[NJARC] Cole Radio of Bloomfield NJ info requested:

[n3ibx]

Greetings All,
I acquired a "Cole" broadcast band highboy console recently and did a cursory examination of it. I don't think it has seen "fire to the wire" since sometime in the mid '30's. I'd love to find a schematic for it, if anyone has any information on where I could secure one; and any information about the manufacturer that was located in Bloomfield New Jersey. 

It seems the Cole is a transformerless set, and used a ballast tube in place of the power transformer. The person I got it from (unfortunately he couldn't find the ballast tube) told me the ballast tube was huge - about twice the size of a globe 80 rectifier. Would anyone have information on what I could use to sub it, or where I could track down a  ballast tube that would work in it (preferably original type)? 

It's a conventional "TRF" job, probably dating to 1929-1930. It has an interesting audio output arrangement. It appears to have a pair of "Sparton" C-183 tubes in the audio output stage, though a pair of 27's are closest to the speaker terminals. I've never heard of C-183's before and would appreciate any info about them. The rest of the tube lineup is conventional 26's and 27's and one #80 rectifier. To my knowledge, the only set that used C-183's was the Sparton around 1930. 

The front panel is a marbelized deep maroon bakelite, and sports a National company oval shaped gold escutcheon and drum dial drive. The chassis is removable in one intact piece. 
The speaker is made my a company in RI (the name escapes me), and has an output transformer on it. 

The front has opening doors, etc, and is a period piece of furniture. 

I plan to do a "fotoshoot" of the whole set; and will be glad to email anybody interested in seeing what it looks like. It's truly beautiful! I'd like to get it working, but can't find any information on it on the "web", books, or elsewhere. 

Any information about the "Cole" would be greatfully appreciated. This is the first radio I've ran across that's a total mystery to me since I've never heard of the manufacturer, and that uses a big ballast tube in place of a transformer, and has unusual audio tubes. The ballast tube was on a seperate socket (4 pin base) wired in series with the AC power cord! 

I did a "Duncan amps" tube search on the 183 tube and came up with some data on them. Their specs look somewhat similar to 45's, and are rated at 2W outpoot. Were they used in any other type sets? 

Very Best Regards,
Joe Cro N3IBX