Stella ST2500 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Philips Fan · 13th Aug 2013, 7:37 pm

Dear All

I have been doing some further reading about the Philips G6 chassis for my early Philips TV website. I have come across the Stella ST2500 model which is based on the G6 chassis.

Can anyone advise on what the differences were? Are they purely cosmetic or was there any differences of substance? Was the Stella more expensive than the equivalent Philips sets?

Also, does anyone have any photos or better still sales blurb / other info on the ST2500 that I can have to post on the site?

In fact, I wonder, can anyone 'throw any light' on the Stella brand for me in general history terms? How did they come to be associated with Philips? Clearly, Stella slipped under my RADAR!

Kind regards as always.

Robert

Heatercathodeshort · 13th Aug 2013, 8:43 pm

Stella was the WHOLESALER brand at that time for Philips. The differences were cosmetic.
To sell Philips products you had to be an accredited dealer with an account with Philips Electrical direct. To gain a wider market for their product, manufacturers sold their receivers under another name I.E. Invicta for PYE. Marconi for EMI. Marconi again for Ferguson. Stella for Philips etc to wholesalers. [Brown Brothers for one] Any electrical shop could purchase by cash or account from from a wholesaler without the strict conditions of a dealership. Wholesalers were an essential part of business and could often supply a receiver at very short notice when supplies direct from the manufacturers were on allocation. It's as simple as that. It just gave manufacturers an opening for sales. They were cosmetically different but only just, to prevent accredited dealers from complaining that their agency was being undermined by what they considered to be 'shabby' dealers. The trade had an incredibly snobby attitude back then. John.

Philips Fan · 13th Aug 2013, 9:40 pm

Thanks John

I'll use this info on a new page I am preparing.

Really useful and indeed quite intriguing stuff mate.

Regards

Robert

Philips Fan · 14th Aug 2013, 7:18 am

So was Stella products made at the same factory as Philips and just re-badged or did Philips provided the chassis to a separate Stella division (another factory - for finishing as Stella models)?

http://www.philipstv.org.uk/blog/ear...atives/stella/

Thanks

Robert

Heatercathodeshort · 14th Aug 2013, 8:36 am

As far as I know the television receivers all came off the same production line at Waddon. It was only at the cabinet stage that the differences could be seen. J.

Philips Fan · 14th Aug 2013, 2:29 pm

Thanks John
Robert

13th Aug 2013, 7:37 pm	#1
Philips Fan Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Suffolk, UK. Posts: 260	Stella ST2500 Dear All I have been doing some further reading about the Philips G6 chassis for my early Philips TV website. I have come across the Stella ST2500 model which is based on the G6 chassis. Can anyone advise on what the differences were? Are they purely cosmetic or was there any differences of substance? Was the Stella more expensive than the equivalent Philips sets? Also, does anyone have any photos or better still sales blurb / other info on the ST2500 that I can have to post on the site? In fact, I wonder, can anyone 'throw any light' on the Stella brand for me in general history terms? How did they come to be associated with Philips? Clearly, Stella slipped under my RADAR! Kind regards as always. Robert Last edited by Philips Fan; 13th Aug 2013 at 8:07 pm.

13th Aug 2013, 8:43 pm	#2
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: Stella ST2500 Stella was the WHOLESALER brand at that time for Philips. The differences were cosmetic. To sell Philips products you had to be an accredited dealer with an account with Philips Electrical direct. To gain a wider market for their product, manufacturers sold their receivers under another name I.E. Invicta for PYE. Marconi for EMI. Marconi again for Ferguson. Stella for Philips etc to wholesalers. [Brown Brothers for one] Any electrical shop could purchase by cash or account from from a wholesaler without the strict conditions of a dealership. Wholesalers were an essential part of business and could often supply a receiver at very short notice when supplies direct from the manufacturers were on allocation. It's as simple as that. It just gave manufacturers an opening for sales. They were cosmetically different but only just, to prevent accredited dealers from complaining that their agency was being undermined by what they considered to be 'shabby' dealers. The trade had an incredibly snobby attitude back then. John.

13th Aug 2013, 9:40 pm	#3
Philips Fan Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Suffolk, UK. Posts: 260	Re: Stella ST2500 Thanks John I'll use this info on a new page I am preparing. Really useful and indeed quite intriguing stuff mate. Regards Robert

14th Aug 2013, 7:18 am	#4
Philips Fan Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Suffolk, UK. Posts: 260	Re: Stella ST2500 So was Stella products made at the same factory as Philips and just re-badged or did Philips provided the chassis to a separate Stella division (another factory - for finishing as Stella models)? http://www.philipstv.org.uk/blog/ear...atives/stella/ Thanks Robert

14th Aug 2013, 8:36 am	#5
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: Stella ST2500 As far as I know the television receivers all came off the same production line at Waddon. It was only at the cabinet stage that the differences could be seen. J.

14th Aug 2013, 2:29 pm	#6
Philips Fan Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Suffolk, UK. Posts: 260	Re: Stella ST2500 Thanks John Robert