I Crown Thee King of the Novelty Collectables!

This title might seem a little bizarre to some readers, but bear with me and I'll explain. About 15 years ago I was introduced to Clay Seidel, one of the many radio collectors of South Jersey. Clay has collected and restored about every radio type known to man. While being shown the various radios that he has collected (with attendant AWA ribbons) over his 30-odd years of restoration, I spotted one that intrigued me for its simplicity and novelty. The set was a "keg" radio: a receiver built into a miniature whiskey cask. Clay stated that this was perhaps one of his rarest finds. Aside from his, he had seen only one other set of this type -- in an antique shop, and the owner wouldn't sell it. Since then I have seen only one other -- a ceramic design owned by a local friend, Frank Krantz.

Clay's set intrigued me, with its brass bands, oak staves and spigot on one end, while radio tuning was on the other. I determined to look diligently for a similar unit. At that time I was sufficiently naive about radio collecting as to believe the unit would come my way in a year or two.

My reasoning for this rash statement? I'm a flea-market freak -- attending a commercial auction once a month on average, and visiting the local flea market every week, rain or shine. Its gotten so bad that my wife is now convinced that it gives the "fix" I need to survive the week.

In view of the strange things that show up at the mart, I was convinced that one to two years would produce the radio. (I am of the firm opinion that given enough time, everything that man has ever made will someday surface at the flea market."

It was not to be so -- two years stretched into four, and four to six and on until a full decade and a half had slipped away. But the desire still burned in my memory.

Then one bright crisp winter day my patience was rewarded. While touring the aisles I happened upon a vendor, freshly arrived and just completing his setup. There on his table was my quest -- a keg radio.

I seized the moment, paid the asking price, and carried off my long-sought prize -- like a knight of old accepting the scarf of the tournament's lady.

The radio appears to be of English manufacture, with a serial number of just over 1000. A plate at the spigot end says "Decor Ltd." No model number or label identification is present - only the metal plate on the tuning end providing the name "Bar-adio by Decor," which I thought was almost as unique at the radio itself. I found a mixture of English- and American-type tubes in the set. Judging by the printed-circuit assembly, I placed its manufacture as the middle to late '60s just before the transistor boom. The speaker faces downward in the keg, with four wide slots to provide the sound exit. There is a quick-disconnect between the speaker and the set: figure-7-shaped clips that snap together. A semi-rigid piece of spaghetti slips over the connector to hold the joint together and insulate it.

The photos show the details of the keg set. The five-tube radio with ferrite antenna provides excellent local reception, while the ¾" oak staving enhances tonal qualities.

The radio now adorns our étagère but appears a little lonesome. So I'm starting a search for a queen for my king. Who knows, maybe if I'm lucky they will find a way of reproducing and my quest will be over. But that's strictly something for the future.

Radio Attic's "Archives" are presented just for fun by Friendly Webmaster.
None of the radios in the Archives is for sale!

When cabinet material or color differences are apparent in donated photos, I have included additional photos of certain model numbers. Due to time constraints, I must rely entirely on the accuracy of information supplied by contributors with their photographs. As such, no guarantee is made that the model numbers presented here are correct.

Please do not download these images for any commercial purpose. Thank you.