Sparton 6-06 Portable 6-Tube Radio — Lucite Handle, Original Docs

The Sparton Model 6-06 is a portable six-tube superheterodyne broadcast receiver produced by the Sparks-Withington Company of Jackson, Michigan, operating on self-contained batteries or 115-volt AC-DC line power. The radio mounts in a brown leatherette-covered wooden case fitted with an amber Lucite arch handle, a stitched leather Sparton-branded latch tab, and a hinged drop-front battery access door. The face panel presents a striking Art Deco layout: a gold-on-burgundy perforated speaker grille with geometric banding flanks a backlit dial marked "Sparton — Jackson, Michigan — Made in U.S.A.," with two cream ribbed knobs below for volume and tuning. The chassis carries serial number 41267 and retains its original UL listing sticker; service records indicate the tubes were cleaned, the three-section tuning capacitor C25 replaced, and wiring repaired.

The lot includes the original Sparton Model 6-06 Operating Instructions sheet, a tube placement card, a patent/license card, and a period schematic from the 1948 Manual of Most-Often-Needed Radio Diagrams with handwritten service annotations documenting the work performed.

CONDITION

Good. The chassis and dial present well, with all controls and tubes intact and documented service work completed. Corner delamination is present at two or more corners of the leatherette case where the covering has lifted and frayed from the substrate. The leather Sparton latch tab shows surface wear on the lower half, and a name or inscription has been written on the rear panel of the case.

DIMENSIONS / SPECIFICATIONS

• Manufacturer: Sparks-Withington Co., Jackson, Michigan, U.S.A.
• Model: 6-06
• Chassis Type: 6-06
• Circuit: Six-tube superheterodyne
• Power: Self-contained battery or 115V AC-DC, 18 watts
• Frequency: 60 cycles
• Broadcast Band: 550–1720 kilocycles (extended; 545–174 meters)
• Intermediate Frequency: 456 kc
• Tube Complement: 1T4 (RF Amp), 1R5 (Osc-Converter), 1T4 (IF Amp), 1S5 (Det-AVC/1st Audio), 3Q5GT (Power Amp), 117Z6GT (Rectifier)
• Serial Number: 41267