USL Battery radio, Kadette chassis, scarce 1930s promo! Start Price USD 495.00 Current Price USD 495.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Tuesday, August 19, 2008 End Time Tuesday, August 26, 2008 Location TUNBRIDGE WELLS, See more about 'USL Battery radio, Kadette chassis, scarce 1930s promo!' Description   UNIQUE CHANCE TO GET A BARGAIN!   TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A WEAK BRITISH POUND!       .::::*::::..::::*::::. WHAT A FIND! .::::*::::..::::*::::.   ANOTHER BEAUTY FROM ONE OF THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE GLOBAL COLLECTIONS OF VINTAGE RADIOS EVER ASSEMBLED (SOME OF MY RECENT EBAY OFFERINGS: OZARKA 93, AIRITE, STEWART WARNER 'SPADE', EMERSON 148 'SLANT', JADE GREEN AWA, PLASKON AWA, IVORINE on IVORINE AWA, BLACK EKCO AD65, MAROON CATALIN BABY EMERSON,  RADIALVA RADIOBOOM,  HEALING SCALES)     I BELIEVE THAT THIS GREAT FIND  IS AN EXTREMELY UNUSUAL PROMOTIONAL ITEM   USL APPEARS TO HAVE APPROACHED THE INTERNATIONAL RADIO CORPORATION (IRC) IN ANN ARBOR  TO CREATE A ONE-OFF SPECIAL LIMITED RUN     USL  'HARD RUBBER' BATTERY RADIO FITTED WITH AN INTERNATIONAL RADIO CORP 'KADETTE' MODEL 90 CHASSIS DATED 1933     I HAVE FOUND EVIDENCE OF ONLY THREE OTHER EXAMPLES,  ONE OWNED BY A HIGHLY RESPECTED COLLECTOR WHO HAS TWICE CONTACTED ME:   1. "Hi, Just thought I'd let you know that I also have a radio EXACTLY like this one, so it is not a one-off creation." 2. "I do see some differences. I also have seen two others over the years, so these definitely were not one-of-a-kind."     HE ALSO KINDLY SENT ME THREE IMAGES (VERY SIMILAR TO MINE)     Another someone well-reputed in 'radio' hails from Ann Arbor. A serious Kadette collector, he knows people who have worked in the IRC factory over the years.   We've had some dialogue and he tells me this: "I was born and raised in Ann Arbor, the home of the famous Kadette radios. I have managed to accumulate more than 100 radios relating to International and Kadette in my small collection, the C.R. Nevins museum of radio. Concerning your USL-Kadette radio; a certain Kadette 90 chassis was on ebay and a fellow outbid me for it so he could replace the very poor one in his USL battery just like yours, he then sent me the bad chassis as a consolation prize, I guess. He worked at USL, and knew about the special radios and wanted to fix up one he had run across. Later, another one one was sold on ebay on 1-5-00*. There you have two at least that I know of. I wouldn't mind having your example for my museum, as I don't have one yet. I thought you would find this interesting."     Ken, thank you. I found your information most interesting, but not surprising. The radio on eBay to which you refer is the example offered in this auction. It cost me $545 (in today's money) at the time, and I considered it to be a steal. Like many eBayers, I am most grateful for your input. Could you possibly find a benefactor in Ann Arbor to help you acquire this for your museum? Compared to the prices that some 'promotional' sets make (Pepsi, Pure Oil, Coke, Charlie McCarthy, Lone Ranger, Mickey, Snow White, Metz Beer), this is surely a most appealing offer.   It seems that most collectors tend to rely on books too much. By definition, something NOT in a book is usually considerably rarer than something displayed in a radiobible. For example, if this special radio was included in Collins 20 years ago, then collectors would probably have been climbing over themselves ever since. As a no-holds-barred collector for a generation, I have determinedly collected sets from 'all corners' that hardly anybody knows about....     I've had this beauty placed beside my Goodyear Tire radio for nearly ten years.     Now's your chance!       ANY MORE (FACTUAL) INFORMATION GRATEFULLY RECEIVED     Early, scarce, and extremely collectable.....     The condition is generally good throughout. There are no cracks, splits, breaks, nicks nor chips at all to the hard rubber 'cabinet'. There is no warpage nor fading, only light wear to the knobs and lettering, and some discolouration and peeling on the top. There are no touch-ups. The insides are clean, and seemingly complete, with all valves/tubes already wrapped-up for shipping, and with a cloth-covered cord and plug. The speaker appears undamaged. I have heard it working well, but it comes with no guarantee (see caveat below).       A truly unusual find.   WHILST THE RESEARCH LOOKS GOOD    I'LL LEAVE IT'S AUTHENTICITY FOR YOU TO DECIDE       DISPLAYS WELL!         Measures (approx) 10.2"x 7.0"x 8.4"   Weight 6.5kg (packed 9kg)       Payment please within 4 days by PayPal, or by Sterling denominated cheque, to arrive with 7 days. Other payment methods may be possible with the seller's discretion. I am not a technician, and cannot guarantee completeness, nor the finest details. Kindly closely study the images and the description, and ask questions should you need to. I can send higher resolution images if required. New images are normally just a click or two away, and I have plenty more, so just send me an email address. Please look at my other auctions. There are are lots of bits and pieces. I plan to selectively list more vintage radios, and radio-related items, over the next few months....   TRU-TONE Cowboy-on-a-Horse Rodeo Radio, 1940s - Unique? Wild West Trophy Craft - So much rarer than Abbotsware!     I will happily combine shipping if appropriate... and collection from Tunbridge Wells would be fine.          NB - THE CHEAPEST AND BEST 'QUALITY' SHIPMENT OF RADIOS IN/FROM THE UK! + UK (2/3 day - DHL - Tracked) - $18.95 +  - BARGAIN - often overnight in practice -   Guaranteed Overnight - Add $6      Most of Europe* (DHL - Tracked)- $52     (*Austria, Belgium, Channel Islands, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden)     FOR A PACKAGE WEIGHING 8.5kg, MEASURING 15" x15" x 12"   USA (Fedex Priority, tracked, often overnight) - $86   Oz/Japan  (Fedex Priority, tracked) - $135   Rest of the World - Check before bidding please.                   P2Go uses a fairer way of quoting for 'volumetric weight'. It is also considerably cheaper to those far-off places which seem to be crippled with shipping cost, and it is FAR cheaper than the competition - the instransigent Post Office (Parcelfarce, the UK's rip-off service), or any other courier. Inexplicably, 'has-been' Parcelfarce have been known to quote a whopping 3 times more than P2Go's Fedex 'priority' service to the USA. For example, their quotes for this package to the USA by a similar service would be $200 (+125%), and to Australia $230 (+65%). To Finland it would be $145 - that's 170% more expensive! How can Parcelfarce still be in business with such an overpriced service?   CAVEAT: I do not 'mess' with my radios and, as a very discerning collector, leave them just as they were when I acquired them. Most of my radios actually have not been played about with at all! This particular radio was acquired in good faith almost ten years ago, and the jury remains out on its authenticity. Under UK law, whilst most will work with little effort, I am not a technician, and working condition of my vintage radios dutifully comes with no assurances nor guarantees. Thus, before attempting to plug into the mains, ALL electrical items must be checked over by somebody qualified to do so.     ********   Please bookmark my seller page, and have a look over the next few days  for some great offers... even on other eBay sites! Look at eBay US, UK, Spain, Italy and Australia... Many of my listings are offered on other forums and/or privately.   Circumstances might change.   All my auctions/offers may thus be adjusted at any time.   Place a Bid!