Patterson Radio Company - Los Angeles, California
I currently have a PR-10 and rare matching Pre-Selector, a PR-16 and a Pierson Delaine PR-15.
California was home to a number
of manufacturers of communications receivers
in the 1930's. Names such as Gillfillan
Brothers, Patterson, Sargent and the Breting
Radio Manufacturing Company in Los Angeles,
California were some of the better known
companies. Emmitt Patterson started the
Patterson Electric in 1919. The chief engineer
was Ray Gudie who also designed the Breting
receivers. Ray Gudie left Patterson during the
design of the PR-12, Karl Pierson joined the
company in 1934 and was instrumental in the
design of the PR-15 and PR-16 receivers.
Patterson built receivers from 1935-1940. The
Patterson receivers were high end receivers
with high tube counts, chrome chassis',
crystal filters and many other features not
available on Hallicrafters and National radios
of the same vintage. All the Patterson
chassis' were manufactured in the Gillfillan
plants. Patterson went out of business in
1939.
Frequency Range: 540 kHz to 21
MHz Number of Tubes: 10 Years Built: 1933-1934 Original Price:$70.25 Other comments: Schematic: PR-10 PR-12 Frequency Range: 550 kHz to 32
MHz Number of Tubes: 12 Years Built: 1934-1935 Original Price: $83.70 ($89.70
with Crystal) Other comments: Schematic: N/A Frequency Range: 550 kHz to 30
MHz Number of Tubes: 15 Years Built: 1937-1939 Original Price: $109.50 Other comments: Schematic: N/A Frequency Range: 550 kHz to 32
MHz Number of Tubes: 16 Years Built: 1935-1936 Original Price: $89.70 Other comments: Schematic: Frequency Range: 550 kHz to 37
MHz Number of Tubes: 16 Years Built: 1935-1936 Original Price: $69.50 Other comments: Schematic: N/A Frequency Range: 550 kHz to 30
MHz Number of Tubes: 15 Years Built: 1937-1939 Original Price: $109.50 Other comments: Same as
Patterson PR-15 with minor design changes Schematic: N/A
PR-15
Here are a few 1930's pictures of stations using the Patterson PR-10 receiver.
The first is W8DUV who was the uncle of my friend Bob, K7ZB. This station picture is from his station in Ohio taken in the mid 1930's. He not only has the PR-10, but he also has the now a days rare preselector.
The second picture is W4IR. Year unknown but it looks to be the 1930's
Last Updated October 8, 2022
Created July 2007