Does anyone know anything about a Motorola B1-1WQ42 FM Tube Radio? When it was made and how old this is. I picked it up and it was super dirty but it cleaned up pretty nice. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Looks to be around 53-55. probably has a 2 gang tuner, typical fm clock radio of the time. They are cool to lok at, and if you re-capped it it would probably work great.

Thanks for your reply. You say clock radio? I don't see a clock on it as far as it working it does work and sounds great but I am wondering where I could get a knob for it. One of the knobs is missing a silver cover thing on front. Here's a picture of the inside.

As for being a "clock radio" I think he meant to say that this radio chassis is quite similar to those used in clock radios back in its day. When working, it should pick up the stronger local stations.

Thanks for your reply. You say clock radio? I don't see a clock on it as far as it working it does work and sounds great but I am wondering where I could get a knob for it. One of the knobs is missing a silver cover thing on front. Here's a picture of the inside.
:D oops. I thought that FM dial was a clock! It looks very similar to a GE clock radio I have from that era

Thanks. I tried to search using the model number but I couldn't find anything on it.

FM only... cool.

Looks like a PC board inside? If so, that would make it newer, I would think, than 55'ish. Maybe early 1960's?

Thanks. I have never seen an FM only either. I thought it was neat.

I finally found a radio just like this here's the link! Looks like it was in the 60's

http://www.somerset.net/arm/fm_only_list.html

http://www.somerset.net/arm/radio_pictures/motorola_b1j.jpg

Be glad it isn't that ghastly blue color...

Motorola was among the first to use printed circuits in radios in the mid 50's...the trademark for the boards was "Pla-Cir" (plated circuit.) and the back of the radio usually mentions this. The tube sockets were often built into the board itself, and the boards seemed to be high-quality. I concur this is probably early 60's as the tube sockets are not built in to the board and the FM tuner module looks like those used in the 60's,

What,s wrong with blue? It probably is a rare colour.

Sams index has the B1W listed in #527-7 - that's 1961.

Motorola was among the first to use printed circuits in radios in the mid 50's...the trademark for the boards was "Pla-Cir" (plated circuit.) and the back of the radio usually mentions this. The tube sockets were often built into the board itself, and the boards seemed to be high-quality. I concur this is probably early 60's as the tube sockets are not built in to the board and the FM tuner module looks like those used in the 60's,

Under the radio there is a label. It does says Pla-Cir. The tube sockets are in the built into the board. Does this mean it could be earlier than 1960?

Sams index has the B1W listed in #527-7 - that's 1961.

Thanks Tom. I asked the question before I seen your post.

It looks very similar to a GE clock radio I have from that era

Do you mean GE C-415, C-416, et. al.?

http://radioatticarchives.com/archive_g2.htm

I have owned a couple of those. Pretty cool, if you're into such styles.

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

that 416 is the one. Reall neat lookin styles. I could do without the odd colors though...