1945-1959

Post War Tube Radios-The Baby Boom Years

1945-1959 Post War Tube Radios Table of Contents Links

Page 1: Post War Radios with Prewar Tech (WOOD)

WOODEN CABINET POST WAR RADIOS WITH PRE WAR TECHNOLOGY

Page 2: Post War Radios with Prewar Tech (PLASTIC)

PLASTIC CABINET POST WAR RADIOS WITH PRE WAR TECHNOLOGY

Page 3: Rise of Portable Radios

1950'S PORTABLE RADIOS

Page 4: 1950 Color Radios

1950'S PLASTIC COLOR RADIOS AND CLOCK RADIOS

Page 5: 1950 Wood and Non Color Radios

1950'S WOOD AND TRADITIONAL PLASTIC RADIOS

Page 6: Specialty Vacuum Tube Radios

SPECIALTY RADIOS PAGE 1


Page 1

Wooden Cabinet Post War Radios with Prewar Technology

After the war ended companies had to get back to making radios for consumers. Two major problems immediately arose. First, there was a large inventory of prewar parts, that needed to be used up. Second there was no much time to retool and design circuits using newer technology. Solution was to put old technology into new cabinets. Portables were not affected since by the start of war newer designs were being used. . Photo: Typical Pre-War Technology Design of a Transformerless Table Radio (Sentinel 313)

----------------------------------------------------------------

Wooden Table Radios 1945-1950

Hoffman / Mission Bell A202 (1947) Hoffman Radio, Los Angeles CAUse post war technology. Features sliding coil or permeable tuning. Advantage is easier to tune stations. Six tubes used, 2-12BA6, 12BE6, 12AT6, 35L6GT and 35W4. This model originally carried the Mission Bell Label. Les Hoffman purchased the company in 1941 and for a short time kept the Mission Bell name.
Top of chassis. On the left is the permeable tuning assembly. Under the chassis new capacitors installed and resistors were checked and replaced as required.
Dial Light of the A202
Hoffman A300 (1946) Water Fall Style, Hoffman Radio and Television, Los Angeles, CA. 6 Tube TRF amplifier front end. Uses 6SA7, 2-6SK7, 6SQ7, 6K6GT and 6X5GT. Most 6 tube sets have an untuned RF amplifier, which is noisier and less sensitive. Has large 3 X 5 oval speaker.
Three gang tuning capacitor, and an RF transformer provides better sensitivity. Early models used an electrodynamic speaker as shown in this chassis. When the PM speaker came out Hoffman added a 1500 ohm 10 W resistor to replace the speaker field.
Roomy chassis and has a tone control. The on-off switch is on the tone control (center)
Dial Light- Dial scale is forward and reverse paintied.
Sonora RCU-208 (1946) Sonora Radio abd Television, New York NY. 6 tube AA6 superhet using 2-12SK7, 12SA7, 12SQ7, 35L6GT and 35Z5GT. The Curve Styling is called "Ingraham"
COOL dial light. The bulb is underneath a bell shaped canopy (bell is the Sonora trademak). The glass dial sits over the walnut cabinet.
TOP and BOTTOM of chassis is very roomy. Very good performing radio.
Crosley 66TC (1945-46) Introduced right after VJ Day (USA victory over Japan). Standard and Shortwave Broadcast Bands. There were three versions Plastic, Wood and the Victory (rare) model. This completely retored wooden model was given to me by Emilie L. Weir on 8/30/2014, after she saw my 2014 OC Fair display on Depression Radios. It belonged to her father who bought it when they lived in Kansas on the farm.
View of Restored Electronics and Lighted Dial

SHOWCASE: End of Farm Radios

The post war brought further electrification of rural areas. Many radios sold as farm radios later had an option allowing it to work as a socket or line operated radio. Think of it as an AC adapter. Below is an RCA 55F Farm Radio (using pre-war tubes) with the CV-42 Electrifier Unit. This is a five tube unit using 3Q5GT, 1A5GT, 2-1N5GT and 1A7GT. One picture shows the radio and the electrifier side by side before installation and photo below that shows how it is mounted in the back to replace the battery.The RCA 55F was made in 1945-46

Out of the cabinet showing the radio and electrifier units. There are two tubes on the electrifier (35Z5GT and a ballast tube).
Back of the CV-42 electrifier showing connection instructions and power connector.
Rear view of radio without CV-42 electrifier Lots of space for batteries.
Under the chassis of the radio and electrifier. The electronics of the electrifier has been redesigned because of a defective ballast tube.

----------------------------------------------------------------

NEXT PAGE>>> PLASTIC CABINET POST WAR RADIOS WITH PRE WAR TECHNOLOGY

Return to Photo Collection Index PHOTO COLLECTION INDEX

Return to HOME Page: HOME Page