Vintage Radio

VINTAGE RADIO

National Company

National Co. Melrose plant as it looks today.

Here is a cool one of a kind radio. No, it is not a ham radio but a limited production FM receiver built especially for a local school district in the Boston area. This rack mount unit would be installed with the schools other equipment such as the PA system.

NC 108RB

The original owners manual is complete with instructions, parts list, schematics, photos and even the warranty.

NC 108RB Owners Manual

JUST SOME FM RADIOS I CAME ACCROSS

DETROLA Battery powered radio

Grandparents attics are awesome aren't they? My grandfather saved almost everything but most interesting to me was the radio equipment and documents he saved from his 12 years with National Company. He was always proud of his efforts at the home front during WWII.

National Company had big military contracts during that time and he says the big buzz around the office was when the Japanese captured one of our aircraft which was equipped with a National Company radio.

Below are a few documents of interest whether you are a radio enthusiast, history buff or just curious about the past. You may view them, print them, use them for research or study. If you intend to publish them in any way or form, please cite "www.k1kgg.net" as their original source.

They are are in high resolution for your .pdf viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

As a National Company employee in July of 1953 you would have received the following brochure with cover letter.

Brochure introduction letter

Brochure

I only have a few to share but here are some very interesting company newsletters. (give them a minute to download, worth the wait)

National Communications Sep 1945

National Communications Jan 1946

National Communications Dec 1946

Short compilation of National Company advertisements.

National Company Advertisements

It must have been an exciting night when Grandpa came home with a big raise in hand. Maybe it wasn't enough to keep him because he resigned just a couple months later.

Merit increase

My Grandfather served for a short time with the Signal Corps before finding an opening with National Company. Here is an acknowledgment of his service before retiring.

Signal Corps 1942

JAMES MILLEN MFG.CO., INC. Malden, MA.
Wow, yet another electronics company from Malden. These guys Manufactured some very important radio parts in their time. (I wonder if they were a supplier for National Company? I will have to look into that.) James Millen Company had their main office and factory located at 150 Exchange Street in Malden Massachusetts, according to their ad in the ARRL's 1953 30th edition of THE RADIO AMATEUR'S HANDBOOK (see below). They manufactured parts such as capacitors, RF chokes, tube sockets, instrument dials and knobs, oscilloscopes, power supplies, amplifiers and much more. James Millen company also had sales offices scattered throughout the country from San Francisco to Boston.
I'm very interested in hearing anything you would like to share. Feel free to send me an email! Go to the QSL page to contact me.
A Special Thanks to Don Buska, N9OO, President of The James Millen Society for contacting me and sharing the link to his organization.

SCORE!

ZENITH