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Atwater Kent Model 649 All-Wave 9 Metal Tube Superheterodyne
Radio Service Data Sheet
November 1935 Radio-Craft

November 1935 Radio-Craft

Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles from Radio-Craft, published 1929 - 1953. All copyrights are hereby acknowledged.

Atwater Kent Model 649

For more than a decade, I have been posting these Radio Service Data Sheets for radios and various other audio and visual electronics sets that appeared in vintage electronics magazines. This one for the Atwater Kent Model 649 all-wave, 9 metal tube, superheterodyne console radio set was published in the November 1935 issue of Radio Craft. "All-Wave" radios were popular at the time because they provided access to shortwave bands so listeners could tune in foreign broadband stations - often with the rudimentary built-in antenna. Short Wave Listening was actually a worldwide sport that had its own cadre of enthusiastic participants, including a dedicated magazine entitled Short Wave Listener. Although not as popular today, there are still a few adherents remaining today.

Atwater Kent Model 649 All-Wave 9 Metal Tube Superhet. Set

The airplane dial of this set changes illumination as the bands are shifted. Both halves are lighted on the broadcast band. the upper half on the S.-W. band, and the lower half on the police band. The tuning ratio is 60-to-1 on the high position. The selectivity control makes possible true high-fidelity when in the low selectivity position. In addition, a 4-position tone control is used. Correct tuning is shown. by observing the shadow tuning meter, which is operated by the plate current of V2 and V3. The set draws 120 W. from the line. The range switch has 3 sections, each of which changes 3 separate circuits.

Arthur Atwater Kent

Atwater Kent was an American inventor, entrepreneur and manufacturer of radio equipment. He was born on December 12, 1873, in Cassopolis, Michigan and died on August 30, 1949, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a pioneer in the development of radio technology and his impact on the industry is still felt today.

Kent began his career as an electrical engineer, working for various companies before starting his own business in 1918. He founded the Atwater Kent Manufacturing Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with the goal of producing high-quality radio sets for the public. The company quickly became one of the largest radio manufacturers in the United States, producing over one million radio sets between the 1920s and 1930s.

One of Kent's innovations was the development of the "breadboard" radio set, which was easy to assemble and repair. He also made use of more efficient components, such as high-voltage power supplies, which allowed his radio sets to produce better sound quality. His radios were also known for their beautiful wooden cabinets, which were handcrafted and came in a variety of styles and finishes to suit any decor.

Atwater Kent was a visionary who understood the potential of radio as a means of communication and entertainment. He was an advocate for the development of commercial radio broadcasting and he supported the establishment of the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) in 1926. This network helped to bring radio to a wider audience and it was a major factor in the growth of the radio industry.

In addition to his contributions to the radio industry, Kent was also a philanthropist. He supported a number of educational and scientific organizations, including the Franklin Institute, and he established the Atwater Kent Foundation, which provided grants for scientific research.

Posted December 14, 2016

Radio Service Data Sheets

These schematics, tuning instructions, and other data are reproduced from my collection of vintage radio and electronics magazines. As back in the era, similar schematic and service info was available for purchase from sources such as SAMS Photofacts, but these printings were a no-cost bonus for readers. There are 227 Radio Service Data Sheets as of December 28, 2020.

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Atwater Kent Model 649 All-Wave 9 Metal Tube SuperheterodyneRadio Service Data SheetNovember 1935 Radio-Craft

Atwater Kent Model 649 All-Wave 9 Metal Tube Superheterodyne
Radio Service Data Sheet
November 1935 Radio-Craft