[RoyG]

What would be the better choice in a radio to purchase if you could only buy one? A 1929 Philco model 87 Lowboy or a 1931 model 112 Lowboy?

[Phlogiston]

112 all else being the same.

[Ron Ramirez]

Agree, 112 is the best choice between those two. The 87 works surprisingly well once properly restored, but is a TRF set which has no AVC (automatic volume control) and no tone control. The 112 not only has those features, but is also a superheterodyne with an RF stage and two stages of IF, plus that normal-maximum switch that will make the set really pull in the stations when set to "max"...