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The "Wavy Grill", Sentinel's Quaint Upside-Down Catalin Radio from 1946, in Red - Butterscotch, Mint Serviced and Working
In a Nutshell
John Sideli (ref.2) says: This model with its car-bumper grille and headlight-like knobs has a certain humor
Introduction:
Others had compared the look of the radio, especially the "outline grille" version without the catalin grille lattice, to a television receiver at a time when the public
anticipated regular commercial network television programming (1948). If you ask me, I think that had the name "Hippo" not already been given to the Philco 48-460 (for sale too), it would fit this humoristic radio even better. Its marbelized red-butterscotch cabinet, however, couldn't be any more different from the gray skin of a hippo. Apart from the elusive blue version, this oxblood or burgundy version is the most desirable one of the 284 series. The radio also was made under private labels (Musicaire, Knight, ...). Common to all versions is, that the chassis is mounted upside-down, hanging on rails, moulded into the catalin. This tight chassis mount and the sturdy glass dial caused the radio to be prone to stress cracks. Sometimes the dial glass complied and broke, or suffered from peeling paint. - But none of that for this one!
Additional information:
ref. 1. http://uv201.com/Radio_Pages/sentinel_284.htm
ref. 2. John Sideli: Classic Plastic Radios of the 1930s and 1940s - A Collectors Guide to Catalin Models
About my radio:
My radio has extremely vibrant and dramatic swirls throughout all its surfaces. It has no chips, scratches, cracks, or discolorations whatsoever, shows none of the above mentioned problems and is in mint original condition including the original dial glass, grille cloth, knobs and back plane. I polished the red parts of the cabinet slightly, removing the thin alcohol layer deposited over time (see techies below). The chassis has been thoroughly cleaned and in-depth serviced. All moving parts have been treated with contact spray. None of the capacitors, even not the filter capacitors had to be replaced. The radio plays loud and clear with good sensitivity and selectivity over the whole band spread. Please
e-mail me (Kris) for any questions, ich spreche Deutsch, je parle Français.
For the techies only:
Catalin, like bakelite is a phenol formaldehyde resin, but unlike bakelite is cast at much lower temperatures and not under pressure, and does not use fillers thus allowing a full colour spectrum. Objects from catalin can be easily recognized by their thicker wall thickness, and from their colour transformations with increasing age. Catalin with time (a few years only!), in particular when exposed to UV light, develops a very thin surface layer of phenyl alcohol, which is brown and can be easily removed with practically any plastic cleaner. Common wisdom is: try it, and you will be amazed by the result, but never ever try it without extensive testing on a butterscotch coloured object, since it will turn it back into its original white alabaster look, which is disliked by most collectors. In my case the grille and the knobs were only slightly wiped, and the main shell polished by hand, to bring back the original shine, carefully avoiding a "too much", in order not to render the butterscotch swirls back to alabaster.
Here are the specifications:
Technical Description of Item |
| Manufacturer |
Sentinel Radio Corp., Evanston, Illinois |
| Model |
284NA |
| Type |
5-tube AM/BC Superheterodyne Receiver |
| Production Year |
1946 |
| Serial Number |
A75631 |
| Cabinet |
Red - butterscotch swirled catalin with catalin grille lattice |
| Dial |
One side illuminated reverse painted glass |
| Knobs |
2 original butterscotch catalin knobs |
| Frequency Range |
AM 550-1700 kHz |
| Controls |
Volume - on/off, tuning |
| Tube line-up |
35Z5(Rect), 12SA7(RF), 12SK7(IF), 12SQ7(Det.), 50L6(Audio) |
| Size (WxDxH) |
11" x 7½" x 6½" |
| Weight |
7½ lbs = 3.4 kg |
| Comment |
Like new condition, serviced and perfectly working |
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