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OK when was this built

216.71.224.74

Posted on July 24, 2015 at 08:32:33
DavidLD
Audiophile

Posts: 4884
Joined: May 29, 2002
A unit identical to this is in the Ward County Historical Society house.
I got a chance to look at it in detail

It has a Voice of Music changer with 3 speeds, 33 45 and 78. I immediately noticed the Civil Defense at 64 and 1240.
The earliest that could have been is late 1951 according to Wikipedia.
The changer is Voice of Music, and the book describing it was with the machine

The lady taking care of the museum knew nothing about 640 and 1240 and CD. She wondered if that meant Compact Disc LOL
The photo I am showing here is from an identical unit that sold on Etsy in 2012. That description said just "1950s".
My best point guess is 1954. 640 and 1240 ended in 1963. The unit is mono.

They also have a little add on VM changer as a separate unit, and a what I think was a late 1930s Wards Airline console radio without a record player. The lady wondered what the separate changer was for. I said if you bought a radio like the Airline that did not have a changer you bought the VM as an add-on. That changer was mono with a single RCA type plug, and I'm guessing early 50s on that too.

My parents had an Airline radio dating from 1949 with a record changer. That has an FM band. The museum one was art deco, unlike my parents, and looked a lot like the classic Zenith art deco from that period.It had a Shortwave band but no FM which also tells me older than 1949. I'm dating that to late 1930s but am open for comment on that too. I explained to the lady that if it said Airline it came from Montgomery Ward.

THey also have a Philco console in mid century contemporary. That has a built in record changer.

 

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The photo, posted on July 24, 2015 at 08:34:37
DavidLD
Audiophile

Posts: 4884
Joined: May 29, 2002



somehow this didnt get along

 

RE: OK when was this built, posted on July 24, 2015 at 09:49:31
DaveV
Audiophile

Posts: 513
Location: SC
Joined: December 26, 2009
nt

 

can't be that early, posted on July 24, 2015 at 10:08:52
DavidLD
Audiophile

Posts: 4884
Joined: May 29, 2002
1948 is way too early for one with the CD 640 and 1240 as that did not come about till the waning days of the Truman administration late 1951. Both photos have the CD dial markers as does the museum one.

There could have been an earlier version without the CD markers but not the one at the museum or in either of the photos.

David

 

RE: can't be that early, posted on July 24, 2015 at 12:56:35
BCR
Audiophile

Posts: 2446
Location: connecticut
Joined: April 7, 2009
This is a very helpful site when you are looking for information about antique radios.

 

RE: OK when was this built, posted on July 24, 2015 at 16:18:45
Fisherfan
Audiophile

Posts: 189
Location: S.E. Michigan
Joined: March 21, 2004
Hope this helps. My 1956 Chev. radio has CD "Civil Defense" markings for 6.40 and 12.40. The 1955 Chev. radios do not have the markings. Google them.

 

RE: OK when was this built, posted on July 24, 2015 at 16:58:07
DavidLD
Audiophile

Posts: 4884
Joined: May 29, 2002
I found a reference that says the markings were required by law on AM radio dials from 1953-63 tho the law went into effect in 1951. Automakers may have had different requirements on car radios.

I am still good with my guess of 1954 on this. Certainly not 1948

The design looks older to me than late 1950s with all the bakelite in the case and the rather clunky VM changer and arm.

 

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