A Compact, upright Radio that occupies
less than one square foot of floor space

It has a surprise in its new realism of tone as well as its practicality and beauty of design. Nine-tubes screen-grid super-heterodyne, tone control, Electric Clock. Remote control if you want it.

1931 Westinghouse Columaire 801 

The above description is from a 1931 Westinghouse Radio Advertisement offering the Columaire forsale at the unbelieveable sum of $193. This included Free installation.  Think about that   — $193 during the height of the Great Depression  — that's $3,860 in today's dollars.

In 1931 you could purchase a 1931 Plymouth Model PA sedan for $635 or a Ford Model A Tudor Sedan for $495.  To put that in perspective this radio cost 30% of the cost a new Plymouth.  This gives you an idea of financial status of the families who were able to purchase the Columaire in 1931. This was a high end appliance that few people could afford.

Burled Walnut veneer

One of the most intriguing features of this radio is its burl inlay. This is one of the cabinet’s most visually striking and historically significant decorative features.

Burl walnut was considered a premium veneer material even in the early 1930s because of its rare and highly figured grain patterns. Unlike ordinary straight-grain walnut, burl veneer is cut from abnormal growth formations in the tree, producing dramatic swirling patterns, eyes, and feathering that create a rich three-dimensional appearance when properly finished. In the Art Deco period, such exotic veneers were often used sparingly as accent panels to convey luxury, craftsmanship, and modern sophistication. On the Columaire, the burl inlay provides an elegant focal point that breaks up the tall vertical lines of the cabinet and adds warmth and visual depth to the otherwise architectural styling.

Since the burl veneer was expensive and more difficult to work with than conventional veneer, its inclusion strongly suggests that the Columaire was intended to compete in the premium segment of the radio market. Westinghouse was not merely building a radio; they were producing a piece of decorative modern furniture intended to project status and refinement during the early years of the Great Depression. The fact that this radio retained its original burl panel beneath the white paint makes its survival particularly remarkable. The hand-rubbed tung oil treatment that I used to finish the cabinet made the natural depth of the burl veneer to become even more pronounced. This treatment allowed one of the cabinet’s finest original design elements to re-emerge exactly as its designers intended nearly a century ago.

Owner's Manual
This Radio comes with a Historical and Technical Manual where you can read about the history of this 1931 Westinghouse Columinaire Grandmother Clock Radio.

This radio was manufactured in Hamilton Ontario. The Canadian version of the Columaire, Model 801, was manufactured in Hamilton, Ontario by Canadian Westinghouse Company in 1931. American versions were sold under model numbers such as the WR-8.

This manual also holds important technical information needed to maintain this valuable antique.

Large Scale Schematic
This Radio comes equipped with a large scale technical schematic (24" x 18") that knowledgeable technicians with a solid understanding of vacuum tube theory can use to maintain this valuable antique radio.