Pondering those German table radios...
 

For years, I've wanted one of those 1950's-60's wooden cabinet table radios from Germany, similar to this:
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/7136/610f1gw3.jpg
I don't want junk, naturally. Which are those that are the easiest to service and maintain? Or is "least difficult" a better description of dealing with them? Which sound the best? When I get a few more bucks, I may start looking into one more seriously... that is, if my PC doesn't demand yet another replacement part.
I'm thinking Grundig, Telefunken, Blaupunkt. Any others?

Tom

Emud, SABA, Graetz... I have a BIG Saba Friedburg from 1953, a Grundig 2066 from '59, a Nordemende Parsifal from the early '60s, I think you will be pleased w/about any of them. Just make sure the FM goes to 108, instead of 100 or 104.

I was hoping you'd chime in, Sandy. I'd forgotten all about Nordmendes, especially, and the Emud, Sabas, and Graetzes. Thanks:yes:
T.

Don't for get telefunken too. The Opus was a fantastic radio with large speakers and an array of HF drivers. Wonderful sound those sets made! :yes:

Does it HAVE to be German? I rather like the Philips ones in that style.

I thought Philips was German?

[Edit: Close! Dutch...http://www.philips.com/about/company...rk/index.page]

Nordmendes and Blaupunkts would get my vote, Tom.

I got a "Diora" from Poland that needs to go see Terry, but I think will be a good 'un. I don't HAVE anything from Poland, IIRC, it went pretty cheap. FM goes to 108, must have been an export set.

Guys, this is great. Not sure when I'll get a chance to do some serious shopping, as I'll have to check the remaining number of gold bars in the basement after all my Christmas shopping. :D Thanks... you've given me lots of good guidance.

Steerpike: I didn't realize that Philips had been in the game as well. Thanks for that. :yes:

Tom

Here are some of the Philips brochures, that show the models I like so much
http://buizenradio.verdijk.info/gebr...r.html#philips

(More correcty "The Royal Dutch Philips Lightbulb Manufactory")

Steerpike,

I have a big Philips, Capella 643. Don't have a pic of it but it's a beast. It needs one of those huge white knobs similar to yours. Heck of a radio, it has 11 tubes and 4 speakers, I think.

I also have one of the fabled Zenith MJ 1035s, & to me, there is just NO comparison-the Kraut sets are just better. Now, in all fairness, the 1035 needs to go see Dr. Dewick, too, but the German sets have SW where it doesn't, & it still just doesn't have the same quality "feel" to it that they do. Nothing you can quite put yr finger on, but...

My Father still has a (now restaurated) stereo Grundig...
...like this:
http://i18.ebayimg.com/03/i/001/1e/aa/4a51_1.JPG

It's the big Grundigs that usually get my attention. Although I have seen Sabas that make me drool too. I really go more for the midcentury modern look, and Grundig had some great looking radios with that kind of style.

I'm rather partial to Nordmende.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...mende01010.jpg

Very nice Nordmende!

I see yours has the extra sound enhancing feature buttons for presence and brilliance. I have a Turandot C that has the same features and it has the nicest low volume tone of all the German sets I own. An excellent choice for the office!

Nordemendes look and sound great. I probably wouldn't get one of the large German radios, now that I've had the misfortune to work on one. The best thing about my Siemens is that it has taught me a lot about electronics. But it's finicky as all get out. I have a Nordemende that been left to the elements, shaken, dropped from six feet, missing half the knobs and is now a plywood case, and it still works perfect. Weird.

If you get one that goes to 108MHz, make sure it's a European export model and not one made in the US under licence........

I have a Blaupunkt 'Sultan', a Nordmende 'Globetrotter' (no, not "Globetraveller", that's the US version), and a Philips Eindhoven 'Plano' - all sound very good. The Sultan has electrostatic tweeters too!