08-06-2013, 09:33 PM
There is also a critical difference between these cabinet stereos/radio phono units of the 50s, 60s, 70s, and pre war console radios that has little to do with age. With few exceptions they are all more or less alike both electronically and in styling regardless of brand. The typical late 40s early 50s unit has a record changer in a drawer with the radio on the other side, the late 50s and 60s units have the same but under a lift up lid rather then doors on the front.
The latter ones are so prolific that me and a friend of mine dubbed with the derogatory name of "Stereo Coffins", because they almost always have a lift up lid and are 6'' long or more, just like a coffin would have. On top of that they made millions of the things, during the post war boom every suburban house had one of some kind.
Compare that to a pre war radio where every manufacturer was trying to get the leg up on another. They used different dials, circuits, auto tuning mechanism, and cabinet designs so you could easily tell a brand Z apart from a Philco, from an RCA, from a G.E and so fourth. By the late 40s that largely went away with the consoles and eventually with the table sets as well. If you really like them you can save a set with more unique features if it is in good condition, but it just isn't worth the time to mess around with a beater or a hum drum unit with AM only and a AC/DC chassis.
Regards
Arran
The latter ones are so prolific that me and a friend of mine dubbed with the derogatory name of "Stereo Coffins", because they almost always have a lift up lid and are 6'' long or more, just like a coffin would have. On top of that they made millions of the things, during the post war boom every suburban house had one of some kind.
Compare that to a pre war radio where every manufacturer was trying to get the leg up on another. They used different dials, circuits, auto tuning mechanism, and cabinet designs so you could easily tell a brand Z apart from a Philco, from an RCA, from a G.E and so fourth. By the late 40s that largely went away with the consoles and eventually with the table sets as well. If you really like them you can save a set with more unique features if it is in good condition, but it just isn't worth the time to mess around with a beater or a hum drum unit with AM only and a AC/DC chassis.
Regards
Arran
