A collection of '40's "Personal-Portables" - Videokarma.org TV - Video

decojoe67 · #1 03-13-2021, 01:44 PM

An instant collection! These are great little battery-only (1.5V-67.5) sets that have a quality feel and perform excellent. They use the new-at-the-time "peanut" tubes.
The first one is an uncommon 1948 Regal BP-48 in maroon/brown.
Second is the common 1948 Garod model 4A1 "Starlet" in blue/black.
Third is the 1948 Airline version of the Garod, model 84GCB in white/tan.
Fourth is the lesser seen 1949 update with a silver reverse-painted dial panel, model 94GCB, in hammer-tone grey/red.

Electronic M · #2 03-13-2021, 03:57 PM

Those are cute.

Reminds me I've got a green and brass Emerson like those and a couple of battery-only coat pocket portables to fix.

Motorola made some very small AC/Battery radios pre and post WWII that I always liked better by virtue of being able to plug them in and use them while making up a new battery.

decojoe67 · #3 03-14-2021, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electronic M

Those are cute.

Reminds me I've got a green and brass Emerson like those and a couple of battery-only coat pocket portables to fix.

Motorola made some very small AC/Battery radios pre and post WWII that I always liked better by virtue of being able to plug them in and use them while making up a new battery.

Those narrow Emerson/Olympic models are nice too. I like the face plates. The green one's are less common and more attractive too. For me these portables have to have a nice dial "face". I don't care for models, even the early one's like the Sonora, that look like a brick with two knobs. As far as the power sources, I particularly look for battery only models because, if it has the AC option, everyone seems to only use that. Batteries are quite pricey, but they last a long time, and, with the AC-line interference eliminated, the audio is nice and clean.

vortalexfan · #4 03-14-2021, 11:13 PM

I was given recently a Philco 46-350 AM Only Battery/AC Radio that is in really nice shape yet.

decojoe67 · #5 03-15-2021, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vortalexfan

I was given recently a Philco 46-350 AM Only Battery/AC Radio that is in really nice shape yet.

Nice. Those were HUGE sellers and I'm told perform very well. Years ago I barely counted battery-only portable radios as a legitimate collectible, but once I acquired one and got it working, I got hooked. The big negative to a lot of people is the cost of batteries, but, used moderately, they last a LONG time. You also have to be very careful with the A/B hook-ups. The tubes are unforgiving. LOL get yours working! You'll be hooked too.

Electronic M · #6 03-15-2021, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vortalexfan

I was given recently a Philco 46-350 AM Only Battery/AC Radio that is in really nice shape yet.

I've owned a couple of those. They're good radios. Currently I own one with FALK lettered nicely and prominently on each side....FALK was a large company in nearby Milwaukee, and you can still see a smokestack with their name on it if you take I-94 through downtown.