Back to Scott's Crystal Radio Home Page
Several new pairs just listed on these pages.
Throw away that little crystal
earplug
and try a pair of real vintage headphones and you will be amazed at the
quality of sound a simple crystal set can produce. (I have recently
appreciated
the sensitivity of a good crystal earplug, but the sound is poor in
quality.
Mouser
has the best.)
I collect headphones and occasionally have to buy
a box of several headphones to get one or two for my collection. The
rest
are then tested and repaired if necessary. The housings are cleaned and
polished lightly if needed. Any cord repairs are neatly bound with
matching
color thread, but I try to keep the original cord if it is electrically
intact. Remember these headphones are up to 80 years old, may
have
minor cosmetic imperfections unless noted. Will give detailed
description
or digital photo on request. I try them on a crystal radio which is a
good
test of their sensitivity. Battery sets have a stronger output and
don't
need quite as much sensitivity from the headphones.
I have tested and have tried to rate each pair of
phones for their sensitivity and suitability to use on crystal radio or
battery sets. Most date back to the 1920's or 1930's. Some are pricy
but
consider that a pair of good headphones cost 2 or 3 day's wages back in
the early 1920's, (a week's wages in the case of Baldwins or Western
Electrics)
they are relatively inexpensive now.
New Postal Rates keep going up all the time.
For US Postal Service Priority Mail shipping within US figure 2 pounds
weight for 1 headset using the link below to the postal service, or
email
me for the actual cost of postage for larger shipments (within US).
Click
USPS icon below for US Postal rates from my zipcode 23320.
NOTE: Insurance is
highly recommended as I cannot reimburse for loss or damage in the mail
unless the postal insurance pays for it. Insurance is not available to
some overseas locations, so shipping would be at your own risk. If it
is available I will offer rates with and without insurance. If no
insurance is chosen, and the package is lost, I will send you a photo
of the postal receipt for proof of mailing but can NOT offer
reimbursement if you do not elect to get the insurance coverage.
I recommend you add insurance for amount of purchase, not responsible
for damage or disappearance in mail, so insurance is recommended. $2
for $50 coverage from US Postal Service.
Email to
scottswim@aol.com E-mail
me here to order.
Sorry, no repair service available.
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A note about cords: The old cloth cords on these headphones are up
to 85 years old and some are a bit fragile or stiff. I test them all
for
electrical continuity before sending them and make any necessary
electrical
repairs so they will arive to you in working condition, but I
can't
really guarantee how long they will last since some may be on their
last
strand of conductor wire inside, so I have to offer no warranty on the
cords either for longevity or appearance other than to say they are
tested
and working when I send them.
Featured Headphone: This is a special pair that I will put at the
top
of the page here that are either in exceptional condition, or a rare or
unusual pair.
Selling off a few of my boxed headphones I have collected over the
years.
Frost 174 Headphones in Original Box
Pair of Frost 174 headphones in the original colorful box from about
1925 or so. The box has some wear and tear and a couple of small
puncture holes but overall good condition. The headphones are in
excellent condition and work fine for crystal radio. $55
Trimm Featherweight 600 ohm headphones in original box
New in the original box pair of Trimm Featherweight 600 ohm impedance
headphones. $35
MIRACO Midwest Radio Company headphones
This is a truly rare pair of headphones by Miraco, Midwest Radio
Company. They are in very good to excellent condition and are working
fine. This is the only pair of Miraco headphones I have ever seen and
is a true collectable piece. $145
Vest O Phone crystal radio
This little earphone unit is really a complete crystal radio built into
an earphone housing. You can see the little crystal and catwhisker in
the photo. There is a crack in the rim of the earphone cap but has been
glued so it is secure. Quite an unusual set. $49
Kilbourne and Clark headphones
This is another truly rare pair of headphones, by Kilbourne and Clark.
These are also in very nice cosmetic and working condition. K & C
made a nice crystal radio that is much more common than the headphones,
which are rarely seen, and almost never in this nice working condition.
$135
SECO 2000 ohm headphones
This is a quite uncommon pair pf Spielman Electric Company headphones,
SECO, in very nice cosmetic and good working condition as well. They
must be on the rare side as this is the only pair I have ever seen.
$79SOLD
USIC Navy Soundpowered Headphones
This is a very nice pair of USIC Navy Soundpowered headphones fitted
with the heavy duty cord spliced on to it and pin tips for termination.
These have superb sensitivity for crystal radio reception and I will
include a little Mouser 42-TM117 impedance matching transformer.
$79SOLD
Will be listing many more headphones over the next few weeks, inquire is there is something specific you are looking for.
Trimm CTX-49003 Military 2200 Ohm Headphones
This is a great pair of military Trimm Type K CTX-49003 military
headphones with leather covered headband and long cord with 1/4 inch
plug. They are is very nice cosmetic and excellent working condition
with excellent sensitivity for crystal radio reception. $69
Trimm Rex 2000 Ohm headphones
Nice pair of Trimm Rex 2000 ohm headphones with cloth cord and mini
plug adapter. Works fine for crystal radio. $23
The Rex 2000 ohm headphones
Another pair of The Rex 2000 ohm headphones this one with aluminum
housings, also in excellent condition and working fine for crystal
radio use. This pair looks almost unused and in like new condition. $25
Signal Corps R-14 Military Headphones 3000 ohms
This is a working pair of Signal Coprs Military R-14 headphones with
3000 ohms DC resistance. They were made to use in a helmet and have a
very short cord. $19
ACME Trimm 2000 ohm headphones
ACME Trimm economy grade headphones in good working condition, fine for
hearing local stations on crystal radio. $19
Brandes NHI 2000 Ohm headphones circa 1920
This is a quite uncommon pair of Brandes NHI 2000 ohm headphones, with
some wear of the headband cloth and a chip off the housings that cover
the screw terminals on the back of the housings. These are still in
about the best condition of any of the Brandes NHI that I have seen and
are in working condition. The diameter is a little smaller than the
other Brandes, and the increased diameter improved the tone and
sensitivity, but still able to hear stations well on crystal radio. A
collectable and uncommon set. $49
USVB 2000 Ohm Headphones
This is a fairly uncommon pair of USVB 2000 ohm headphones, in good
working condition. Look a lot like Trimm headphones, possibly made on a
contract. Fine for crystal radio reception. $35
Trimm Dependable 2000 Ohm Headphones
An exceptionally clean and nice working pair of Trimm 2000 ohm
headphones with the pin tips on the cord,
work fine. $34
CannonBall Master 2000 ohm headphones in good condition, OK for local
stations on crystal radio, one side is a bit louder than the other,
cord is in great shape. $18
Trimm Featherweight 300 ohm single headphone in original box
This is a new in the original box set of Trimm Featherweight 300 ohm
headphones, look like they have never been used. $36
Cannon Alnico Magnetic Headphones unused in original box
This is a pair of Cannon Alnico Magnetic 2000 ohm headphones in the
original box with original packing paper, There is a little rust on the
headband yoke from storage, but otherwise in new condition.
$25
Western Electric 509W Headphones
This is a good working pair of Western Electric 509-W headphones with
the later type curved script in good working condition, has a small
patch on the cord and the leather covered headband. $65HOLD
Trimm Dependable 2000 Ohm Headphones
Very good used pair of 2000 ohm Trimm Dependable headphones with nice
cloth cord and 1/4 inch plug. Very good for use on crystal radio. $30
Uncommon Harvey Wells low impedance headphones maybe 1950's vintage in
working condition. Great addition to your Harvey Wells ham radio gear.
$35
New Section Display or Mod Headphones
Nonworking Headphones for Display, Stage Props, or for rebuilding or
Steampunk Mods Nothing over $20 sorting through some next few
days.
Alnico headphones, not working
This pair of Alnico headphones is a new old stock pair, but coils are
open circuit so it is not working. The cord is good or they could be
used for a prop or to rebuild. $17
Brush Crystal Headphones
A nonworking but not bad looking pair of Brush crystal headphones, for
display or a stage prop. $11SOLD
Cheap Gray Headphones
This is a cheapie pair of headphones with separate cord for each side,
and about 1800 ohms DC resistance per side. They are actually in
working condition but are not very good performers. $9
Wen Model 100 Soldering Gun
This is a Wen soldering iron it works and the tip heats up to
temperature
in about 3 seconds. You can't buy a better soldering gun and nothing
made
today works as well as a vintage This one is
used but tested, no cracks, and working fine.
Wen. $19SOLD Have several others available, inquire if
interested.
NOS Sylvania 1N450 Glass Body Point Contact Germanium Crystal Diodes
New Old stock of Sylvania crystal diodes, probably 1950's vintage, nice
long leads, tested and work great for crystal radio detectors. $3 each
or $25 for a dozen and free shipping.
NOS Vintage Sylvania 1N48 glass body Point Contact Diodes
These are new old stock Sylvania glass body 1N48 Germanium point
contact diodes, the early style with the metal caps and clear large
glass body. These have been tested and are excellent crystal radio
detectors, subjectively as good as any 1N34 diodes I have. They have
the full length leads as shown. $4 each or $35 for a dozen and
free shipping within
the US
Package of 7 Germaniun Point Contact Crystal Radio Detector Diodes
Assortment of seven diodes. One vintage Sylvania 1N48 diode, two
Russian D9B detector diodes, two US made NOS military diodes, and two
modern 1N34A diodes.
All work great for crystal radio detectors. $6 and free shipping within
the US.
Package of 12 Diodes
A dozen new old stock military germanium point contact detector diodes,
(sorry the photo only shows 10 but offer is for 12) behave like 1N34A
but they are unmarked so I don't know the exact specs, but tested and
work equivalent to any 1N34A diode I have. $4 and free shipping within
the US on this offer.
Bulk purchase option buy 100 diodes for $15 which
includes free shipping within the US.
Other Stuff
Fightin' Bull Mother of Pearl Hand Crafted Pen knife
I bought several of these collectable high quality hand made pocket
knives from Wendell Carson and need to sell some of them off. I am
pricing
them at less than I paid. Mint unused new in the box condition, opened
up only to take the photo. $79 (less than I paid for it)
Have
several other styles, only one of this kind.
See 1920's Battery set parts page for
vintage
radio parts occasionally list Transformers, tubes, and test equipment.
Click
here to see the Headphone Museum Gallery
NO REPLACEMENT DOUBLE CORDS AVAILABLE They have these at Phoneco, email to phonecoinc@aol.com
Earcaps
These are not original W.E. parts but will fit W.E. 509W and similar
headphones with the same size threads. $0.39 each
Earpiece units:
1 pair Murdock 55, 1000 ohm earpiece with good coils, no cap
or diaphragm $13 ball and socket type circa 1915
Sorry, no Baldwin parts. Have some Brandes units earpieces
available with good coils without the diaphragms or earcaps,
no headbands or cords $5.
Sorry, no repair service available, plenty of advice given free
though.
Many other parts available, inquire.
Variable Capacitors: go to the 1920's radio parts page.
Just listed some nice vintage National variable tuning capacitors on
the radio parts page.
Email to
scottswim@aol.com
E-mail me here to order.