1938 Howard Model 400 - A 12 Tube Console Radio with Tuning Eye

Howard Model 400
1938

Virtual Tour

Company History § The World of 1938 § Radio in 1938 § Schematic § Links § Sales Brochure § Advertisement § More_Pictures

Cabinet Style: Console
Tube Count: 12
Circuit Type: Superheterodyne
Power: AC power w/transformer
Bands: "All Wave"
Tubes: 6K7(3), 6L7, 6Q7, 6F5,
6J5 (2), 6V6(2), 6U5, 80
Original Cost: $109.50?*
That would be $1409.43 in 2005 dollars!

*Price penciled in on the brochure.

About the radio: This is a 12 tube “all wave” (3 band) superheterodyne console with a “rainbow” dial, push-pull beam power output, bass boost, copper plated chassis and tuning eye.

1936 "All Wave Radio" Magazine Cover

The 400 was also available with pushbutton electric tuning (model 400-A)
The dial includes a logging function (small dial with a geared pointer) sometimes referred to as a “band spread” that allows for pinpoint tuning between the calibrations on the dial, desirable for short wave tuning.

Company History

"America's Oldest Radio Manufacturer" was their advertising slogan. Early schematics show the The Howard Radio Company in South Haven, MI. and after 1935 the factory is shown in Chicago.
Howard built radios for the Cable Nelson company as well as "ham" radios for Sears (Silvertone) and Hallicrafters.
The last radio that I could locate is dated 1948? There appears to be a connection with Muntz TV (1950-1959).

The World Of 1938

Radio in 1938

· President: Franklin D. Roosevelt
· Population: 129,824,939
· Unemployment: 19.0%
· Cost of a first class stamp: $0.03

Headlines

· Hitler marches into Austria; union of Germany and Austria proclaimed. Britain, France, and Italy agree to let Germany partition Czechoslovakia.
· Nazis destroy Jewish shops, homes & synagogues. Thousands sent to concentration camps.
· Orson Welles broadcasts his adaptation of H.G. Wells's "War of the Worlds", creating a nationwide panic. Another picture.
· Fair Labor Standards Act establishes minimum wage.

Oscars:

· Outstanding Production: "You Can't Take It With You"
· Best Actor: Spencer Tracy, "Boys Town"
· Best Actress: Bette Davis, "Jezebel"

· World Series: NY Yankees d. Chicago Cubs (4 - 0)

--------------------------------
Historical Data From InfoPlease.com

Premiers:
· Radio quiz show "Information Please!"
· Orson Welles' "Mercury Theatre on the Air"

Top 10 Radio Shows: 1938 - 1939 Season
(Hooper Ratings*)

1. Chase & Sanborn Hour(Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy)
2. Jell-O Program (Jack Benny)
3. Lux Radio Theater
4. Kraft Music Hall (Bing Crosby)
5. Good News Of 1939
6. Major Bowes Amateur Hour
7. Big Town
8. Burns & Allen Show
9. Town Hall Tonight (Fred Allen)
10. Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge

(*The Hooper Ratings Service rated radio program popularity from 1936 through 1949)

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Top ten show information from DG-125 Computer Works

Howard Radio Links

The Virtual Radio Museum of Belgium's: Howard Radio Page
Radio Attic's Howard Radio Page
Larry at Old Time Reproductions Made the knobs.

Dave's Amateur Radio; Howard Radio Page
Any other Howard Radio Links? Please Email Me!

Advertising Brochure
howard400-brochure2.jpg (70570 bytes)

Top ten shows from DG-125 Computer Works Top ten shows from DG-125 Computer Works

Brochure Cover

howard400-brochure1.jpg (61146 bytes)
Other models mentioned in the brochure:
Consoles: 275-C, 325, 318, ,400-A, 425, 425-A. Table: 225, 240, 260, 275, 368. Chairside: 280. Auto: HA-6, HA-8.

Advertising Matchbook
Howard400-matchbook.jpg (76418 bytes)

The front of the matchbook has an advertisement for "Burkes Garage" in West Virginia. It must be old as their phone number has only 4 digits! ("Phone 3941")

Please email me if you know of another advertisement or brochure for this radio.

"Before"

This set was part of an auction for 3 consoles that I picked up off of E-Bay for $15.00 along with the Philcos 40-185.
The cabinet is in sad condition. Little finish is left on it, a fair amount of dry rot along the bottom, one knob is missing and the ink is flaking off of the dial. The "eye" tube (a 6U5) was broken which I replaced with a less expensive 6E5 with adapter.
Replacement knobs from Larry Bordonaro at AntiqueRadioKnobs.com, and grill cloth from www.grillecloth.com.

howard400-wotw-monument.jpg (127970 bytes)

Martian Landing Site
West Windsor Township (Grovers Mill) NJ

Story: "War of the Worlds"