Stromberg-Carlson 5A39

This radio was purchased, at the April 2023 HRSA Auction. It was restored in June 2023.

This is the top of the line, with a 2 position tone control switch and two bands (Medium and Short Wave).

It has a steel chassis. The valve line-up consists of a 6A8G, EBF35, 6SQ7GT, plus a 6V6 and 6X5, all octal valves.

This was very much the period when manufacturers were using up old stock octal valves, and moving to Minature valves. 

This radio proved straightforward as new Philips "mustard" capacitors had been installed sometime in the 1960s. Thus all that was needed were new electrolytics.

Once that had been sorted out, and an alignment carried out, the radio performed surprisingly well, but like the Moderaire is bass heavey with a limited frequency responce. As the speaker occupies the whole of the front, theres no space to fit a tweater.

This has the same dial arangement as the Modernaire, thus it was straightforward to restring. The pointer was under the chassis. The pointer moves in the opposite direction to that expected.

I do not have the original knobs for this radio.  I do have the badge.

The woden cabinet was previously restored, and just needed a polish. It is interesting that the radio shown on Radiomuseum has fretwork, whereas this has two brass bars making for a more modern look.

A good, but not spectacular performer.