Belmont Model 777 (Series B)

BY RICHARD ARNOLD

WEB EDITION

Not only did Belmont Radio produce radios under a number of brand names, but the Belmont tombstone found by Richard Arnold was made in two other versions. Read on for more about this 1935 radio. (Editor)

I was in my favorite antique store one day here in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and noticed this radio in one of the booths. It was a tombstone, but it was a name I was not familiar with. There was a small metal name plate under the center knobs that said "Belmont."

I later found out that the company, Belmont Radio Corporation, was located at 5921 West Dickens Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. It was responsible for making not only the Belmont radio, but also the Crusader, Classique, Freshman, Goodyear Wings, Imperial, Starck Classique, Truetone and Wings radios.

The Set As Found

The cabinet of this set had been stripped of its varnish and was sanded some, but most of the original stain was left. The cabinet had some minor separation problems. The grille cloth was shot, there was no dial glass or dial pointer, and the dial cord needed restringing. Also, the power cord was missing; in fact, to my dismay, missing parts turned out to be a major problem.

The four knobs were, or looked like Philco rosette style knobs, leaving me to wonder what the originals must have looked like. The shop owner had a price tag on the set of $49. I thought that was a little too much considering the condition of the radio, so I offered what I thought was a fair price of $35. She took it. Now I had my first Belmont tombstone.

Belmont Model 777 (Series B)

After getting the set home and taking it apart, I was quite surprised when I noticed a picture of the knobs on the paper that was stuck to the inside of the cabinet. The paper was 90 percent gone, but the part that was still there showed the knobs. The Philco rosette style knobs that were on the radio were the originals. The model number 777 is stamped into the rear of the cabinet.

I did a little work on the chassis, replaced a 6D6 tube with a correct 6C6 and fired the set up. The radio came to life. I let it play for a while to see if any problems would show up and none did.

The Three Series of Model 777

The Belmont Model 777 is a 1935, 7-tube, superhet, which came in three series A, B and C. The tube line up for Series A is as follows: 2-6D6s, 1-6C6, 1-75, 1-76, 1-42, and 1-80; for Series B: 2-6D6, 1-6C6, 1-76, 1-6B7, 1-42, and 1-80; and for Series C: 2-metal 6K7s, 1-6C6, 1-metal 6C5, 1-6B7, 1-42, and 1-80. The chassis layout for the series C is the same as the series B, except that the 6K7 tubes are used in lieu of the 6D6s and the 6C5 tube replaces the 76 tube. The IF frequency is 465 Kc.

Frequency ranges varied from set to set. All versions of the Model 777 have three bands broadcast, intermediate and shortwave. The broadcast bands are the following: Series A, 525-1700 kilocycles; Series B, 525-1600 kilocycles; and Series C, 535-1725 kilocycles.

According to the fourth edition of the Collectors Guide of Antique Radios by Marty and Sue Bunis, the radio has a fair value of $100 to $120.

This set is only one of four tombstones that I have in my collection. I rather like the cabinet style and will probably keep it .

References:

Rider, John F. Perpetual Trouble Shooters Manual, Volumes 6 and 7.

Bunis, Marty and Sue. Collectors Guide to Antique Radios, Fourth Edition. Paducah, Kentucky: Collector Books, 1997

(Richard Arnold, P.O. Box 275, Lone Grove, OK 73443. E-mail: arnold@brightok.net)

Richard Arnold, a collector since 1985 and a frequent contributor to A.R.C., is primarily interested in cathedrals and 1920s battery sets. His collection ranges from crystal sets to a 1928 American Bosch in a Pooley cabinet. The 1932 JB Peter Pan featured in the June 1991 A.R.C. is his prize.