09-11-2013, 05:01 PM
Hi... my first post. I've read in Michael Schiffer's book, "The Portable Radio in American Life", that the Philco 631 tube portable (1950) was the first portable radio to use a ferrite loopstick antenna. Ads for this radio suggest the same, touting its "Magnecor" internal antenna.
Does anyone know of an earlier radio with a ferrite loopstick instead of a loop? (I'm aware that ferrite slugs for IF transformers, and permeability tuned car radios pre-date this).
Related question: I have a Philco B651 (1954) which looks nearly identical to the 631 photos I've seen. My hunch is that the handle and Philco emblem below the speaker were metal on the earlier 631; they are plastic on the B651. Can anyone confirm how the 631 and the later B651 differ?
Does anyone know of an earlier radio with a ferrite loopstick instead of a loop? (I'm aware that ferrite slugs for IF transformers, and permeability tuned car radios pre-date this).
Related question: I have a Philco B651 (1954) which looks nearly identical to the 631 photos I've seen. My hunch is that the handle and Philco emblem below the speaker were metal on the earlier 631; they are plastic on the B651. Can anyone confirm how the 631 and the later B651 differ?
