No. 3925 (Model 1)

Image credited to Jeff Thomas

Image credited to Jeff Thomas

Image Courtesy of John Jenkins | Visit the SparkMuseum!

Image Courtesy of Grant Kornberg, Technogallerie

Image Courtesy of Grant Kornberg, Technogallerie

Image Courtesy of Grant Kornberg, Technogallerie

Image Courtesy of Grant Kornberg, Technogallerie

Image credited to Jeff Thomas

The Atwater Kent No. 3925 (Model 1) Receiving Set holds the distinction of being the company's first factory-built tube radio, introduced in November 1922 with a debut price of $32.00. This two-tube "breadboard" model was simpler than its successor, featuring a tuner, detector, and a single stage of audio amplification. Its designed tube line-up often specified a Type 00 tube for the detector and a Type 01 tube for the amplifier, though collectors note the flexibility to use other contemporary tubes. Like the later Model 2, the Model 1's design was a direct response to avoiding the costly patent license for regenerative circuits held by RCA. Atwater Kent strategically sold the set without the central variometer installed. Board dimensions are 18-1/2" x 8-1/2".