1. Silvertone Radio Model 4585 User's Manual Guide
2. Silvertone Radio Schematics
3. Silvertone Radio Model Numbers
4. Silvertone Radio Model 4585 User's Manual Online

This is additional information to users who click the link on Sears, Roebuck models included in the Silvertone service information 1928-1936 and the Sears Catalogs of that period.

With this method we can easily give common information for each model and at the same time adapt on one place.

John Kusching, USA, has bought the book 'Silvertone Radios, Service Information 1928 thru 1936' and is intending to scan and to load up all these service documentations. This is huge work, since he has shown with his work for RCA and other US brands that he uploads top quality information. See the Schematic Finder. On top of that he also completes models which are not yet complete.

Years ago I had bought all catalog pages from Mark V. Stein who did the book 'Sears Silvertone Catalogs 1930-1942'. I told John Kusching that I will try to let scan here, prepare and upload these pages with every written detail by Monique Ehrat as a paid job. I will update or create the models according to the notes in the catalog. It would be nice to get more sticky articles like repair stories or even explanations about a certain model family like here below model 1587.

Oct 18, 2012  Silvertone radio model 4586 original NOT reconditioned - Answered by a verified Antique Expert. In excellent working condition your 1936 Silvertone Model 4586 floor model radio with bakelite knobs, veneered front and single speaker would value between 500-750 dollars. Philco radio model 41-290 all original with instructional manual.

Designation (naming) of the models

For Sears, Roebuck & Co.; Chicago, IL, we face quite some challenges regarding the model designations:
1 Brand and Model designation
Not all models carry the brand Silvertone and therefore we can not generally add a brand to the company. Internal we use two fields for the model designation. Meteor, Sears Roebuck and Allstate are for instance other brands of Sears. For USA, normally the second field is for a chassis number, beginning with Ch= ...

We begin with the brand Silvertone (if so branded) and add the model number or name in that field.
Generally the brand Silvertone was introduced in 1924. It was also then not always used.

Silvertone Radio Model 4585 User's Manual Guide

2 Order number (second field)
At the beginning there is a model number in catalogs plus a different order number.
There are different order numbers for the same model for easy payment and adain often two more for the set including accessories like tubes, batteries, antenna etc.

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We will use two where necessary: with and without tubes etc.
We might list in the text the other order numbers and enter prices.
Where different voltages or cycles become an other number, we will use those and not create a new model.
The syntax is the following (example): Order= 57DM 1110 or 1112
Motorcycle repair manual download. We do not enter the additional 1/4 and we do a space to show the usual number without catalog code.

3 Manuafacturer
Sears is a special case like for instance Lafayette. Sears is a general store and catalog seller, not a manufacturer and not a brand. Quite against other beliefs, Sears in fact did manufacture quite some radios, when establishing 'King Quality Products, Inc.' (KQP) in 1924. In 1929 Sears sold KQP to Colonial Radio Corporation for contracted radio production. Until WW2 Colonial was the largest manufacturer for Sears and even stopped selling radios as Colonial in 1935. But Sears bought from quite a variety of manufacturers. Mark Stein has noted them for some models and we add the information in the notes if possible.

4 Chassis number
If there is a catalog number entered in the designation field two, then we put the chassis number behind, after a comma (,). See an example here.

This number can also tell us which manufacturer was involved.
You can help us in this respect by taking a photo of the sticker on the chassis and uploading in big size. Often it is xxx.xxx and the three digits before the dot indicate the manufacturer. A next post by John Kusching will reveal the names with a list.
As a guest: Please use the contact form to send us such photos including the main photo (3 dimensions) and some details. We will add with a courtesy remark in the caption and will fill in the manufacturer name to the model.

5 Catalog numbers
Mark Stein has noted on page 3 the catalog numbers, starting with #160 for pages 512-522 (not 897-910) for the Spring & Summer catalog 1930. But the pages for this show C101 or P151 B-C.
Since we show always also the whole catalgo page, we don't care for that number but might add here a list of the catalogs and their name/date. Stein is ending with catalog #183 for 1941. We will try to find more catalog pages for before and after - and there are also catalogs in between, not covered. We don't know if they would produce new models, but I doubt it.
Example: 1930 Midsummer Sale Catalogue from Boston Mass with a front cover number B446 and back cover C452P-B-K-MN has 176 pages and only page 150 shows radios:
an 8-tube All Electric Console Radio Receiver for $57.50 and a 8-tube all electric table model radio for$39.95 and a 7-tub Battery operated radio for $29.95 all with black and white illustrations.
We have to find more Sears catalog pages for radios!

Advertisements etc. (sources)
Ads are the best proofs for the date of market introduction, if we scan them inclusive the source (newspaper, magazine, event etc.). With a catalog we can only tell that in that year or season the model was offered to a certain price. It is a combination of all kind of information, including folders and fliers. The schematics show us technical data but they can only tell that the market introduction was before - sometimes years before.

Dating the models
When we have only a second source information and/or a date of a schematic, we often have to put a question mark to the year, or even two if we can only guess. When we have a catalog information with its date and name, then we can prove the year of existance in the market, but not necessarily the selling season or first year of market introduction. A combination with earlier or later ads will lead to the right season(s). Interesting is to see different prices for the same model during the time. Since most radios are sold in the 'old year', before Christmas, quite in contrary to cars, we name the first hit to the market in the 'from year' and try to find the 'to year', resulting in a model season or several seasons. Winter is the 'radio time', Summer is the 'Car time' (mostly sold in Spring).

Pending work on Sears
We list the Sears Manufacturing Co.; (where?). and to that the following 5 models which are not included at Sears, Roebuck: Acme Reflex A, B, Standard (two) and Torodyne. Should probably not be split from the main name - for searching reasons.

We have inconsistencies in the naming which we get rid of when working on a model only.
Later Sears adds a leading zero to the 4 digit number. We might be able to drop that without loosing 'findability'.

We have to clear a possible Silvertone model 41, a Low-Boy from around 1929/30 (eMail 9.6.12) with plate R 5761 Col. (probably a Colonial made).

This article was edited 05.Jul.12 09:24 by Ernst Erb .

Silvertone radios were first sold in the 1920s and became popular in the 1930s and early 1940s due to World War II and the public’s interest in information about the war. Silvertone also sold antenna for the radios with “stratobeam reception” and wind generators to power the radios. There are a few methods to identifying a Silvertone radio correctly.

Look at the radio dial. Many have the word “Silvertone” written on the dial. In addition, the plates on Silvertone dials up to 1935 were often ornately designed and made out of copper, brass or nickel. Images of early Silvertone dials can be seen at the website SFHobbies.com.

Silvertone Radio Schematics

Look for round dials, many with the image of a globe or the word “Silvertone” inscribed on the dial itself. These are indicative of dials made between 1931 and 1940 by Silvertone. The plates for dials during this time were less ornate and more streamlined. Later models also featured a rectangular dial with the word “Silvertone” written on it.

Examine the radio for the Silvertone logo. The logo was often placed on the radio bezel, the knobs, on the radio itself, or on the informational sticker placed on the chassis.

Look for warranty information provided by Mission Bell Radio Inc. This company made Silvertone radios for the Sears & Roebuck Company between 1935 and 1949. The radios were called Silvertone Mission Bell Radios. These radios were only available in California and are fairly rare.

Silvertone Radio Model Numbers

Examine the speakers for a part number or the body of the radio for a model number. The model number may also be printed on a label located inside, on the back or bottom of the radio. A list of speakers used by Silvertone can be found on the website SF Hobbies.com. Pictures and information about specific model numbers can be found on the website Jitterbuzz.com.

Silvertone Radio Model 4585 User's Manual Online

Look at antique radio reference books at your local library, bookstore or online to view information about Silvertone radios and view photos of antique Silvertones. One example is “The Complete Price Guide to Antique Radios: The Sears Silvertone Catalogs 1930-1942.”