The Silvertone model 6110, better known as the
"rocket", is a particularly striking example of 1930's
machine-age design. Introduced by Sears in 1938, it
was claimed to be "designed for modern people living in
a modern world". It appeared in their 1938 catalog
with an initial selling price of $12.95. It was widely
advertised in the media and could be purchased in
Sears' stores for just a few dollars more than
through their catalog. It continued to be marketed
until late 1939, by which time Sears was claiming that
it was a "sensational best seller".
In spite of this claim, the set is rare today, possibly
because of its highly fragile housing. As a result the
purchase price in today's collectibles marketplace
has "rocketed" to more than one hundred times what
it could be bought for when new!
The cabinet design was by Clarence Karstadt (US
design patent D113004). It was available in black
bakelite (as here), "mottled walnut" brown bakelite
and ivory plaskon. Although the "rocket" was initially
offered for sale in 1938 without mention of the
World's Fair, by 1939 it was billed by Sears as being
"designed to reflect the architectural splendor of 1939's
great World's Fair"!
"rocket", is a particularly striking example of 1930's
machine-age design. Introduced by Sears in 1938, it
was claimed to be "designed for modern people living in
a modern world". It appeared in their 1938 catalog
with an initial selling price of $12.95. It was widely
advertised in the media and could be purchased in
Sears' stores for just a few dollars more than
through their catalog. It continued to be marketed
until late 1939, by which time Sears was claiming that
it was a "sensational best seller".
In spite of this claim, the set is rare today, possibly
because of its highly fragile housing. As a result the
purchase price in today's collectibles marketplace
has "rocketed" to more than one hundred times what
it could be bought for when new!
The cabinet design was by Clarence Karstadt (US
design patent D113004). It was available in black
bakelite (as here), "mottled walnut" brown bakelite
and ivory plaskon. Although the "rocket" was initially
offered for sale in 1938 without mention of the
World's Fair, by 1939 it was billed by Sears as being
"designed to reflect the architectural splendor of 1939's
great World's Fair"!
Silvertone Model 6110 "Rocket" Table Radio (1938)
Silvertone Rocket ...Zooming to new heights in beauty, performance and value.
...it's the talk of the radio world.
More for your money with Silvertone.
The chassis is a 5-tube TRF design tuning the standard
broadcast band from 545-1720kc. Tubes used are 6K7 (RF stage
1), 6K7 (RF stage 2), 6J7 (detector), 25A6G (AF output) and 1V
(rectifier). The schematic can be found here, courtesy of
NostalgiaAir. The radio is tuned using the large drum situated at
one end (see photo above). The on/off/volume control is just
beneath this and can be seen in the photo third from bottom right.
Six mechanical push-buttons serve to tune six favorite stations "in
a flash".
Some of the early adverts for the Rocket show it as having a
tuning drum with the word "Silvertone" running counter clockwise.
However, all the actual production models that I've seen or heard
of have clockwise wording (as in the photo above), so it appears
the early advertising was incorrect. Note that some of the photos
displayed here were taken with the tuning drum misaligned with
respect to the white marker on the body of the rocket.
broadcast band from 545-1720kc. Tubes used are 6K7 (RF stage
1), 6K7 (RF stage 2), 6J7 (detector), 25A6G (AF output) and 1V
(rectifier). The schematic can be found here, courtesy of
NostalgiaAir. The radio is tuned using the large drum situated at
one end (see photo above). The on/off/volume control is just
beneath this and can be seen in the photo third from bottom right.
Six mechanical push-buttons serve to tune six favorite stations "in
a flash".
Some of the early adverts for the Rocket show it as having a
tuning drum with the word "Silvertone" running counter clockwise.
However, all the actual production models that I've seen or heard
of have clockwise wording (as in the photo above), so it appears
the early advertising was incorrect. Note that some of the photos
displayed here were taken with the tuning drum misaligned with
respect to the white marker on the body of the rocket.
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