Bidspirit auction | Bendix Model 0526 A Bakelite

Bendix Model 0526 A Bakelite Tabletop Superheterodyne Radio - This mid-century tabletop radio features a brown Bakelite cabinet with a dark woodgrain marbleized finish. The front of the unit displays a horizontal slide-rule dial face with a stylized gold-tone script reading Bendix. Below the frequency scale, the text reads AVIATION CORPORATION. The dial is calibrated in kilocycles from 54 to 170 and includes a designated POLICE band at the high-frequency end. The lower front features two brown control knobs for volume and tuning, flanking a vertical-slatted speaker grille. The rear of the chassis is protected by a metal plate and displays a comprehensive paper identification label. The top left of the label reads MODEL 0526 A, SUPERHETERODYNE, 117 VOLTS DC or 50-60 CYCLE AC, 30 WATTS, and RANGE: 535-1725 KCS. A diagram on the top right titled LOCATION OF TUBES details the placement for five vacuum tubes: 35Z5GT, 12SA7, 12SK7, 12SQ7, and 50L6GT, alongside a #47 dial light. The bottom right section contains a warranty statement and reads PRODUCT OF BENDIX AVIATION CORPORATION, BENDIX RADIO DIVISION, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, U.S.A. with the code LH 278007 B. A circular gold and black adhesive label bearing the Underwriters' Laboratories UL monogram is affixed to the left of the main label. The metal chassis is also stamped in red ink with EXT. ANT. and REMOVE RED SCREWS TO REPLACE TUBES. The radio is equipped with a two-prong power cord and an external antenna wire. The radio works. Height: 7 inches. The Bakelite cabinet is intact without visible cracks or chips, though it displays overall surface wear including scuffs, scratches, and a dull finish consistent with age (photos 1, 4, and 5). Dust and grime accumulation is visible within the speaker grille louvers (photo 3). The rear cabinet cover is missing, leaving the chassis plate and internal components exposed (photo 7). The external antenna wire is frayed at the terminal end (photo 10). The power cord appears to be a composite of older cloth-insulated wiring and more recent plastic-jacketed segments joined with a white plastic zip tie (photo 2).