Almost a century after the radio became part of Western society, antique radios became a highly desired collector’s item. Either to put on display, to tinker with, or to listen to and enjoy the nostalgic sound. So how do you determine the value of your antique radio? There is no perfect guideline to determining the value of an antique radio: it depends on a combination of factors like condition, type and scarcity. Presentation plays an important role as well, as you can read at the end of this article. Perhaps you have a rare Tesla Bakelite model 208U “Talisman” lying around, or do you wish to find out if your Philips B5X43A is as valuable as you hope? Here are a few factors to consider when deciding whether your antique radio is worth putting up for auction!
Year of Manufacture
The age of your radio can contribute to its value: an early radio generally has more historical interest than a 1950s radio, but the value depends on many more factors. It's important to remember that even in the 1920s cheap models were manufactured so although they're older, they may not be as valuable as some 1960s models that are desired for their great quality. You can identify most radios by their model number, which can be found on the casing or stamped on a component of the radio on the inside.
Age can contribute to the value of an antique radio, for example this Ekco AD65 Bakeliet Ronden Radio from 1934 sold for €2,226 on our Radio auction
Type
Well-known brands such as Philips, Grundig and Tesla tend to do well on our Hi-Fi and Radio auctions, but that doesn't mean small brands are less interesting. They can actually be very valuable due to a combination of historical interest and scarcity. If you wish to start a collection of antique radios, our in-house radio experts advise that you learn as much as you can about them. This way you can avoid buying a low-quality model or selling a unique, valuable radio for less than it's worth.
This very unique Zvezda Red Star Roter Stern radio from around 1945/1955 sold on our Radio auction for €1,001
Condition
The condition of antique radios impacts their value. As a general rule, a radio should work properly if you wish to sell it. Perhaps only with a small deficit that can be fixed easily or that is not disturbing. But it is not just the condition of the mechanics that matters: many people like to buy antique radios to put on for display at home. Part of the reason this Excelsior 1955 radio rendered €1600 on a Catawiki auction is because it still looks and works great.
This Excelsior SNR 55 Radio from 1955 in very good, fully working condition sold on our Radio auction for €1,600
Presentation
It is hard to determine the value of a radio without taking the presentation of the lot in to account. Our in-house radio experts say that lots tend to do better if they include several good quality pictures taken from every angle, and a clear description with detailed information. Include information about the brand, model, and accessories such as remotes to begin with; if you know more about the mechanics or the unique history of the radio, always include that as well. Pictures and information can help buyers get excited and feel confident in knowing what they are bidding on.
The best way to determine the value of your antique radio is to put it up for auction. You can create your free account to get started; our experts are more than willing to help! Are you looking to buy antique radios to start or expand a collection? With that same free account you can also bid and buy so take a look at our Hi-Fi & Radio auction today!
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