In its early days, Sonora was known for its phonographs in attractive cabinets. But on the side in the 1920s the company also made radios. This one, a Model B33, can be found in the oldest Rider volume on page 2192. 

The 2-door console cabinet was beautifully restored. When I bought this radio at auction, my wife (for the first time) said "Let's keep this. It's too attractive to sell." So we did. 

It needed some new wiring and a new dial string, and I took care of that. It plays beautifully through the original 18" speaker. The company won awards for its sound. After a couple of years the new dial string came loose and still is. 

This circuit could benefit from AVC when you go from a quiet station to a loud one. It's been speculated that the volume control works by varying the DC screen grid voltage of the #24 RF amplifier tubes. This controls volume by varying the RF signal delivered to the grid of the #27 detector tube. Dunno...

The web has a fair amount of information on Sonoras, and I printed out much of it. I also have the schematic. Sonora's motto was "Clear as a Bell." It helps to use that (with the quotes) in web searching, as the word 'sonora' has many contexts.

All 8 tubes check out strong. It uses a CX-380, two CX-345s, a C-327, and four C-324s.

There are 5 pictures of this radio here.

I want to sell this but have no idea of a price. Arguably it's the best Sonora B33 in the world. It will please any collector no matter how high his standards.

Shipping is out of the question. I used to ship consoles but it's too strenuous for someone my age. Either you or your agent comes to Charlottesville, VA, to get it, or we work out a price for me to drive it to you. 

rey at cstone dot net