Information on a Cadillac Master Motor Car Radio

[Josh Noiles]

Just thought you guys would enjoy having a look at these photos I took of a "Cadillac Master Motor Car Radio," that is in a dear friend's collection here in Nova Scotia, Canada. He picked it up at a swap meet a number of years ago as he is a fellow Cadillac enthusiast and collector.

Unsure of how complete this is. It features wood in a great deal of its construction, and it has a green paint job, which does not seem too sloppily applied, having no brush-marks or over-spray on any of the grilles or nameplates.

Reading through some of the GM Heritage info kits, I found reference to the "Master" radio as the high-end radio above the "Standard" series, available in all Cadillac & LaSalle models. There was a "Fleetwood" radio that appears to share many features of the "Master" but with dual speakers and it was only available in Sixteen and Fleetwood models.

That information was obtained by looking at the 1938 info kit available on the GM Heritage site, but the images of the radios listed there appear updated in design compared to my friend's unit. (See pages 287-289) https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/docs/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits/Cadillac/1938_Cadillac_V16_VVI.pdf

Could anyone help ID this? Obviously, bearing the LaSalle crest as well, it's 1927-1940, but I feel its definitely earlier than the '38 I read about.

He's interested in any information. He believes he acquired it sometime between 1997 and 2004.

Click this link for photos:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/28706630@N06/albums/72157663576648374

Also, greetings from Canada's East Coast. I haven't posted much here but read constantly and greatly enjoy being a member of this esteemed and renowned club.

[Steve Passmore]

By 38 radios where behind the dash with knobs sticking through and no Visible loud speaker so I would think your friends radio is before then and remote controlled.(cables)

[Josh Noiles]

Thank you, Steve! I definitely agree. Appreciate the reply! 

If someone can provide a year or year-range, or has photos of one installed in a car, I would be most interested in seeing them.

[tozerco]

Not '36 or '37 Cadillac (don't know about La Salle) because I have one of both. They also were both cable controlled through knobs in a purpose built insert into the dash. Speakers were also built-in. You will be back a bit further than that but perhaps not too far back.

[tozerco]

Pity we have recently lost Doug Houston. He would tell you in a heartbeat!

[Philippe M. Ruel]

From the Standard Catalog, the optional radio could bear the "Master" name from 1934-38.

In 1933 the choice was between "Standard" and "Imperial" ($64.50/$74.50).
In 1931-32 the catalog mentions "price on application". Does it mean that various body styles or interior finishes could get a custom fitted radio ?

The radio had appeared as a factory option in 1930 at $175.00 - $200.00 on V16s, almost half the price of a brand new Ford Model A.

[Josh Noiles]

Thanks so much, guys! This is excellent info. My friend will be really excited for me to relay this to him. 

[bcroe]

Just thought you guys would enjoy having a look at these photos I took of a "Cadillac Master Motor Car Radio," that is in a dear friend's collection here in Nova Scotia, Canada. He picked it up at a swap meet a number of years ago as he is a fellow Cadillac enthusiast and collector.

Unsure of how complete this is.

Apparently the control head is missing?  If it contains no vibrator, it
also needs a dynamotor to work.  Interesting, it is generally possible
to bring complete units back to life, but that implies there is a car
it belongs in.  Bruce Roe

[tozerco]

My '36 has a dynamotor but my '37 didn't so I suspect the one in question probably should have had one too (given that it looks earlier than or about '35 somewhere....)

[chris hedstrom]

i know this is an old post, but i can not find anything else on the internet about these radios. i just found one (not quite as nice shape as one posted) and was wondering if you had found anymore info on them. thanks

[bcroe]

  I know this is an old post, but I can not find anything else on the internet about these radios. I just found one (not quite as nice shape as one posted) and was wondering if you had found anymore info on them. thanks 

It would be cool to restore, if there is a car it could be used in.  Do you have any
pictures, esp of the inner works?  Bruce Roe

[chris hedstrom]

sorry for delay. hopefully these pictures will open.

[bcroe]

Thanks for the pictures; looks like a vibrator radio.  Bruce Roe