1926 Atwater Kent Model 35 & Model L Horn Loudspeaker

This is a 6-tube battery-powered set made by Atwater Kent Radio of Philadelphia, PA. Shown with the radio is a Model L loudspeaker. This arrangement is the classic antique radio seen in many old movies and photographs.

The radio is housed in a metal box. The radio is a Tuned Radio Frequency (TRF) radio using a grid leak detector. Tuning of the 3 RF stages and the detector stage is accomplished using a single knob on the front. The knob dial is calibrated from 0 to 100.

The knob cluster on the left contains a rheostat and the On/Off switch. The rheostat controls the filament current to the 3 RF amplifier tubes. Unlike the Model 20 and the Model 30 I have, the Model 35 has a fixed resistor inside to set the filament currents to the detector tube and the two audio amplifier tubes. The On/Off switch is pulled out to turn the radio on and pushed in to turn it off. Basicly, the switch disconnects ground from the filaments.

The top of the radio shown in the photograph below has the famous Atwater Kent sailing ship in the center. On each corner of the top there is a rosette. These accents are gold-plated and make the radio look classy.

The back of the radio, shown below, has holes for connecting the speaker, antenna, and ground. A battery cable exits through one hole.

The inside of the radio is shown below. Note that the tubes hang "upside down" when the radio is placed on the table in its normal operating position. The radio has a layout similar to the other Atwater Kent battery radios I have. The radio is almost pristine inside. There is no rust and only a few scratches on the two sides where someone had removed the chassis at some point to repair it. Without taking the chassis out, the only repair I could see was the wires leading to the rheostat and on/off switch had been repaired.

I received the radio with 5 good tubes. All I had to do was add one tube and the radio was in working order.

I received a manual with the Atwater Kent Model 20 that I purchased earlier. The manual is quite interesting. It contains information on how to install antennas, how to connect the batteries, and how to operate the Atwater Kent Model 30, 32, 35, and 20 Compact radios. It also discusses how to use a higher power audio tube for the second audio amplifier - essentially is requires a higher plate voltage (135V). Below is a picture of the front of the instruction book. The inside title page shows a sketch of the Atwater Kent factory. A picture of it also is shown below. It apparently was a very large factory.

Here is a page from the book showing the location of the tubes and controls for the Model 35.

Here is a page from the book showing the dial settings (in wavelengths) for the Model 35.

Finally, here is a page from the book that shows how to hook up the cable to the batteries. Note that 4 batteries providing 5 voltages are required to operate this radio.

Artist Norman Rockwell owned an Atwater Kent Model 35 radio similar to mine. In fact, in one of their advertising booklets, Atwater Kent included a photograph of the Model 35 in Rockwell's studio. That photo is shown below.

You can see the radio sitting on a buffet in the center of the picture. A ship model is sitting on the radio. You can see a Model L speaker to the left.

The following text from this advertising booklet describes the Model 35 this way:

"BEAUTIFUL appearance, simplicity of design, sturdiness of constuction, are the outstanding features noted on examining the Model 35 One Dial Receiver.

The cabinet is made to shield completely the elecrical assembly inside. It is finished in a rich dark brown crystalline, while the Volume Control Rheostat and Station Dial, which are located on the front of the set, are of brown Bakelite.

At the center of the top of the set there gleams a gold-plated name plate, picutring, in low relief, a full-rigged sailing vessel of the pld Spanish Galleon type. Decorative rosettes at the four corners of the top are also of gold as is the small battery switch knob.

The motifs for the beautiful decoration of the Model 35 were taken from several early 17th Century Maps and our Artists have succeeded in creating the impression of a delightful little treasure chest - as in fact it is.

Altogether, the appearance of the Model 35 is a striking combination of brilliant beauty and good taste.

The Model 35 is a Six Tube Receiver comprising Three Stages of Radio Frequency Amplification, a Detector and Two Stages of Audio Amplification with One Station Dial. Non-radiating; non-squealing.

Dimensions fo Cabinet: Length, 17 1/2 in.; Depth, 7 1/2 in.; Height, 5 1/2 in..

Part No. 8100, Model 35 Receiver, including Battery Cable, Log Card and Complete Instruction Book, but without Tubes and Batteries, $70."
Tube Compliment

Ballast	Rectifier	RF	Osc	Osc/Mix	IF	Det	1st Audio	Audio Output	Tuning Eye	Rider's Manual Page #
N/A	N/A	3 x 01A	N/A	N/A	N/A	01A	01A	01A	N/A	1-4

The radio works well using a power supply I built. With a long wire antenna, I can recieve WSM in Nashville (100 miles north) quite well.