Gerard's Philips B3X91A

244
Item nr.

Philips B3X91A Table top

Second set in the house?

**Data for Philips B3X91A**
Production	The Netherlands, 1959.
Bands	LW (1100-2000m), MW (190-580m), SW2 (60-185m), SW1 (17-52m).
Tubes	ECH81, EF89, EBC81, EL84, EZ80, DM71.
Cabinet	Bakelite. Size 34x20x18 cm. Weight 5 kg.
Power	AC 110, 127, 220V, 40W.

The Design

At the end of the nineteen fifties, the use of the FM band had become quite common and most people would prefer to buy an FM-capable set for the living room. But in bedrooms and kitchens there was a market for second sets, and these were usually a bit simpler and often incapable of receiving FM. In this class, this set is quite decent as it has four AM bands; it could be used as a tropical set, too. At least, the dial list quite southern places like Istanbul, Tel-Aviv, Damascus, and Tunis.

The DM71 tuning eye has a quite special shape, like an exclamation mark. Contrary to most other tuning indicators, the illuminated part becomes smaller when tuning is better.

Dmitry sent me a picture of an Iranian variation on this set, the B4IR31A, made in Iran around 1963. The set has a lot of Middle-East stations on the dial including Tel Aviv because Iran had very good relations with Israel in that time.

Obtained	6/2004 from Activiteitenmarkt Slotlaan.
Condition	7.
Disposed	Sold 12/2006.
Sound sample	PLAY SOUND 1959: Fidel Castro took power in Cuba. (Recorded from PU entry.)

This Object

When the radio came to my house it looked quite horrible (left), but what can one expect for a one euro buy? It turned out to be quite well repairable and I stripped off the paint of the cabinet.

Under the ugly greenish paint the original bakelite was still well presentable, so I decided not to respray the radio in its original green color. Without the grille the radio looked rather naked (right), so I fetched a piece of cloth in front.

Part of Gerard's Radio Corner.
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