Motorola 71-A
 

Here's my latest score - a Motorola 71-A from around 1940.

It's a neat little radio with AM, SW and pushbutton presets. Too bad it has a photo finish. Not so bad on the front and sides, but the top is in rough shape.

Does anyone know what they mean by a "television attachment" ? This is a pre-war set so was TV AM audio back then ?

http://www.bobandersen.com/images/mo...71-A/01-01.jpg http://www.bobandersen.com/images/mo...71-A/01-02.jpg http://www.bobandersen.com/images/mo...71-A/01-03.jpg http://www.bobandersen.com/images/mo...71-A/01-04.jpg http://www.bobandersen.com/images/mo...71-A/01-05.jpg http://www.bobandersen.com/images/mo...71-A/01-06.jpg

At the end of the 1930's and in the early 1940's, some manufacturers put TV inputs on their radios, which were just renamed phono inputs, as some people hesitated buying a radio as they felt that TV was imminent. This assuaged them in thinking they were getting ready for TV. Some TV sets came out in metropolitan areas before The War, but most were full sets with audio sections and speakers. Then the War put a stop to all consumer radio-tv production until 1945-6, and by then the split unit idea died and TV's came out with full circuits and speakers. When you think about it, saving two tubes and a speaker wasn't going to make much difference in the price of a TV, anyway. This was basically a sales gimmick. You've got a phono input.

Reece

Hi Reece

That makes sense. Thanks for the great info :)

Bob

I wonder if the music notation on the radio dial is an actual song.

LOL - I wouldn't be surprised, but I can't read music :(