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R-20

RARITY: ¤¤¤   VALUE:  ¤¤ 

The R-20 was an early radio set sold by Victor dealers in early 1926. It was introduced shortly after The Victor Talking Machine Co. contracted with The Radio Corporation of America to license the installation of RCA radios in some Victor-branded phonographs, creating true "home entertainment systems".  Since Victor was not prepared for the massive success of radio in 1924-1925, they desperately needed to compete in this growing market; RCA products provided leading-edge radio technology at that time. The R-20 was a unique Victor offering as it did not have a phonograph; it was simply an RCA Radiola 20 installed into a Victor-produced cabinet, connected to a small Victor Orthophonic Horn. RCA dealers also sold the identical Radiola 20 model using a basic horn speaker, but Victor's advanced folded Orthophonic horn provided more volume and superior bass response than RCA's sets. A set of large batteries or an equally large AC-adapter was required for operation.

Approximately 6,400 R-20's were produced, making it a relatively rare model. Since radio and electronic technology were developing so rapidly in the mid-1920's, the R-20 became obsolete very quickly, and it is likely that many were sold at discount toward the end of the year. In addition, the Orthophonic horn in the R-20 is very small as compared to the impressive Victrola Credenza phonograph, so the bass response isn't comparable to what could have been achieved with a large Orthophonic horn, such as found in the Credenza.  List price was set at $135.00 (which equates to  $2,000.00 in today's money), but the necessary tubes were extra-cost items. The R-20 was available only in a blended mahogany finish. The high cost of restoration of these early electronic sets limits the interest of many collectors today.

Do you own an R-20? Please take a moment and enter some basic information about your machine into the collector's database by clicking here. No personal information is required.