Gentlemen: I picked up a couple of radios recently and can not seem to find any info on them. Would like to know if they are fairly common or somewhat rare. The 1st being a Columbia Model C11 console. The 2nd has no model #. It is a old battery radio I would guess it to be 1915 to early 20s. It has worn painted front saying Melodee on it. It uses 5 tubes all being the same but no #s or markings. They are a 4 pin (short 1/4") globe
tube all being blue in color. Any help identifing these radios and the tubes used in the old battery one.
Many Thanks in advance...Ralph

: Gentlemen: I picked up a couple of radios recently and can not seem to find any info on them. Would like to know if they are fairly common or somewhat rare. The 1st being a Columbia Model C11 console. The 2nd has no model #. It is a old battery radio I would guess it to be 1915 to early 20s. It has worn painted front saying Melodee on it. It uses 5 tubes all being the same but no #s or markings. They are a 4 pin (short 1/4") globe
: tube all being blue in color. Any help identifing these radios and the tubes used in the old battery one.
: Many Thanks in advance...Ralph

Hi,
Chances are good that they are SX201A. If you place them in a freezer for a few minutes, and thake them out; or breath heavily enough on the tubes to fog them, the numbers should become visible if there is nothing inscribed into the tube base, or printed there.

If you do not have any luck finding the number: If you have a tube tester with the ability to test the "01A" series tubes, you may need to use 4 leads with banana jacks on one end, and clips on the other. Set filament voltage to zero first, as you will turn up the voltage incrementaly to 1.5, 2.5, 3 then 5. If at any point the tester indidcates a strong tube reading; that is your filament voltage. Realisticaly that voltage will be at 5 volts, which is the 201A,101A and 301A. DeForrest made 401A's that are supposed to be 3 volt filaments.

The blue tubes are probably Arctrus, but one or two other small companies had colored glass too.

: : Gentlemen: I picked up a couple of radios recently and can not seem to find any info on them. Would like to know if they are fairly common or somewhat rare. The 1st being a Columbia Model C11 console. The 2nd has no model #. It is a old battery radio I would guess it to be 1915 to early 20s. It has worn painted front saying Melodee on it. It uses 5 tubes all being the same but no #s or markings. They are a 4 pin (short 1/4") globe
: : tube all being blue in color. Any help identifing these radios and the tubes used in the old battery one.
: : Many Thanks in advance...Ralph

The Melodee was advertised in New York City in April 1926, and cost only $16.15. You won't find much if anything more on it, but it's an interesting bit of history. Your blue tubes, if they are UV201As (short-pin), are a little older than the radio, and probably made by one of the fly-by-night Newark shops. I've seen similar ones branded (with paper labels) Pingree Radio Service in Boston. They're worth more than the radio, by the way.

Glen,Don,John & Alan: Thank you all for your information. Don you asked where I lived, in central IL. After reading your posts, I dug thru my old stuff and found a Supreme Instruments model 400 tube tester which had 01A listed. Gentlemen you were right, as 4 out of 5 tested good,(1 open fil.)Thanks again to all for the info on the tubes and old radios.
Ralph

Hi Ralph

Try resodering pins on your tube with open filament. Even if bad a blue 201A would be worth $5.00.

Norm

: Glen,Don,John & Alan: Thank you all for your information. Don you asked where I lived, in central IL. After reading your posts, I dug thru my old stuff and found a Supreme Instruments model 400 tube tester which had 01A listed. Gentlemen you were right, as 4 out of 5 tested good,(1 open fil.)Thanks again to all for the info on the tubes and old radios.
: Ralph

Norm: Thank you, I did try to resolder but will try one more time for good measure. Just out of curiosity,

what is a good blue 201A worth? Thanks again....Ralph

Ralph

Don't see an Arturus 201A listed in Geroge Fathauer price list. Would think a good blue one would sell around $25.00. Do a search on eBay and see what has been sold. Even bad blue tubes would have a value, $10? You can contact George at tubes@uswest.net .

Norm

: Norm: Thank you, I did try to resolder but will try one more time for good measure. Just out of curiosity,

: what is a good blue 201A worth? Thanks again....Ralph

Hi Ralph, Where are you located. There were Columbia radios in New Zealand (I think, I'm in Australia). There were also some blue European tubes (Fotos for one). Can you post a picture of the blie tubes, you can usually take a picture by placing them on a scanner.
Don Black.

ntlemen: I picked up a couple of radios recently and can not seem to find any info on them. Would like to know if they are fairly common or somewhat rare. The 1st being a Columbia Model C11 console. The 2nd has no model #. It is a old battery radio I would guess it to be 1915 to early 20s. It has worn painted front saying Melodee on it. It uses 5 tubes all being the same but no #s or markings. They are a 4 pin (short 1/4") globe
: tube all being blue in color. Any help identifing these radios and the tubes used in the old battery one.
: Many Thanks in advance...Ralph

: Gentlemen: I picked up a couple of radios recently and can not seem to find any info on them. Would like to know if they are fairly common or somewhat rare. The 1st being a Columbia Model C11 console. The 2nd has no model #. It is a old battery radio I would guess it to be 1915 to early 20s. It has worn painted front saying Melodee on it. It uses 5 tubes all being the same but no #s or markings. They are a 4 pin (short 1/4") globe
: tube all being blue in color. Any help identifing these radios and the tubes used in the old battery one.
: Many Thanks in advance...Ralph

: Gentlemen: I picked up a couple of radios recently and can not seem to find any info on them. Would like to know if they are fairly common or somewhat rare. The 1st being a Columbia Model C11 console. The 2nd has no model #. It is a old battery radio I would guess it to be 1915 to early 20s. It has worn painted front saying Melodee on it. It uses 5 tubes all being the same but no #s or markings. They are a 4 pin (short 1/4") globe
: tube all being blue in color. Any help identifing these radios and the tubes used in the old battery one.
: Many Thanks in advance...Ralph