Home1942 Radios
 
 
The radios at the beginning of this page were listed in the Fall-Winter 1941-42 catalog. They would have been the new 1942 models, introduced in the fall just like cars. Of course, with the war starting in December, 1941, it's hard to say how many of these radios were produced.

The four radios at the very bottom of the page were listed in a generic 1942 catalog. I've included more information about them below.


S-7402-7 "The Mercury"
Click here for schematic Click here for the ad Pictured in the Fall/Winter 1941-42 Catalog
  This is a cute, entry level bakelite set. The tiny cabinet includes a 5 tube chassis, with 4.5" speaker. The radio retailed for $9.95. These seem to be slightly uncommon, harder to find radios. Is it possible that many buyers passed this set by for the higher priced Firestones?

S7402-5 "The Commentator"
Click here for schematic Click here for the ad Pictured in the Fall/Winter 1941-42 Catalog
Another 5-tube bakelite set, this set offered a slightly larger speaker than the Mercury, but alost cost $3 more. These radios seem to come up for sale on e-Bay fairly often, and they are not unreasonably priced. This set does not seem to have come in any color other than white.  

S-7403-2 "The Diplomat"
Click here for schematic Click here for the ad Pictured in the Fall/Winter 1941-42 Catalog
  The Diplomat is a 6-tube bakelite set with a fancy cabinet. The dial on these radios is red, providing an interesting contrast with the white cabinet. Many people are now repainting these radios in a variety of colors, and sometimes painting the grille in a second color for contrast. To my knowledge, the Diplomat only came in white. It was not even offered in plain brown bakelite. The Spring-Summer 1941 catalog picture lacks a Firestone Air Chief decal on the front of the radio. The Fall-Winter 1941-42 catalog shows the radio with a decal. There may have been two versions. A radio without a decal may (or may not) have been repainted.

A photo of a Diplomat is available at the Radio Attic Archives here.

S7398-1 "The Beaumont"
Click here for schematic Click here for the ad Pictured in the Fall/Winter 1941-42 Catalog
This is a stunning little 6-tube AC/DC set with a Stewart Warner manufactured cabinet. The front of the cabinet features strips of burl photofinish on the top and bottom edges -- be careful if you refinish one of these radios! It is very easy to ruin the photofinish. This is a popular radio which tends to bring high prices when they are available.

A photo of a Beaumont is available at the Radio Attic Archives here. A photo of the Stewart Warner version of this radio is available here.

 

S7398-2 "The Olympic"
Click here for schematic Click here for the ad Pictured in the Fall/Winter 1941-42 Catalog
  I believe this radio to have an Ingraham cabinet, but have no way of know for sure. It is a very interesting design, and they look quite stunning in person. I have two of these, neither of which I've gotten around to restoring. They don't seem to be nearly as common as some of the other Firestone's from this year -- perhaps buyers weren't attracted to the simple, boxy case?

Click here for a picture of an Olympic.

S7398-3 "The Cosmopolitan"
Click here for schematic Click here for Manual Click here for the ad Pictured in the Fall/Winter 1941-42 Catalog
This radio sports a very interesting design. The case has a large dial and combines multiple kinds of veneers, at angles to each other. However, this radio does use a photo-finish on the grille area, so do not attempt to refinish one of these without using caution!

My example has a nice, original finish, now I just have to find it so I can photograph it!

 

S7398-6/S7398-5 "The Aristocrat"
Click here for schematic Click here for the ad Pictured in the Fall/Winter 1941-42 Catalog
  I hate to say it, but I find this radio to be quite ugly. Even though I specialize in Firestone radios, this is one that may never end up in my collection. I'm not sure what I find un-appealing about it, probalby the columns on the side. It did come in both mahogany and walnut, so you could pick your finish of choice.

S7398-8 "The Pan American"
Click here for schematic Click here for the ad Pictured in the Fall/Winter 1941-42 Catalog
This is an interesting puzzle of a radio. It appears to have been made under at least three model numbers. Notice how in Fall/Winter 1941-42, it is known as the "Pan American". In the 1942 catalog (just below), it has become "The Intercepter". This radio was also produced post-war. There is also a Stewart Warner version of this radio, so I belive it is an SW design.

This is a top of the line table radio, with 7 tubes, three bands, spread tuning, electric pushbuttons, large speaker, and fm-tv attachment. Quite a radio!

 


I believe the radios below were intended for 1942, but may not have been produced for very long. The catalog which these came from is simply listed as "1942", without a Spring-Summer or Fall-Winter designation. However, the catalog does mention wartime rationing, war bonds, etc. Therefore, this catalog had to have come out sometime in 1942, it certainly is not a Fall-Winter 1941/1942 catalog (I have one of those). So, these radios are simply attributed to 1942, but I'm not sure when they were introduced, or how long they were produced before domestic radio production was halted.

7402-8 "The Melodia"
Click here for the ad Pictured in the Spring-Summer 1937 Catalog
  An interesting radio, almost surely made by Stewart Warner (I've seen a similar radio with the SW name on it). If I'm not mistaken, the grille on this radio is tenite, a plastic which shrinks over time. It's likely that few survived in pristine condition. This does not appear to be a very common radio.

7397-9 "The Intercepter"
Click here for schematic Click here for the ad Pictured in the Spring-Summer 1949 Catalog
This was a high-end table model, with a 7-tube compliment, several bands, and pushbuttons. The price of $47.95 reflected the quality of this radio! This may have been the first Firestone radio to offer the FM band. This radio was also produced post war - it is pictured in the 1947 catalog as well.  

7397-1 "The Vagabond"
Click here for the ad Pictured in the Spring-Summer 1949 Catalog
  A small portable, the Vagabond was advertised as being "Ideal for soldiers at camps", another indication that these radios were being sold when the US was already at war.

An AC, DC, or battery set, it retailed for $19.95.

7393-1 "The Sonata"
Click here for the ad Pictured in the Spring-Summer 1949 Catalog
The Sonata is a rather unremarkable seven tube console. It featured a ten inch speaker, radio/phone combo, and retailed for $109.95.