Atwater Kent Model 10B 4550 Radio

This Atwater Kent Model 10B 4550 Breadboard radio was introduced about 1924.

This is an improved version of the original Model 10A “breadboard AM radio. The changes from the 10A version include adding a switch on top of the first RF coil, and mounting the other two of the RF coils horizontally.

This radio was part of Vance Phillip’s Early Day Wireless Collection.

The set uses two 201A tubes for the Radio Frequency section, a 200 tube for the Detector, and two 201A tubes for the Audio Amplifier. We could use a 200A tube with a thoriated tungsten filament for the Detector and reduce the total filament current by 0.75A. These were common tubes, so we should have plenty in the Museum’s inventory.

Atwater Kent Model 10B 4550 Pooley Top
Atwater Kent Model 10B 4550 Pooley Top
Atwater Kent Model 10B 4550 Pooley Bottom
Atwater Kent Model 10B 4550 Pooley Bottom

This radio is currently in the Wireless Workshop being documented. It is missing the three-tube Detector-Amplifier  assembly. This breadboard has mounting holes in the four corners. We have been told that it was likely built to be mounted inside of a cabinet made by Pooley Company in Philadelphia, PA. On this breadboard the power cord is attached to the bottom. This is another clue that this breadboard was intended to be mounted in a cabinet.