7570 Model 20C, 20 Compact UV-sockets

Reading about the markings (Not Guaranteed) under the metal label on the Model 20 cabinet reminded me that I had found a printed serial number under the front panel brass label while restoring my model.

I attach a photo of the printed serial number hidden behind the front panel label.

I assume that the serial number is under the brass front panel label for some security or warranty purpose.

I had to reattach the printed serial number label to a new piece of backing as it was very fragile (nearly 90 years old)

I wont lift my cabinet metal label to see if it has “Not Guaranteed” under it as it is held on too well.

kind regards

Lindsay Shepherd

A guest sent us an interesting photo.
He unscrewed the plate of this model 20 and was astonished to find this clear stamp that this set is "NOT GUARANTEED".

His own text is:

We received this by courtesy of guest Tom Hart, Dedham, MA, USA.
I have been refinishing an Atwater Kent Model 20 TRF receiver. The original finish was gone and needed complete replacement. When I removed the metal label from inside of the top lid, I found an interesting notice.

The photo shows the text. Apparently, this was burned into the wood under serial number name plate (which is shown in the photo). Atwater Kent probably did this to refuse service for a radio without the serial number information, I suspect.

You find a bigger picture at the photos of the set - with the courtesy remark.

This compact model was most probably the most sold model 20 (compact, 7570 UV-sockets) from Atwater-Kent. The many collections we show for this model are also prooving this. But said this, we can also see that the 20 "big box" 4640 must have nearly the same sales figures, whereas the others seem to be much less sold. We list 10 different models for this "series" 20.

I hope that not everybody will now unscrew the plate - but still, it would be of interest to know in which circumstances we find that "warning" and in which not.

I have the same cabinet and it has the same, "burned" type inscription. In my case the original metal label is missing so I always saw the words "NOT GUARANTEED". I don't know if the explanation is the one sent by the guest, or if its because the model was also sold as a kit.

Mario
 

Dear Mario
Do you find screw holes at your set for a plate which look old or it it plain or with new holes?

I just discussed this with Konrad Brikner who has such a set. He finds the same print when removing the plate.

We therefore wonder if "NOT GUARANTEED" had to be stamped already by the set maker, enabling Atwater Kent to control that only at the end test somebody was able to put on the plate.

on my 20C the plate is not fixed by screws, but with ball shaped head (fillister) nails. When trying to get the plate loose using a fine blade (knife) under the plate one of the nails jumped off and disappeared..
But I can read NOT GUARANTEED.(I hope it is not true for my nail's recovery...).

My set its just really a cabinet with a few parts and not much more, I bought it with the intention of finding an orphan chassis that I could install in it. It came with no plate but I don't remember right now if it has screw holes or not. This set is in a storage space I rent, so I wll have to go there in order to check this out. I will post here as soon as I do so.

Mario

Well, here is the picture I took this morning. This cabinet was stripped sanded down by its previous owner, but we can still see the words as well as the nail marks. It is strange that the "importer tag" is still there, nailed on top of where the model one must have been in the past:

Also noteworthy is the fact that the other tags in the cabinet, the ones for speaker and batteries are still attached. The importer tag reads:

UNICOS IMPORTADORES

DITILEVSEN & CIA LTDA
COCHABAMBA 54 BS.AIRES

Mario