I checked the Emerson and it is a different animal. It looks similar on the outside, but inside its a different story. Who ever designed this one (likely Orion) learned a thing or two from the JVC version, as the inside is missing the insanely complex radio dial stringing and has only one shielded module (the TV tuner). I'm leaning toward a power supply regulation issue because the IF amp IC on the radio board has low supply voltage preventing the LO on the AM tuner from working.
I think the Realistic version is the same as the Emerson as well as its a dead ringer.
The Emerson one can be seen on:
http://www.taschenfernseher.de/bilde...r101inside.jpg
I'll post some pix of the inside of the JVC version when I get a moment.
It is interesting to note that they didn't secure the tube in either unit.