Silvertone Order= 57H 3351 Ch= 132.802 (-A) (-B)

Sears did send some information to their outlets like "Retail Merchandise Lists" to inform the staff about new models and its technical data. I have bought a folder for 1940 and 1941, which is radio season 1939/40 and 1940/41 and uploaded data and pictures.

Silvertone models with the same chassis and cabinet often have different model numbers for different colors, not only a different suffix. Such model families we can "tie together" by having explaining text with links in the notes of the model pages.

But there are at least three such model families which on top of this carry different chassis, well, variants of the same chassis. To show the connections would enlarge the model page too much and therefore this forum article which we can link to each model concerned.

Here I also link the main text about Silvertone Radios, service information 1928-1936 and Sears Catalogs. This again leads to other articles about Sears Silvertone. Here now the three a bit complicated families:

1939/40 models 6403 = Black, 6404 = Ivory, 6405 = Walnut and 6406 = Wood

These models from Colonial Radio have a built-in "Radionet" (loop antenna) for local broadcast reception, 5 low drain Bantam type tubes, gold colored illuminated metallized linear dial with "high efficiency" iron core type tuning instead of variable condensers, AVC, 550 to 1600 kHz. Direct type drive, "finger tip" type tuning and volume control knobs. 4" dynamic speaker, 1.25 watts max. beam power output. Plastic cabinet except 6406 in Walnut wood. Size 7.75 x 5.375 x 4.625 inch (WHD). For 100 to 125 volts 25 to 60 cycles AC or DC. 30 Watts consumption. Speaker field fo 450 ohms for loudspeaker with 50 volts drop.

Silvertone 6404, From webshots.com/user/bez2nv.

 

Silvertone 6403, 6404, 6405 and 6406 with chasssis 101.566, 101.566-A, -B, -C, -D and -E.

Silvertone 6403, 6404, 6405 and 6406 with chasssis 101.566-1, 101.566-1A, -1B to -1E.

Silvertone 6403, 6404, 6405 and 6406 with chasssis 101.566-2, 101.566-2A, -2B to -2E.

Silvertone 6403A, 6404A, 6405A and 6406A with chasssis 101.566-3.

1939/40 models 6407 = Black, 6408 = Ivory and 6409 = Walnut

These models from Colonial Radio have a built-in "Radionet" (loop antenna) for local broadcast reception, 5 low drain Bantam type tubes, gold colored illuminated metallized linear dial with "high efficiency" iron core type tuning instead of variable condensers, 550 to 1600 kHz, 4 "piano key" type instamatic push buttons, which can be set from top with a screw driver. Direct type drive, "finger tip" type tuning and volume control knobs. 4" dynamic speaker, 1.25 watts max. beam power output or 0.8 watts undistorted. Modern plastic cabinet. Size 8.875 x 6.625 x 5.5 inch (WHD). For 100 to 125 volts 25 to 60 cycles AC or DC. 30 Watts consumption. Speaker field of 450 ohms for loudspeaker with 50 volts drop.

The Rider's schematic is from November 21, 1939 - for all chassis up to -2.
The chassis 101.567 was used for 6407 in Black, suffix -A for 6408 in Ivory and suffix letter -B for 6409 in Walnut. Careful when disassembling, there is a third screw for the loudspeaker.

Silvertone 6408, From webshots.com/user/bez2nv.

Silvertone 6407, 6408 and 6409 with chassis 101.567 (101.567-A, -B)

Silvertone 6407, 6408 and 6409 with chassis 101.567-1 (101.567-1, -1A, -1B)
For broadening the selectivity somewhat, this chassis has the connections  of the 1st IF transformer reversed (blue wire to "B+", red to plate of 12A8GT). Some have also a 22M ohm resistor R3 instead of 47M. This decrease of selectivity improves the repeat accuracy of the push button setting.

Silvertone 6407, 6408 and 6409 with chassis 101.567-2 (101.567-2, -2A, -2B)
The 1st IF transformer (10133421701) and 2nd IF transformer (1013342171) changed to give a greater decrease in selectivity for improving the repeat accuracy fo the push button settings.R2 is 22 M ohms.

Silvertone 6407A, 6408A and 6409A with chassis 101.567-3 (101.567-3A, -3B)

 

Commentator
1939/40 models 3311 = Walnut, 3411 = Ivory and 3511 = Onyx
1940/41 models 3351 = Walnut, 3451 = Ivory and 3551 = Onyx

It might stay the secret of Sears or the manufacturer why some models change the last digit for the color and this family changes in the second digit ... All the three discussed models are for 100 to 125 volts AC/DC and for 25 to 60 cycles. This 3x51-family shows the following text: "Underwriters' Approved Versions of These Models are: 3311 (Walnut), 3411 (Ivory), 3511 Onyx)."

 

Sears Retail Merchandise List, page 3 for 1941 - see in big size here.

In early 1939, Noblitt-Sparks (Arvin) of Columbus, Indiana offered this model as replacement for the "Election" model. First season they had the order numbers 3311, 3411 and 3511.

Chassis material seems to be Bakelite, not modern plastic, what can be seen on this Silvertone 3451 in Ivory, because it is painted, but it is solid black plastic, sprayed with ivory-color lacquer. It has red knobs and push buttons. The Walnut and Onyx models have gold knobs and push buttons. A first look at this Silvertone 3551 (Onyx) one might think it is even Cataline, but it is solid Onyx. Generally: Only a real test on a cabinet by an experienced person can tell us the material really, because often the materials are mixed up. See the interesting and well informing article by Harold Isenring in ARC for further details like the drift problem, the reason for the name etc. The C7 pilot lamp filaments vibrated badly if the set was played loud, causing early failures. "Early in 1942, before the government stopped civilian production of radios, a Model 7020 with a metal cabinet patterned after walnut Model 3351 but without push buttons was produced. [See A.R.C., January 1993, page 7.] An ivory Model 7022 was also made. The metal cabinet prevented the use of the loop antenna in its old position. The depth of the base was increased by 11/2 inches, and a Faraday shielded loop was mounted in the metal base. The antenna worked suprisingly well."

Here the box for the "Candy Cane" type Silvertone 3451 shows the model name "Commentator". The same name "Commentator" is also used by the post war Silvertone 7004 (Walnut), 7006 (Ivory) and 7008 (Onyx) with chassis 132.812-1 etc. with single ended tubes like 12SA7GT, but the same cabinet. All show the "push down" or "piano key" "instamatic" buttons, not ordinary "push buttons". The set would be pushed away with ordinary push buttons. All have the same drift problems.

We are confronted with the same radio with slight technical changes as:

Season 1939/40:
Silvertone 3311 in Walnut, 3411 in Ivory and 3511 in Onyx, chassis ?

Season 1940/41:
Silvertone 3351, 3451 and 3551 with chassis 132.802, 132.802-A or 132.802-B
First production, May 31, 1940.

Silvertone 3351, 3451 and 3551 with chassis 132.802-1, 132.802-1A or 132.802-1B
Second production, July 19, 1940.

Silvertone 3351, 3451 and 3551 with chassis 132.802-1C, 132.802-1D or 132.802-1E
Third production, October 30, 1940.

Silvertone 3351, 3451 and 3551 with chassis 132.802-2C, 132.802-2D or 132.802-2E
They have the same as chassis 132.802, Rider's 12-34, except added pilot-light shield and snubber assembly, replacing the dial-light shield assembled to the dial-pointer shaft bracket. Push-button caps permanently cemented to the push buttons.
At the moment we have no evidence for 132.802-2, -2A or 2B.

Ernst Erb, 28.Aug.12

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