Collector's Guide to Antique Radios by John Slusser, Radio Daze (2007, Paperback, Revised)

John Slusser & the staff at Radio Daze

The Collector’s Guide to Antique Radios series of books is well known throughout the radio community as the definitive reference book of these radio companies and their models. Each new edition has added new data to the book such as companies not previously listed, more model numbers for the companies listed, more photographs and updated prices on current value.
The seventh edition being reviewed here has done all of that and more. First this new edition takes all of the previous information and adds 14 new companies and has increased the total listing to around 10,350! There is no other price/reference guide on the market with this kind of depth. That is why, in my opinion, you need to pick up a copy of this book even if it is only for the reference to model numbers for each company.
I have never been a fan of price guides because usually by the time they reach the targeted audience, the radio collector, prices have changed. Especially in this fast paced internet market and the explosion of the auction site ebay. This seventh edition does a pretty good job of using average selling prices from radio shows, online auctions and geographic locations just to name a few. I noticed on quite a few radios that the range of pricing has spread out a little, for instance a Clapp Eastham RZ Radak in the Sixth Edition is valued at $820-$920. In the Seventh Edition it is valued at $740-$985. In my opinion, this change has made the price guide more useful and more accurate for the collector since there are many factors involved in determining price (condition cosmetically and electrically, completeness, etc). Of course on the lower priced radios the change is not as dramatic.
The thing I like the best about this Seventh Edition is that they have taken all of the radios with photographs and put them in the listings as well. Previous editions did not have the radios with photos in the list which created some confusion when trying to find a specific model. Not only are the photographed radios listed but they are listed in red ink to let you know that there is a photograph that goes with it. Nice change!
Of course there are some mistakes on prices and some photos are not correct but these are minimal and I don’t believe these mistakes should stop you from buying a copy of this book. I can see a lot of time and effort went into this Seventh Edition and I believe it is well worth having. I will probably use mine until the cover comes off!

Jim Moneghan
Lincoln, RI
Radio collector since 1976

This book is very complete. Good photos,concise, easy to read. If you like antique radios I think you will find this book informative.