03-24-2026, 01:17 AM
Rob;
Not having seen one of these before is the frame of the tuning condenser, or the shaft, steel, brass, or pot metal? Just a thought, you might try soaking it in kerosene, or some other solvent, it that doesn't woke you could cook it in hot oil? But if you have acetone, and ATF, try that first on the bushings, and the rear bearing. The set reminds me of a Freshman, but it does not have the spider web coils on the backs of the tuning condensers, still it's a nice looking three dialer. My guess is that it was manufactured by one of the Chicago independents, either that or one of the many of what we would call "startups", that produced one or two models, and then folded a year or two later. In the 1930s and 40s a lot of Airline sets were made by Wells Gardner, and Belmont.
Regards
Arran
Not having seen one of these before is the frame of the tuning condenser, or the shaft, steel, brass, or pot metal? Just a thought, you might try soaking it in kerosene, or some other solvent, it that doesn't woke you could cook it in hot oil? But if you have acetone, and ATF, try that first on the bushings, and the rear bearing. The set reminds me of a Freshman, but it does not have the spider web coils on the backs of the tuning condensers, still it's a nice looking three dialer. My guess is that it was manufactured by one of the Chicago independents, either that or one of the many of what we would call "startups", that produced one or two models, and then folded a year or two later. In the 1930s and 40s a lot of Airline sets were made by Wells Gardner, and Belmont.
Regards
Arran
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