[RadioSvit]

The second part ... The best radios in Europe 1935-45. Part Two. English version.
Thank you very much Michael Nudelman for your help with the translation of the text.


[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm-8LrkSCFw]

The best radios in Europe 1935-45.    Part Two. English version.


10th place

    Telefunken  Spitzen-Super D860WK

1939. Germany
The flagship “Telefunken” of 1939, which, compared to the competitors' models and the previous company's leade, the T8001, had substantially lost its position. The Second World War had begun, the company had switched to military production and civilian radio had to step aside ...
    In essense, this is a modernized T-898 of the 38th year with the same characteristics, but with the presets instead of AFC.
Three bands - LW, MW and SW from 16 to 50 meters.
7 tubes: EF13, ECH11, EBF11, EF11, EM11, EL12, AZ12.

9th Place

            Blaupunkt model 7W77 (7W77K),

TOP model of the year 37, direct competitor to Telefunken T7001WK. Three bands, - LW, MW and SW from 19 to 50 meters.
The salient feature of this model is the original folding scale design. Вlaupunkt company was famous for its most diverse in design, but always very convenient and informative scales ... It is probably impossible to do something more original. )
      9 tubes “gold” “A” series - AF3, ACH1, AF3, AB2, AM2, AC2, 2 pcs. X AD1 and RGN2004.
The presence of a high-frequency amplifier and a powerful and high-quality sound push-pull amplifier with two AD-1 triodes made this receiver a serious player in the TOP radio segment ... Nevertheless, it still yielded to its main competitors both in popularity and in the technical specifications.

8th place

                  Blaupunkt 8W79

1939. Germany
The long-standing confrontation with Telefunken and its T-898 and D860 models ... Blaupunkt responded to the enchantingly extravagant dials of competitors by a large vertical dial almost one-half of the facade and ... a wired remote control (!). 8 radio tubes: EF11, ECH11, EBF11, EF11, EM11, EBC11, EL12, EZ12
    And it seems that this time the opponents were left behind - in the receiver there are 5 AM bands, of which three half-elongated short-wave bands with a total overlap of 16 to 50 meters, which is much more convenient than one survey SW band. With all other characteristics equivalent to competitors, the speaker is the same in size, but the presence of a remote control gives a reason to put this Blau in high eighth place.

7th place

                    Philips 990X

The year 1940. Eindhoven. Netherlands
The flagship of all pre-war Philips models and the best model of the 30s..40s. Nine (!) AM bands, of which 5 (!) Extended shortwave 13, 16, 19, 25 and 31 meters, two half-stretched SW, standard LW, MW and motor drive made this receiver unattainable for the vast majority of its competitors and the most desirable for fans of long-distance reception ...
          8 tubes of the "red" “E” series: EF8, ECH3, EF9, EAB1, EM4, EF6, EL6 and 1561. The presence of a high-frequency amplifier with low noise level on the EF8 radio tube, a motor drive in a high-precision tuning mechanism, push-button control and the ability to configure with 10 radio stations, the Philips patented precision block of variable capacitors of a barrel-shaped design, high-quality acoustics and a powerful amplifier - additional attributes confirming the leadership status of the best pre-war model of the company.

6th place

                Telefunken T 700O GWK / T 8000 GWK

1937/38
Two models of the most versatile TOP-class household receiver in terms of power supply, almost do not differ from each other except the decor elements in the design. In fact, this is the same radio. For comparison, this is the T7000WK ...
      And this is the T8000WK ... These two models are virtually the only representatives of the TOP class with the ability to power from all types of electrical networks in Europe of the 30s, - direct and alternating currents with voltages from 110 to 240 volts. We agree - such universalism for prestigious models is a rare occurrence.
    The main feature that distinguishes this model from its competitors is the dial hidden on the top cover, which automatically “leaves” after pressing the button. Original and prestigious ... In a receiver of 10 radio tubes "C" of a series - CH1, CK1, CF3, CF3, C / EM2, CB1, CC2, 2 pcs. X CL4,  RGN2004 U4520 / 6. Three ranges - LW, MW and SW from 19 to 50 meters . High-frequency amplifier, high-quality sound (push-pull) amplifier and high-quality mainly two-way acoustics - these are the “three whales”, upon which the standards of the next 30 years for radio of the highest class would rest.

5th place


                Telefunken T-7001WK / T-8001WK
1937/1938
Modifications of the T-7000 GWK / T-8000 GWK TOP models for electric networks of exclusively alternating current with significantly better characteristics in radio reception, sound and an additional system for AFC.

Three frequency ranges - LW, MW and SW from 19 to 50 meters, 12 radio tubes AH1, ACH1, AF7, AB2, AM2, AF7, AB1, AF3, AF7, AD1, AD1 and RGN2004. The same two-way acoustics, but much better characteristics of the sound amplifier on the legendary direct-heating triodes AD-1. The result - the sound and the highest position of Telefunken in our rating became much better ...

4th place.

                Blaupunkt 11W79
1939 Germany
Further development of the design concept “hinged scale” ... Despite the presence of only three ranges, this is undoubtedly the best Blaupunkt model of all time.
11 “11” and “A” radio tubes of the EF11, ECH11, EBF11, AM2, AC2, AL5, AL5, AZ12, EB11, EF11, EF12 series.

A high-frequency amplifier, a separate IF bandwidth regulator with a maximum bandwidth of up to 9 kHz, AFC, motorized tuning, a push button switch to 6 preset stations, a remote control and great sound nust had to satisfy all the demands of the radio gourmets of the time ...