NR MINT VINTAGE ROBERTS R900 FM/MW/LW THE BEST RADIO THEY EVER MADE? GREAT SOUND

Description

ROBERTS R900 3 BAND MW/LW/VHF (AM/FM) PORTABLE TRANSISTOR RADIO

ROBERTS FLAGSHIP SET FROM THE 80's

REGARDED BY MANY AS ONE OF ROBERTS BEST EVER

RARE & COLLECTABLE

OUTSTANDING SOUND QUALITY

IN EXCELLENT FULL WORKING ORDER

IN SUPERB ORIGINAL CONDITION

BEAUTIFUL BROWN LEATHERCLOTH/TEAK CABINET

COMPLETE WITH COPY ROBERTS R900 SERVICE SHEET

SEE THIS ACTUAL RADIO PLAYING ON YOUTUBE

SEE THE ROBERTS R900 AT THE RADIO MUSEUM

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/roberts_r900r_90.html

I collect vintage radios, mostly Hackers, Grundigs, and early Roberts sets. From time to time I buy something outside my usual remit, which is how I cam by this immaculate and very interesting Roberts R900. I am tempted to keep this one, as it will be more or less impossible to replace if I want to in future.

Roberts is of course the most iconic and prabably best known British radio brand, still alive today, and I have to say based on recent experience they offer tremendous customer support. However many if not most radio enthusiasts do not regard Roberts as the "best" radios produced in the UK throughout the 50', 60's and 70's. Enthusiasts tend to see Hacker as the "Rolls Royce" of British radios, and Roberts as a worthy "Rover". However commercially there can be no doubt which brand was more successful, Roberts sold a lot more sets and survive today. Hacker went Bankrupt in the early 80's. However the 2 brands certainly competed hard against each other in the 60' and 70's.

Hacker tended to sell bigger more expensive sets than Roberts, while Roberts sold greater volumes of relatively cheaper smaller sets, although both brands were "premium" priced and quality. However once Hacker also started to produce some smaller cheaper sets, Roberts retaliated by encroaching on Hacker turf with a larger very high quality set pitched up against the top of the line Hackers. That is the background to a range of radios starting with the R707 and later with this the R900 although by the time the R900 came to market in 1985 Hacker had gone to the wall, and Roberts had the high end market to themselves.

The R900 was actually in production from 1985 to 1990. At launch it cost around £75. That was a lot of money in those days, well over £300 in todays values! Hence it did not sell in huge numbers but sold well to people who wanted the very best sound irrespective of cost.

Hence the R900 is quite a large set by Roberts standards (32x20x11cms) using the finest components and materials. The R900 also offers 3 bands MW/LW (AM) and VHF (FM).

The R900 is very well specified with a rotary tone contros for bass and treblel, and sockets for external speaker/headphones and a 5 pin din plug.

The R900 is also a mains/battery set operating from a 9v PP9 battery (not supplied) or a figure of 8 220/240v mains lead (supplied).

For use in countries where a PP9 battery may be difficult to obtain I can supply  (for an additional £7) a battery holder for 6 x AA batteries, suitably adapted to fit the Roberts connectors and sit in the battery bay.

This example of the R900 is in remarkable condition for a circa 35 year old radio. Of course given it is a used item of that age it is bound to have at least a few very minor marks and scrapes but you will have to look hard to find anything of note, and I think the term near mint is fair.

I have tried to provide a good range of clear pictures so you can come to your own conclusion regarding the condition of this radio, rather than rely on my description.

The beautiful classic brown rexine covering is in excellent condition.

The teak end caps are also in great condition. The aerial is original and retracts and extends fully and properly with an articulating base.

The knobs/buttons are all original complete.

The base has a turntable which allows the set to be easily rotated for the best signal.

The tuning dial is excellent and very attractive on this model.

All in all this is a very nice rare example of a this top of the line set. If you are going to buy a retro radio it makes sence to buy one that sounds good, looks good, as in the type of condition that will allow it to continue to appreciate in the future. But this is also a radio you can buy as day to day enjoyment. It sounds fantastic, you will not be dissapointed.

The value of a vintage radio is set by desirability and rarity. A fully working R900  in this condition is certainly quite rare. It should be extreemy desirable. Its a lovely radio that sounds great - arguably one of the best sounding radios ever produced in Britain. You can have all this for less than the price of a new Roberts Revival DAB. I know which one is better value, and which one will be worth more in another 20 years.

I am selling this exceptional radio for £145. I sell on a Buy It Now basis to save you the bother of the ebay auction, where you may have to watch an item you want for up to 10 days before entering a last minute bidding lottery, where you may end dissapointed without the item, or worrying you have paid too much! Better to Buy It Now. No fuss, and you will not be dissapointed.

Check some feedback below (you can also check my feedback in full on ebay and see feedback for a number of Roberts R900 radios):