clock is working well. An appliance can be plugged into an outlet on the back side of the chassis. The clean five tube chassis has been recently serviced and the radio has fine reception and fidelity from its original speaker.
CONDITION, SERVICING, PERFORMANCE: Cabinet is remarkably well preserved for a 65 year old appliance, retaining its original satin finish. There are only the smallest signs of wear on the cabinet edges from handling over the decades, with no dents, nicks, or scratches. Factory finish is not lifting or chipping off. The clock dial cover is clear, dial graphics and numerals are sharp. The chassis electronics were serviced with capacitors and filters changed, and then the radio was played for days. Many other items were addressed in the process including an alignment, lubrication of moving parts, cleaning of the clock mechanism, etc. to enable trouble free performance in years to come. Radio has a pleasant tube driven sound with no hum or distortion across the AM band. It picks up even our weakest stations with its built in loop antenna and needs no external wire aerial. The five tubes are easily accessed and commonly found to this day if one is ever needed. The Telechron clock is running quietly and the alarm does indeed turn on the radio at the designated time. Radio has its original knobs, fasteners, and feet. The backboard is well intact with its factory model sticker and stays firmly in place. Chassis is clean and dust free without odors. Attractive 1952 Trav-Ler wood cabinet clock radio would make a great gift for anyone who appreciates restored vintage Americana made to last, right here in the US of A.
DIMENSIONS, SHIPPING: Cabinet measures 11.2 inches wide, stands 5.7 in. tall, and is 5.7in. deep from front of knobs to back panel (old 6.5 Oz. Coke bottle in photo placed to give sense of scale). I’ve restored and shipped well over a thousand delicate tube radios all over the world for the past 18 years on with finest packing materials and methods, so no worries. Clock radio will be sent off on the day or day after payment is received via ground delivery.
