Radio Head Values?

[Guest]

Anyone else noticed this?

I've been seeing, on eBay and other places lately some very high prices for fairly common radio heads (Ford, Chevrolet, etc.) Prices of $200, $300 $400 and more. Of course they never seem to sell so it makes me wonder if these sellers don't really understand what they have? The heads are almost completely worthless without the actual radio box they are supposed to attach to. Complete radios (head and box) whether restored or unrestored still seem to bring reasonable prices.

Just an observation....

Edited June 5, 2017 by Guest (see edit history)

[padgett]

Reminds me of the elrly 70's Delco AM-FM stereo/8 track. I used to see the head units on swap meet tables everywhere most with buyers complaining they did not work. What all the grabbers missed was the stereo amp that sat on top of the glove box. Dunno how many cars I saw with the head unit missing and the amp still sitting in the dash. Was a $2 item without the radio, not sure how many are still under a workbench.

[F&J]

They CERTAINLY are not useless without the Box.  There is a feature on hamb called Tech Week, sometimes once a year contest of ideas with pics of a new "thing" or process.  One entry a few years back, was how to use a stock dash control like those or even the control face/knobs of a factory dash mounted radio....to use cable running to a newer radio that still has "two knob  control function"

 

You use your radio head and cables you pictured, to run that newer radio on a prewar.

 

Yes those control heads used to be more valuable (inflation adjusted) a long time ago, but as prewar has died out, not so much now.  I have one or two here that I will chose one for my 32 Nash in the future.  Mine were either free from box lots, etc, or cheap on local purchase.

 

the Chevy script one you show, as well as other car maker branded ones, DO still bring some bucks, more so than say a Motorola or Philco, etc script.

[Curti]

If you have a radio head for an Auburn you would like to sell for $500   or so let me know.

[F&J]

1 hour ago, Curti said:

If you have a radio head for an Auburn you would like to sell for $500   or so let me know.

 

If you are talking to me, I am sort of out of the big estate mess for now, as I was contracted for the cars, not "unrelated" parts of those particular cars., but I offered to remain on call at no charge, to help ID what I may be able to.  I have zero interest in selling parts, unless in person at the site, for the current owner.  I do not wish to ever be a middle man for parts...it just takes away time/concentration of my own hobby.

 

There is a smaller room in the biggest barn where "most" of the radio related items were.  I have only done one quick tour through it, only on very visible shelving, back 3-4 years ago.  I do not recall that exact head there...but I'd PM you the contact person who perhaps may get a legal contract to clean out that last building, only "IF" one turns up.  Some items were often 'tossed" into another random area, if you understand a collector that kept things for himself, and also flipped, from the same immense & confusing layout type building for 50 years.

 

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[Curti]

I am talking anyone and everyone who chances to read this thread.