Guessing a 1920's radio cabinet. Help?

Can anyone identify this? Guessing 1920's radio cabinet by Chrystal posted May 23, 2019 at 11:17 PM

 

here is one

 

Nice match, @alex webb!

Not a radio, @Chrystal

Welcome!

 

WELCOME Chrystal !!! ... Joy.

 

Hi Chrystal!

Welcome to Antiquers..............

 

Word of caution about declaring it NOT a radio cabinet. The image of the one described as 'butlers cabinet' looks to have a newer plywood back panel. I spent many years collecting radios and going to shows - many radio cabinets were produced between 1923-29, and have seen many with this form converted. . . folks needed a way to keep the amp, tuner and battery out of site when not in use - plus a pull out writing surface to write down tuning numbers on stations - a three number combination using three dials to get a station. I've just seen so many of these types of converted cabinets - they were indeed well made, radios were very expensive in the 20's. Pooley Cabinets was known for nice examples.

 

Could even be into the early part of the 1930's. Have restored some old Westinghouse radios from the early 30's that have cabinets like that, just no quite as ornate.

 

Here's a Sparton 'Equasonne' radio cabinet of 1929.

 

Hi,
I have an old 1921 National Geographic magazine. One page has a 1922 Lincoln Continental auto for sale $750.00 and the next page has an RCA radio for sale $1200. Times have changed.
greg

 

Sparton's were great radios back then. Have restored and sold several for pretty decent profit.

 

Thanks for correcting me

I can see it in Tom Mix's mansion.

 

might look for evidence of a shelf having been there.

 

I'm voting for sure that is a 1915 to 1929 radio cabinet that has been repurposed. A lot of radios had matching wet battery (edison battery) cabinets too , sort of 2 foot by 10 inches x 10 inches size for a house that had no power, I had two when i was a kid and made cabinets for model boats w glass in the front and i think there were tuners too in smaller cabinets....point being , that really looks like a repurposed radio cabinet, if not that , a victrola cabinet or 78 record music storage cabinet.