The first Sears Silvertone Superheterodyne found in the season catalogs are the model Silvertone 1320C , a 8-tube radio phonograph console and the 7-tube cathedral Silvertone 1585 with five knobs: Sears catalog #163, Fall & Winter 1931/32 on page 219 - and on page 216 the 6-tube Silvertone console 1401 with two knobs, on page 218 as Gradfather clock masterpiece Silvertone 1391 or 1390. The Sears schematic page 204 show for the same chassis: 1390, 1400 (see 1401), 1402 (see 1403), 1404 (no 1405?), 1406, 1470 and 7009, but due to offers with and without tubes with different numbers, most probably 1401 and 1403 etc. are the same. Rider's 2-14 omits 1406, 1470 and 7009. Schematic page 213 shows the models 1430 and 1510 as 10-tube super with tuning meter.

The 1320C has four knobs, forming a triangle with the escutcheon! See general remarks about Silvertone models 1928 to 1936 in this link.

I found no Superhet in the #162 catalog for Spring & Summer 1931, but there are existing Superheterodynes, which must have reached the market before the one mentioned above, maybe only advertised in ads and/or radio catalogs.
The 1320C features already the forth "generation" of otherwise similar chassis. At least some models before were made by Colonial Radio Corp., Buffalo, NY.

The very first Silvertone superhets
The first Silvertone Superhet chassis is most probably represented with the schematic containing models Silvertone 1320, 1322, 1324, 1326 and (slightly different) model 1450. There was even necessary a revised schematic with an other mixer system, grid mixer instead of a cathode mixer (and some small other details). Both I call here below version "A" and we don't (yet) use separate model pages for this slight schematic differences but show both schematics. There is also the 6-tube superhet family starting with 1390 in this period, but I deal here with the family starting with 1320.

Very fast was made a new chassis with quite a different setting of tubes etc. I call this only here version "B", since some models have the same model designation but an other look for the knobs. In common they are 8 tube Superheterodynes with remote cut-off screen-grid RF amplifier and IF, parallel 2 x UX247 output.

"A" with 3 x 235: 3 knobs in v (triangle, top down) tuning in chassis.
Page 187 of the Sears schematic book 1928 to 1936 lists the following five models for the same schematic and parts etc.:
Silvertone model 1320, 1322, 1324, 1326 and 1450. I call it "A" and believe that it was the first series, which probably caused problems due to poor development of the placement of tubes and other parts and their wiring. This shows quite a bad placement on page 189 for the first 4 models. The model 1450 (page 190) differs mainly in the transformer and it has a filter condenser R6081. All can also have a 25 cycle transformer. Tuning condenser is underneath in the chassis.
"A" has the tubes 235 RF, 227 osc, 235 1st det, 235 IF, 224 2nd det etc., 2 x 247 and 280.
The original schematic (page 186) shows a cathode mixer, a revised schematic (page 188) a grid mixer plus small other differences.

Wiring picture scanned by member John Kusching.

Schematic also in Rider's # 2, pages 11, 12 (or 524-19 and 524-20) for the Sears 1320, 1322 and 1324
and Riders #2, pages 25, 26. 27, 28 (or 208F to 208I) for the Colonial model 47 and model 48.

The revised schematic for Colonial model 47 "revised" and model 48 "revised" can not be found in Rider's 2, 3 or 4, but turn up on volume 10 on the Colonial MIsc. Page 10-4 (bottom) as drawn Septbember 22, 1931/Dec. 18, 1931. But this is still for "A"!
The "B" version was made by Sentinel Radio (manufacturer 106).

Pictures by courtesy of guest radiomaniac1949, ARF forum. (for "A")
 

"B" with 2 x 235: 3 knobs in a straight line, tuning above chassis:
Probably in the same year we find some of them with a renewed chassis, we call "B".
The models with the same schematics etc. are Silvertone model 1320, 1324, 1326X, 1386, 1454, 1456, Radiogram console 1531 and 7004 (part list 106 on page 185). Tuning condenser is on top of the chassis.

"B" has the tubes 235 RF, 227 osc, 224 1st det, 235 IF, 224 2nd det etc., 2 x 247 and 280.
Schematic 109 (also B109) is made by Sentinel Radio (United Air Cleaner Corp.), not anymore by Colonial!

Photos by courtesy of member Gerry O'Hara, Canada. (for "B")

This is additional information to users who click the link on Sears, Roebuck models included in the Silvertone service information 1928-1936 and the Sears Catalogs of that period.

With this method we can easily give common information for each model and at the same time adapt on one place.

John Kusching, USA, has bought the book "Silvertone Radios, Service Information 1928 thru 1936" and is intending to scan and to load up all these service documentations. This is huge work, since he has shown with his work for RCA and other US brands that he uploads top quality information. See the Schematic Finder. On top of that he also completes models which are not yet complete.

Years ago I had bought all catalog pages from Mark V. Stein who did the book "Sears Silvertone Catalogs 1930-1942". I told John Kusching that I will try to let scan here, prepare and upload these pages with every written detail by Monique Ehrat as a paid job. I will update or create the models according to the notes in the catalog. It would be nice to get more sticky articles like repair stories or even explanations about a certain model family like here below model 1587.
 

Designation (naming) of the models

For Sears, Roebuck & Co.; Chicago, IL, we face quite some challenges regarding the model designations:

1 Brand and Model designation
Not all models carry the brand Silvertone and therefore we can not generally add a brand to the company. Internal we use two fields for the model designation. Meteor, Sears Roebuck and Allstate are for instance other brands of Sears. For USA, normally the second field is for a chassis number, beginning with Ch= .....

We begin with the brand Silvertone (if so branded) and add the model number or name in that field.
Generally the brand Silvertone was introduced in 1924. It was also then not always used.

2 Order number (second field)
At the beginning there is a model number in catalogs plus a different order number.
There are different order numbers for the same model for easy payment and adain often two more for the set including accessories like tubes, batteries, antenna etc.

We will use two where necessary: with and without tubes etc.
We might list in the text the other order numbers and enter prices.
Where different voltages or cycles become an other number, we will use those and not create a new model.
The syntax is the following (example): Order= 57DM 1110 or 1112
We do not enter the additional 1/4 and we do a space to show the usual number without catalog code.

3 Manuafacturer
Sears is a special case like for instance Lafayette. Sears is a general store and catalog seller, not a manufacturer and not a brand. Quite against other beliefs, Sears in fact did manufacture quite some radios, when establishing "King Quality Products, Inc." (KQP) in 1924. In 1929 Sears sold KQP to Colonial Radio Corporation for contracted radio production. Until WW2 Colonial was the largest manufacturer for Sears and even stopped selling radios as Colonial in 1935. But Sears bought from quite a variety of manufacturers. Mark Stein has noted them for some models and we add the information in the notes if possible.

4 Chassis number
If there is a catalog number entered in the designation field two, then we put the chassis number behind, after a comma (,). See an example here.

This number can also tell us which manufacturer was involved.
You can help us in this respect by taking a photo of the sticker on the chassis and uploading in big size. Often it is xxx.xxx and the three digits before the dot indicate the manufacturer. A next post by John Kusching will reveal the names with a list.
As a guest: Please use the contact form to send us such photos including the main photo (3 dimensions) and some details. We will add with a courtesy remark in the caption and will fill in the manufacturer name to the model.

5 Catalog numbers
Mark Stein has noted on page 3 the catalog numbers, starting with #160 for pages 512-522 (not 897-910) for the Spring & Summer catalog 1930. But the pages for this show C101 or P151 B-C.
Since we show always also the whole catalgo page, we don't care for that number but might add here a list of the catalogs and their name/date. Stein is ending with catalog #183 for 1941. We will try to find more catalog pages for before and after - and there are also catalogs in between, not covered. We don't know if they would produce new models, but I doubt it.
Example: 1930 Midsummer Sale Catalogue from Boston Mass with a front cover number B446 and back cover C452P-B-K-MN has 176 pages and only page 150 shows radios:
an 8-tube All Electric Console Radio Receiver for $57.50 and a 8-tube all electric table model radio for$39.95 and a 7-tub Battery operated radio for $29.95 all with black and white illustrations.
We have to find more Sears catalog pages for radios!
 

Advertisements etc. (sources)
Ads are the best proofs for the date of market introduction, if we scan them inclusive the source (newspaper, magazine, event etc.). With a catalog we can only tell that in that year or season the model was offered to a certain price. It is a combination of all kind of information, including folders and fliers. The schematics show us technical data but they can only tell that the market introduction was before - sometimes years before.
 

Dating the models
When we have only a second source information and/or a date of a schematic, we often have to put a question mark to the year, or even two if we can only guess. When we have a catalog information with its date and name, then we can prove the year of existance in the market, but not necessarily the selling season or first year of market introduction. A combination with earlier or later ads will lead to the right season(s). Interesting is to see different prices for the same model during the time. Since most radios are sold in the "old year", before Christmas, quite in contrary to cars, we name the first hit to the market in the "from year" and try to find the "to year", resulting in a model season or several seasons. Winter is the "radio time", Summer is the "Car time" (mostly sold in Spring).
 

Pending work on Sears
We list the Sears Manufacturing Co.; (where?). and to that the following 5 models which are not included at Sears, Roebuck: Acme Reflex A, B, Standard (two) and Torodyne. Should probably not be split from the main name - for searching reasons.

We have inconsistencies in the naming which we get rid of when working on a model only.

Later Sears adds a leading zero to the 4 digit number. We might be able to drop that without loosing "findability".

We have to clear a possible Silvertone model 41, a Low-Boy from around 1929/30 (eMail 9.6.12) with plate R 5761 Col. (probably a Colonial made).

Most people and catalog buyers from Sears will not care and not know if a Silvertone Radio was made by Sears, Roebuck or by others. For us collectors it matters at least if we are in need of a schematic and don't find one under Sears or Silvertone. For most interested collectors it matters in principle.

It is not true that Sears did not manufacture its own radios but it is even less true that Sears should have manufactured most of the Silvertone radios. We know from the post above: "King Quality Products, Inc." (KQP) was a Sears company from 1924 for producing radios, but sold in 1929 to Colonial Radio Corporation. But also from 1924 to 1929 many radios came from different manufacturers. Sears was not interested to communicate this and even in 1931 (Spring & Summer), in the catalog #162, page 483 you can find "stories" like this:

"Sears, Roebuck and Co. were among the first to take part in screen grid development. Just as soon as the Screen Grid tube had been perfected beyond the experimental state and our own laboratories proved its merit; we introduced a Silvertone all-electric screen grid set. In fact, we were the first to build a high grade screen grid for less than $ 100. We are the only radio manufacturer who has consistently LED in building high class radio receivers at a LOW price. No other has so steadily "undersold" the entire country."

You find that page on model 1096C which is also called 1096 or 1097 (right column of the picture with the entire page). You can compare this with "similar stories" from for instance Lafayette. There you can click "about these catalogs" to know more.

The earliest Sears Radio Service Manual that seems to exist is called "Service Information and Parts Lists for Silvertone Radios 1928 Thru 1936", which was compiled by R.T.Lowenthal (Dept 657).  The front cover of this manual also has the following in the upper right corner: "DIV. 57 RL1, May 1937". The manual contains 980 pages and on the inside cover, the manual states that the book is property of Sears, Roebuck and Co. and that "Your store is charged with copy number xxxx", where the store number was stamped.  As such, these manuals were serialized and assigned to specific Sears stores.

The manual identifies the actual radio manufacturer using a 3 digit "Source Number", which is listed for each radio model in the book, usually on the schematic itself or on the parts list.  Sometime after 1936, the radio manufacturers for Sears began stamping a chassis number onto a metal plate, with the plate attached to the back of the chassis itself and the chassis number taking the form xxx.yyyy or xxx-yyyy.  The xxx was always the manufacturer code and the yyyy (which could be a 3 or 4 digit number) identified the chassis.

On page 12 of the Sears 1928 thru 1936 service manual is an "Index of Source Numbers", which is more commonly referred to as the manufacturer codes.  Another source of these codes can be found on page 239 in "The Sears Silvertone Catalogs 1930 - 1942", by Mark V. Stein.  Over time, Sears has re-assigned many of the original manufacturer codes for the manufacturers that have gone out of business.  The latest Sears (and Craftsman) manufacturer codes can be found here: Sears Manufacturer Codes

Below is a table that maps the Manufacturer codes to the manufacturers using the three sources mentioned above. A "Yes" under the Source column indicates that the source confirms the mapping of the manufacturer to the code number.  Companies listed under the Source 3 column indicate that the code number has been re-assigned to a new manufacturer. Codes below 140 come directly from the Sears (Craftsman) web page and so are listed directly in the Manufacturer Column. 

Source 1 = "Service Information and Parts Lists for Silvertone Radios 1928 Thru 1936"

Source 2 = "The Sears Silvertone Catalogs 1930 - 1942"

Source 3 = Sears Manufacturer Codes  (Code has been reassigned if company is listed)

++ Indicates a Code identified in later Div 57 Standard Nomenclature Manuals from Sears

* - Source for this code was Sears Employee

Sivertone was a brand name used by Sears, initially for phonographs and musical instruments and in 1919 introduced for radios.

Almost all products were purchased directly from manufacturers.
The chassis number seen at the chassis label contains the manufacturers source code: the leading three digits are the manufacturers key.

100  Stewart-Warner
101  Colonial (formerly King Quality)
102  Majestic R&T (formerly Case Electric)
103  Emerson
104  Phonovision (formerly Corona)
105  Continental (later renamed Admiral)
106  ERLA (formerly Sentinel)
107  Howard
108  Automatic Radio, Boston
109  Detrola

110  Air King
113  Mission Bell
114  Pincor
115  Parris-Dunn
116  Electro-Acoustic
117  Grigsby-Grunow (Grunow)
118  Lafayette (Wholesale Radio Service)
119  Automatic Radio, Minneapolis
 
120  Sterling
121  Zenith
122  Warwick
123  Crosley
124  Operadio
125  Universal Battery
126  RCA Victor
127  Continental Motor
128  Crowe
129  Jackson

132  Noblitt-Sparks (Arvin) 
133  International Radio (Kadette)
134  Wilcox-Gay
135  Sonora Radio & Television
137  Conley
138  Erwood
139  General Transformer
   
141  Air King

Literature:
Mark V.Stein, the Sears Sivertone Catalogs 1930-1942

 
 

Gemäß Funkschau 8/April 1981 wechselt Sears vom langjährigen Lieferanten Matsushita bei Videorecordern zu Sanyo, der ab 1981/82  20 - 30.000 Stück VHS und Beta Geräte pro Monat fertigt und unter Handelsnamen verkauft.

Dieser Schritt dient im Marktkampf gegen Sony/Zenith.