{"id":56672,"date":"2023-05-22T08:11:19","date_gmt":"2023-05-22T12:11:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=56672"},"modified":"2023-05-22T08:11:19","modified_gmt":"2023-05-22T12:11:19","slug":"the-mystery-radio-that-wasnt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/05\/the-mystery-radio-that-wasnt\/","title":{"rendered":"The mystery radio that wasn’t…"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>
\nMany thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, Julian Stargardt, who shares the following in response to our recent mystery radio post<\/a>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Deciphering Dan Robinson\u2019s mystery photo from the Marvellous Mrs Maizel<\/h3>\n

Solution:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The object at the right background below the painting and behind the cravat wearing adult male\u2019s raised hand is a chair with 4 or 5 old leather bound books stacked on it. Thanks to Bill Hemphill WD9EQD for suggesting chair(s)! It was a big hint.<\/li>\n
  2. The object with a white frame that\u2019s almost flush with the wall at the extreme lefthand side \u2013 to the left of the book case \u2013 maybe a mirror or an alcove, difficult to say. It is above a shallow built in cupboard that looks like a book cabinet to me.<\/li>\n
  3. Slightly toward the foreground visually in front of the low level cupboard is a corner of a brown wood table.<\/li>\n
  4. There is a ledge or mantelpiece beneath and in front of the mirror\/alcove(?) and bookcase. On this shelf at the lefthand side there is another stack of 3 leather bound books with a glass paperweight(?) on top of the top volume. Behind the stack of books, either a reflection in the mirror, if it is a mirror, or in the alcove, if it is an alcove, are some other indistinct objects. From Dan\u2019s photo, I don\u2019t think it\u2019s a painting, but it might be.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    Steps to solution<\/p>\n

    Key items in the photo:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Child and adult (\u201cpianists\u201d) at the piano<\/li>\n
    2. Piano<\/li>\n
    3. Wall and features of the wall behind the pianists<\/li>\n
    4. Gilt framed painting at the righthand side of the photo<\/li>\n
    5. Below the painting is a difficult to interpret composite object. To resolve the identity of the composite object, I copied and pasted the image to a word document, then pasted the image again and cropped it to focus in on the composite object. Looking at the image of the composite object several components become apparent: (i) a slightly curved and tilted vertical brown frame surrounding with a gap on either side (ii) an unornamented white panel, (iii) an object or stack of objects in front of the vertical white panel, (iv) at the extreme bottom right hand side of the frame an angle, a close to a right angle that transitions the rear slightly curved and tilted vertical brown frame to a horizontal frame containing a padded off white insert that matches the vertical off white insert surrounded by the vertical brown frame, ergo a chair, (v) so what is or are the object(s) on the chair? They are objects, i.e. there are more than one. These objects are 4 or 5 leather bound books, see 2 below.<\/li>\n
    6. Book case with diagonal wire lattice security doors containing mostly leather bound books on 3 shelves that are visible or implied<\/li>\n
    7. Shelf below bookcase<\/li>\n
    8. Small stack of 3 leatherbound books and glass paperweight(?) at lefthand side<\/li>\n
    9. Alcove\/mirror\/painting behind the stack of 3 books and glass object at the lefthand side \u2013 how do I know it\u2019s glass and likely a paperweight? (i) Glass: Because the frame behind it can be seen indistinctly through it, (ii) Paperweight: because of its shape and size and apparent mass, seems likely to be a solid or near solid object<\/li>\n
    10. Right angled brown object at left hand side \u2013 looks most likely to be a table<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Just to throw the viewer off the mark, many of the books in the image have broken or damaged spines revealing the underlying binding, this makes it difficult from this photo to confirm if there are 4 or 5 books in the stack on the chair. It\u2019s possible that there is a bottom-most thin dark bound book at the bottom, an alternative interpretation is that this bottom-most object is the bottom cover of the book resting on the chair.<\/li>\n
      2. (a) The books in the photo seem to be at most quarto or small folio in size, with most being octavo or smaller. (b) From the usual size of a chair my guess is that the 4 or books on the chair are all quarto or small folio sized. (c) From the bindings and the state of the bindings, I\u2019d guess that they are mostly mid to late 19th century books, possibly early 20th century.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Julian Stargardt, who shares the following in response to our recent mystery radio post: Deciphering Dan Robinson\u2019s mystery photo from the Marvellous Mrs Maizel Solution: The object at the right background below the painting and behind the cravat wearing adult male\u2019s raised hand is a chair with 4 or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[2055],"class_list":["post-56672","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-mystery-radio"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-eK4","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":60491,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/08\/bruce-spots-a-mystery-radio-in-the-netflix-series-ripley\/","url_meta":{"origin":56672,"position":0},"title":"Bruce spots a mystery radio in the Netflix series Ripley","author":"Thomas","date":"August 28, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bruce, who writes: Here is an unknown radio from the recent Netflix mini-series \"Ripley\". The setting is early 1960's Italy. IMO this show was very good and artistically filmed in black & white. Beautiful radio--thanks, Bruce! Readers: can you ID this vintage model? Please\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Ripley_-Mystery-Radio.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Ripley_-Mystery-Radio.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Ripley_-Mystery-Radio.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Ripley_-Mystery-Radio.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Ripley_-Mystery-Radio.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Ripley_-Mystery-Radio.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6957,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2013\/07\/mystery-radio-identified\/","url_meta":{"origin":56672,"position":1},"title":"Mystery radio identified","author":"Thomas","date":"July 30, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Wow, that was quick! Many thanks to Ulli who solved the case of the mystery radio\u00a0we posted yesterday. Ulli comments\u00a0with details: The radio was a giveaway about 1995. I opened it : 1 IC Sony CXA1191S 314J22V , 5 Transistors , 3 -band filter , 5.5 cm speakers , 8ohm\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Click to enlarge.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/MysteryRadio-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":65667,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/03\/haluk-spots-this-mystery-radio-in-a-vintage-turkish-film\/","url_meta":{"origin":56672,"position":2},"title":"Haluk Spots this Mystery Radio in a Vintage Turkish Film","author":"Thomas","date":"March 24, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Haluk, who writes: Hello. I was skimming through a very old Turkish film. Lo and behold, a maid turned on some (!) radio to provide music in a party... The receiver looks serious but doesn't look familiar, at least to me. Regards, Haluk Thanks\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Turkish-Film-mystery-radio-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Turkish-Film-mystery-radio-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Turkish-Film-mystery-radio-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Turkish-Film-mystery-radio-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Turkish-Film-mystery-radio-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":52425,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/04\/can-you-identify-john-lennons-mystery-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":56672,"position":3},"title":"Can you identify John Lennon’s mystery radio?","author":"Thomas","date":"April 11, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0reader,\u00a0Robert Yowell, who writes: Hi Thomas - you might recall several years ago I found a photo of a Sony ICF-2001 in the New York studio where John Lennon was recording his final album \u201cDouble Fantasy.\u201d Well I just recently found this photo of John Lennon which\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/John-Lennon-Radio-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/John-Lennon-Radio-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/John-Lennon-Radio-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/John-Lennon-Radio-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/John-Lennon-Radio-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6974,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2013\/08\/paul-reviews-the-mystery-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":56672,"position":4},"title":"Paul reviews the mystery radio","author":"Thomas","date":"August 3, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to Paul for providing this review of his mystery radio (see previous posts): This is a basic AM\/FM radio with clock and alarm functions. It runs off three AA batteries (for the radio) or a 1.5 V small cell battery (for the clock). There is also the option\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Radios"","block_context":{"text":"Radios","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/radios\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"MysteryRadio2","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/MysteryRadio2-300x224.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":57883,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/10\/mystery-radio-from-good-omens\/","url_meta":{"origin":56672,"position":5},"title":"Mystery Radio from “Good Omens”","author":"Thomas","date":"October 7, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bruce, who writes: This appeared in Episode 4 of the 1st Season of Good Omens. No sign of a brand name on the front, unless it's in the lower left corner which is covered. It has a shortwave band. Does anyone recognize it? -\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Good-omens-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Good-omens-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Good-omens-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Good-omens-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Good-omens-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56672","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56672"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56672\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56686,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56672\/revisions\/56686"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56672"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56672"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56672"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}