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In its early days, Sonora was known for its phonographs in attractive cabinets. But on the side in the 1920s the company also made radio cabinets. This one, a Model B33, is not listed in old radio catalogs but can be found in the oldest Rider volume on page 2192.

Who made the radio chassis for Sonora? Rider has no idea, nor do I. 

This model was all but unknown among collectors until this page. Searching Google Images for a Sonora B33 brings up only this one. I bought it at auction in Charlottesville, VA, around 1999 out of a collection near Washington DC. 

The 2-door console cabinet was beautifully restored. When I brought it home, my wife, for the first time, said "Let's keep this. It's too attractive to sell." So we did. 

It needed some new wiring and a new dial string, and I took care of that. It plays beautifully through the original 18" speaker. The company won awards for its sound. After a couple of years my new dial string came loose and still is. 

This circuit could benefit from AVC when you go from a quiet station to a loud one. It's been speculated that the volume control works by varying the DC screen grid voltage of the #24 RF amplifier tubes. This controls volume by varying the RF signal delivered to the grid of the #27 detector tube. Dunno...

The web has a fair amount of information on Sonoras, and I printed out much of it. I also have the schematic. Sonora's motto was "Clear as a Bell." It helps to use that (with the quotes) in web searching, as the word 'sonora' has many contexts.

All 8 tubes check out strong. It uses a CX-380, two CX-345s, a C-327, and four C-324s.

There are 5 pictures of this radio here.

I want to sell this someday but have no idea what to expect. Arguably it's the best Sonora B33 in the world. It will please any collector no matter how high his standards. Given the rareity, very few collections can have one.

Shipping is out of the question. I used to ship consoles but it's too strenuous for someone my age. Either you or your agent comes to Charlottesville to get it, or we work out a price for me to drive it to you. 

rey at cstone dot net