Grundig use of BOY in model names?
 

Seeing a thread just now in radio section, "Grundig Hot Boy 6000" does anyone know the reason for "Boy" in so many Grundig models?
I've often wondered, but this particular title made me smile.
Please keep it specific to the Grundig brand radios useage and nothing else that might see the thread closed.
When was it last used as part of a model name?
Thanks, Rob

Re: Grundig use of BOY in model names?
 

I suspect it originates from somebody in Grundig listening to AFN as a teenager in the 50s and thinking 'Boy' sounded sophisticated and stylish. The various 'Boy' model names do sound strange to native English speakers.

'Boy' models were certainly still being made in the 80s, after Grundig had closed the Portugal factory and moved production to the Far East.

Re: Grundig use of BOY in model names?
 

The 'Hot' bit was possibly inspired by 'The hot club of Paris'. Django Reinhardt, Stephan Grapelli.

David

Re: Grundig use of BOY in model names?
 

186B/GW.

Lawrence.

Re: Grundig use of BOY in model names?
 

Thanks Lawrence. I was only aware of transistor radios with Boy in the name. Didn't realise it was from so long ago.
Rob

Re: Grundig use of BOY in model names?
 

Smiths had “Callboy” alarm clocks which sounds odder still.

Re: Grundig use of BOY in model names?
 

I remember my dad bought my older sister a Grundig Solo Boy 500 radio when we were both very little (some time around 1970?). To say I was envious was an understatement. The styling, the build quality and the performance were fantastic to my young eyes.

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/grundi...00k_500_k.html

Our Grundig Solo Boy 500 radio went on holiday with the family every year and we usually motored our way all around Europe (as far as Yugoslavia some years).

The reception was very good and the sight of this radio always takes me back to lazy evenings spent in a roadside tent somewhere deep in Europe.

Re: Grundig use of BOY in model names?
 

My parents had a Grundig Solo Boy 500 when I was a young 'un! Ah nostalgia's not what it used to be...

Re: Grundig use of BOY in model names?
 

My Dad had an Elite Boy 700 for years.

Re: Grundig use of BOY in model names?
 

Not least the rather handbag-like Teddy Boy :)

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/grundig_teddy_boy_58.html

Paul

Re: Grundig use of BOY in model names?
 

Were these models available in Germany and if so, were they also called ____ Boy there as well? It sounds like the result of a slightly off-nuance translation of an original German word which meant 'fellow' or 'dude' or 'chap'.

Re: Grundig use of BOY in model names?
 

And into the 90s, I bought a Yacht Boy YB 500 World Receiver in the early 1990s. It was a nice portable set with AM, FM (with RDS) and short wave coverage up to 30MHz with USB/LSB.

Re: Grundig use of BOY in model names?
 

The KJ catalogue for Spring/Sumer 1971 has Elite, Party, Yacht, Solo, and Music Boys, plus the non-boy "Mariner".

Re: Grundig use of BOY in model names?
 

There was also the Concert Boy, made from the mid 70s to mid 80s in various versions.

Re: Grundig use of BOY in model names?
 

I think the name BOY was exclusively used for portable sets.

The Braga, Portugal factory still exists, though it might have switched away from portable sets to hifi and car radio at some point or points in time. Parts of it are now operated by Blaupunkt and/or Bosch.

Re: Grundig use of BOY in model names?
 

From long before then - this is the one I have

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/grundi...t_boy_202.html

And the Ocean Boy, generally I think top of the "Boy" range, which at least some of the time was rather like a junior version of a Satellit, a little smaller, much simpler but still with excellent audio.

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/grundi...n_boy_202.html
https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/grundi...n_boy_205.html

Paul

Re: Grundig use of BOY in model names?
 

Nice style. I had a Top Boy 500 in the 80's (can't recall where it came from), and its appearance suggests it has the same innards. Nice performer especially on FM, with good sensitivity and crisp sound.

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/grundi...00l_500_l.html

Re: Grundig use of BOY in model names?
 

The early transistor Mini Boy was an idea before its time, a pocket set with home docking station in the early '60s: doesn't seem to have sold very well here, I've only ever met one example. The home unit had a much better speaker system, I don't remember whether it also contained larger capacity batteries.

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/grundig_mini_boy_200.html

Paul

Re: Grundig use of BOY in model names?
 

Looking back at my past photos I have owned and sold an Elite Boy 210, Music Boy 100, Melody Boy 1000, Party Boy 208, and a Transistor 305 which they seemed to forget to add the Boy name to.
They were all very nice sounding radios except the Music Boy 100.
Mike

Re: Grundig use of BOY in model names?
 

https://www.radiomuseum.org/forum/gr...?language_id=1
Short summary:
In Funk Technik magazine, 1 Jan 1950 there was a competition to choose a name for the Weltklang-Reisesuper 216B. BOY won, being suggested by 328 people.