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Vintage Radio (domestic) Domestic vintage radio (wireless) receivers only.

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Old 23rd Jun 2017, 12:42 pm   #21
G6Tanuki
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Default Re: Best looking vintage radio you have ever seen or owned??

That Defiant looks like it was inspired by Bexhill's De La Warr pavillion!

Lush!
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Old 23rd Jun 2017, 1:54 pm   #22
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Default Re: Best looking vintage radio you have ever seen or owned??

Probably not the largest (I have an HMV motor tuned that is perhaps a bit larger) but it must take the award for the most buttons.
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Old 23rd Jun 2017, 2:37 pm   #23
G4YVM David
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Default Re: Best looking vintage radio you have ever seen or owned??

My Marconi T1154 /1155. If I have to choose one its the 1154. Exquisite, simply exquisite.

D
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Old 23rd Jun 2017, 3:39 pm   #24
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Default Re: Best looking vintage radio you have ever seen or owned??

I agree with Paul RK's statement:

Quote:
My favourite sets on aesthetic grounds are pretty disparate
It depends on what someone's meaning of "Best Looking" is. Form & Style, Aesthetics, Design, Layout & Functionality?

The pic below has been chosen, not just because it's pretty but that it represents a period in our society that was held in high esteem by the Establishment, The Upper Class & Royalty.

1) Style/Colour, Femininity, Fashion & Contemporaneous.

Decca manufactured a series of radios that were named: Debonaire, Debonette & Debutante and some of their adverts implied these models were for those of a certain aspiration.

These last 3 names will be understood by members of a certain age, e.g.: Me, I'm nearly 70.

Here’s the history of these model names and purpose:

It was custom at the time, for the parents of ‘privilege’ to arrange a "Coming Out" ball (No not today’s meaning) and to present their eligible daughters (Debutante or "Debs") to suitable men of wealth, good standing and position for marriage.

This took place once a year "The Season" and many "Balls" were arranged and finally, when a match had been found, they were presented at "Court"

This practice has all but died out, although some are trying to revive it.


And so, my choice is governed by social history long past

I have some old Decca adverts somewhere and one of them shows a "Young Gal" about to fly off and the tag line is something like:

"This Seasons Gay New Colours"
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Old 23rd Jun 2017, 3:57 pm   #25
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Default Re: Best looking vintage radio you have ever seen or owned??

The Cossor 375 from 1934. I love its upright, statuesque stance, its art deco design and the beautiful veneers that Cossor used. Not to mention the beautifully designed intricate metal moulding that surrounds and embellishes the dial, speaker and tuning knob. One of my first sets in the late 70s and still my favourite. It takes pride of place in my dining room and of course it's also my avator photo on the left here. Any millionaire like to buy it? Too bad, it's not for sale..
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Old 23rd Jun 2017, 4:45 pm   #26
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Default Re: Best looking vintage radio you have ever seen or owned??

Steve,

That radio has dignity, elegance, class and quality.
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Old 23rd Jun 2017, 5:01 pm   #27
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Default Re: Best looking vintage radio you have ever seen or owned??

Sorry, can't help boasting about the next 2 radios (& they're not vintage yet)

But they have great sentimental meaning for me.

I won these on Radio 2's Ken Bruce "Pop Master" quiz. Two consecutive years, runner up each time !

Boo Yah !
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Old 23rd Jun 2017, 5:01 pm   #28
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Default Re: Best looking vintage radio you have ever seen or owned??

Tricky against-the light shot but I love my Marconi 219, from 1936. Sounds great, probably better than many AM sets a generation older!
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Old 23rd Jun 2017, 5:12 pm   #29
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Default Re: Best looking vintage radio you have ever seen or owned??

"I won these on Radio 2's Ken Bruce "Pop Master" quiz. Two consecutive years, runner up each time !"

Well done you. I was at work and listening to R2 at the time

Runner up two years running is something to be proud of. I always thought some of the questions were pretty difficult.

The space radio is quite attractive ....
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Old 23rd Jun 2017, 5:24 pm   #30
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Default Re: Best looking vintage radio you have ever seen or owned??

The Papillon is particularly striking/ugly/beautiful at once, SHMBO would hate it, I like it.
 
Old 23rd Jun 2017, 5:28 pm   #31
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Default Re: Best looking vintage radio you have ever seen or owned??

I just love the styling of the French radios, one day one will come my way, meanwhile this is my choice for the looks not the performance.
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Old 23rd Jun 2017, 6:01 pm   #32
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Smile Re: Best looking vintage radio you have ever seen or owned??

I've always had a soft spot for the Murphy A122 'baffleboard' since I was given one as a lad and spent hours trawling the short wave band after dark. My original one was given to an aunt and has subsequently disappeared.
But I now have this pair which work well, but are in dire need of recapping, rewiring, etc.
Cheers, Pete.
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Old 23rd Jun 2017, 6:26 pm   #33
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Default Re: Best looking vintage radio you have ever seen or owned??

Quote:
Originally Posted by G6Tanuki View Post
That Defiant looks like it was inspired by Bexhill's De La Warr pavillion!
Unbelievable that the co-op should aim so up-market.
That certainly wasn't what they were known for in the Durham coalfield!
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Old 23rd Jun 2017, 6:34 pm   #34
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Default Re: Best looking vintage radio you have ever seen or owned??

Murphy A188C
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Old 23rd Jun 2017, 6:50 pm   #35
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Default Re: Best looking vintage radio you have ever seen or owned??

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brigham View Post
Unbelievable that the co-op should aim so up-market.
That certainly wasn't what they were known for in the Durham coalfield!
They went a little further, even - here's the console version with a couple of extra valves, giving push-pull output from a pair of AC4/PENs. One for the colliery manager?

Paul
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Old 23rd Jun 2017, 7:21 pm   #36
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Default Re: Best looking vintage radio you have ever seen or owned??

The RAP 846 is rather nice, with its elegant cabinet, lovely knobs and dial, chrome plated chassis and plate glass back window:

http://www.thevalvepage.com/radios/rap/846/rap846.htm
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Old 23rd Jun 2017, 7:24 pm   #37
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Default Re: Best looking vintage radio you have ever seen or owned??

Quote:
Originally Posted by camtechman View Post
That radio has dignity, elegance, class and quality.
Thanks camtechman. The irony being, many people still class Cossor as being the poor relation compared to HMV, Marconi, Philips, Pilot, Murphy etc etc. And maybe they are technically. But they had a knack of making a set look a million dollars using highly figured plastic veneers (not on my 375, later models) and the use of clever, stylish designs resulting in sets that looked 'expensive' and 'right' even though price-wise they were more budget than high end.
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Old 23rd Jun 2017, 7:26 pm   #38
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Default Re: Best looking vintage radio you have ever seen or owned??

Difficult to choose, but I have always liked this motor tuned Ekco PB289 that I have been meaning to restore for years - If I still have the strength to lift it down off that cabinet
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Old 23rd Jun 2017, 7:48 pm   #39
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Default Re: Best looking vintage radio you have ever seen or owned??

To me it's the American Colonial New Globe radio from the 30's and the Australian AWA marble Empire State.

Both are my pride of my collection !
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Old 23rd Jun 2017, 8:06 pm   #40
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Default Re: Best looking vintage radio you have ever seen or owned??

This might be controversial but to me this is one of the nicest radios I have to look at.

Courtney
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