[RadioSvit]

TOP 20 of the best radio stations in Europe 1935-45. The third part.


[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yaqSy6XlX8&t=147s]

TOP 20 of the best radio stations in Europe 1935-45. The third part.

3rd place

Körting Ultramar SB 7360 W
1935. Germany
The most advanced radio in Europe in 1935.
Compared to other 3 ..- 5-tube radios of the old continent, its leader status is similar to the status of E.H. Scott in the USA. A very unusual design, more like the design of a utilitarian military radio ... albeit in an expensive veneered case ... The impression is that the military engineer became the designer ... but this is not the main thing ...)

The main thing here is the nascent concepts of the European TOP radio ...
11 “pin” and “A” series radio tubes - AH1, AC2, AH, 1AF3, ABC1, AC2, AC2, 2 pcs RE604 and 2 pcs RGN106.

6 ranges, of which 4 short-wavelength stretched with a total overlap of 16 to 50 meters, the presence of a high-frequency resonant amplifier and a separate local oscillator in the frequency converter, a powerful push-pull amplifier on direct-heating triodes and a high-quality speaker system on two speakers with different resonant frequency ...
All these concepts for the future were laid precisely in Ultramar and precisely from the thirty-fifth year.

2nd place

Korting transmare 39w
1939. Germany.
Continuing the development of the optimal concept and new options, a motor tuning drive appeared, automatic tuning of the local oscillator frequency, the "local reception" mode with direct amplification and a large selection of button settings - 20 channels. But ... the two-stage IF amplifier in the pre-war European radio did not take root ...

Four AM ranges, two of which are short-wave half-stretched with a common overlap from 12 (!) To 75 meters.
11 radio tubes were used - 9 pieces of the most perfect “11” series at that time (EF13, ECH11, EBF11, EF11, EFM11, EB11, EBC11, AZ12) and two best direct-fired sound triodes AD1 in Europe.

1 place

Körting Transmare 40 WK
1940 year. Germany.

The undisputed leader of pre-war Europe and the winner of our competition.
The engine drive for tuning, automatic tuning of the local oscillator frequency, the option of "local reception" in direct amplification mode, push-button selection of 20 fixed channels were automatically moved from the previous year's model, and the sound quality level was raised to an even greater and unattainable height.

The characteristics, ergonomics and installation topology practically do not differ from the model of the 39th year, the same four AM strips, two of which short-wave pull-pulls with an overlap from 12 (!) To 75 meters. But everything is brought to perfection.

12 radio tubes were used, 10 of which the 11 series which were perfect at that time (EF13, ECH11, EBF11, EF11, EM11, EB11, EF11, EBC11, AZ12) and the two best sound triodes AD1 in Europe.
Circuitry and technology were no different from the military, just look at the chassis to see this.
For a geographically close Europe with its limited material resources of the pre-war time, there was no sense in building more advanced monsters with a large number of radio tubes, especially with such a high production culture.

Therefore, the first place Transmare 40 is undeniable and obvious.

All three prizes, as well as the winner’s title of our competition, rightfully belong to the same brand, so it’s just necessary to say a few words about this company and its glorious ... but rather tragic story.

So get to know - Körting-Radio-Werke Oswald Ritter.


On November 1, 1871, in Hanover, the brothers Ernst and Bertold Curting founded the company GEBRÜDER KÖRTING (Brothers Curting).
In the same year, Ernst Curting - based on the laws of hydrodynamics, invented, designed and manufactured the “injector” as a steam-jet pump for boiler rooms.
Since 1885 and until now, the company has been manufacturing gas-jet equipment and vacuum pumps.

In 1903, the company received the name GEBRÜDER KÖRTING AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT.
Since that time, in addition to jet pumps, gas burners, kerosene engines for submarines (!) And aircraft (!) Have been produced.
In 1914, about 4,000 workers work in factories and branches around the world.
The first tragedy - after the end of the First World War, the company lost all foreign factories and branches.


Since 1920, the production of multi-stage steam-jet vacuum systems has been established.
In 1923, the company began producing transformers, inductors and power supplies for radio engineering.

In 1932, the company was renamed KÖRTING MASCHINEN- UND APPARATEBAU AG.
Since 1932, radios appeared in the Körting range and soon the company became a leader in the industry.
In 1933, its share in the world market amounted to 5.2%, and a year later increased to 7.35%.
The Transmare radio was made in 1937 with a system of fixed settings for radio stations, the previous model of the winners of our rating received two Grand Prix at the World Exhibition in Paris in the nominations Radio Receivers and Musical Instruments.
In 1938, Oswald Richter acquired a stake in the company, which at that time had about 3,000 employees.
In 1940, the company was renamed the Körting-Radio-Werke Oswald Ritter.


In 1945, the company was completely destroyed by bombing and expropriation of equipment., - the second tragic event, after which the company never rose to its former peaks.

Most of the equipment was exported to the USSR, and the enterprise in Leipzig was nationalized in the early 50s. Later it became the basis for the creation of the East German national enterprise RFT.


Oswald Richter as the head and owner of the company did not wait for the nationalization of his remaining enterprises in eastern Germany and in 1949 he transferred production to West Germany, acquiring Belwe GmbH plants there.

At first, the catalog included only radios, speakers, toasters, irons and lamps. The situation changed after Gerhard Boehme became the director of the company. Under the brand Korting began to produce color TVs, and later - home appliances for the kitchen.

In May 1951, Körting began forming a department for the creation and production of televisions and in 1957 released a revolutionary radio receiver with dynamic expansion of the sound range - Dynamic 830 W.
Alas, he was left underestimated ...

From 1952 to 1964, Körting's sales grew 7 times.
In 1963-1964 The company opened new production facilities in Grodig near Salzburg and Pavia.

In 1970, Körting and the Yugoslav company Gorenje entered into an agreement on the transfer of rights to the production of color televisions to the Slovenian city of Velenje, where the headquarters of Gorenje is located.
In 1978, Körting sold all enterprises that manufactured household appliances and electronics and focused on the production of industrial equipment.