The 3-speed record player is integrated in the Philite case. It has a transparent cover with hinges on the rear. The turntable is covered by a brownish red felt mat. This was OK for 78-rpm bakelite records, but not a good idea for the vinyl microgroove records that were just being introduced at that time. The pick-up arm is quite short and heavy, it's made out of dark red plastic. At the end is a crystal pick-up with a twin sapphire needle, one for microgroove records and one for 78 rpm records. Don't play your valued hi-fi LP's on this one!
I got this radio from a friend who inherited it from her father. It looked like it was in good condition, having only a few scratches. The gold painted window-frame for the tuning dial had a crack but the glass of the tuning dial was in perfect condition.
As you can see, the radio chassis inside is quite small. It is actually a chassis from a small table top radio model, built into a larger case with a record player. This is a more practical and economic approach than to make a whole new design. After all, Philips must have sold many more table top radios than combinations. The chassis is in the back. The thin steel cable for the needle on the tuning dial is extended and there are two extension rods behind the volume and tuning knobs. The pilot lamp is still mounted on the frame and lights the tuning dial from a ridiculous distance.
After turning it on, the radio appeared to work fine again. But I could not play my 78 rpm records on it, because the stylus was missing.
In August 2002 I got a mail from someone living in the US, asking me if I was willing to part from the radio. This resulted in a barter deal, from which I got the RCA Victor 4-Y-511 radiogram, also from 1954.
Copyright © 2000-2002 by Onno's E-page published 2000-09-05, last updated 2002-11-11