Radio photos wanted for posterity

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Brett Johnson
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Radio photos wanted for posterity

#1 Post by Brett Johnson »

Those of you who read my column in the magazine know I'm compiling color photos and information about options available on all 356 models for eventual inclusion on the website. A particular interest has always been radios and to this time I have received predominantly 356Cs. I have only received a handful of 356A photos and none for 1955 and earlier. I prefer factory installed radios, but during this era many are not (especially Hoffman cars), and those are okay, as well. Factory-installed radio listings are on pages 130-133 of my book.

If you'd like to post them here, that is fine. I'd also like them emailed to me at: 356drb@gmail.com

Please send high res. images taken straight on in landscape format with margins large enough to allow them to be cropped to fit.
Brett Johnson

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Victor Ingram
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Re: Radio photos wanted for posterity

#2 Post by Victor Ingram »

Telefunken ID54 and a Phillips (Netherlands)
The Phillips had the power box mounted under the passenger floorboard as did the Telefunken.
The radio hanger was very different.
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Brett Johnson
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Re: Radio photos wanted for posterity

#3 Post by Brett Johnson »

Any idea how old and what model the Telefunken is -- you say it is an ID54? The one I list in my book has only two bands. Do you know how to identify age or do Telefunkens have dates?

Here's what I put together for my next column on Blaupunkts -- photos are not included:

It occurred to me that listing the date codes for Blaupunkt radios would probably be useful. This list covers just a little longer than the production days because later radios still fit and many are able to be used with both 6V and 12V electrical systems. I’ve been finding many original style radios with dates that don’t match the car and records show no factory installation.

Just to review, there are/were paper tags on Blaupunkt radios (right side) that identify the model, year of production and serial number. Lists I have seen in the past go from 1956. A list on The Samba had a listing for 1955, as well. Earlier radios did not have date codes. The photos of this A253 model from an Opel were provided by Ingo Prangenberg of vintageblau.com. radiomuseum.org identifies this radio as being manufactured 1953-1954 and no date code appears on its I.D. plate. Interestingly, Bosch date codes start in 1945 at A. Skipping I and O along the alphabetical way they match the Blaupunkt ones beginning in 1962.

1955 = R
1956 = K
1957 = S
1958 = G
1959 = Q
1960 = D
1961 = E
1962 = T
1963 = U
1964 = V
1965 = W
1966 = X
1967 = Y
1968 = Z

As mentioned previously, it is not unusual for a dealer-installed radio to be a year or two older than the car, while factory-installed ones are expected to be much closer to the invoice date on the Kardex.
Brett Johnson

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Jim Clement
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Re: Radio photos wanted for posterity

#4 Post by Jim Clement »

P1010373.JPG
Brett
any idea what kind or radio this is ?

Frankfurt ?

It is not listed on the COA or the cardex
 

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Brett Johnson
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Re: Radio photos wanted for posterity

#5 Post by Brett Johnson »

Does it have a paper label on the right side? It is definitely not a Frankfurt -- they have three bands. It is also not a radio Porsche offered, because they didn't offer a single band (AM) radio after 1952. If you can narrow down the date, you'll be able to find it (maybe) at: radiomuseum.org Without the date code from the label, I'd probably search 1956-1960 Blaupunkt/Germany/auto radios and look at the pictures!

I couldn't find an exact match to mine, which I believe to be a 1954/55 dealer-installed Frankfurt -- could be factory -- typical blank Hoffman Kardex -- only other option is the obvious factory-installed sunroof.
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James Davies
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Re: Radio photos wanted for posterity

#6 Post by James Davies »

Brett, yours looks like the 3-band version of the Blaupunkt Frankfurt A453.
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Re: Radio photos wanted for posterity

#7 Post by James Davies »

Brett, here's some period photos of your radio installed in a 1954 cabriolet, with a dash layout very similar to coupes 52013 and 52018, though clearly earlier as it has the older ivory knobs. But a chrome half horn ring option. Adjustable clutch and brake pedals (post cab 60489).
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James Davies
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Re: Radio photos wanted for posterity

#8 Post by James Davies »

A short run of cars in July/Aug 1953 had factory-installed Blaupunkt A51EM radios. They look like the photo below. Before this, virtually all cars in 1953 with a factory radio had the Telefunken ID52V with the vertical buttons, and shortly after this run of Blaupunkts they reverted to Telefunkens again, but the new 1953 (or 1954?) model, with the horizontal buttons. Known existing cars with this Blaupunkt A51EM: 50960, 60212, 60226.
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Brett Johnson
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Re: Radio photos wanted for posterity

#9 Post by Brett Johnson »

I've yet to see an identical radio with the three different letters on the pushbuttons. The group of four are not detailed enough to differentiate, but the one in the upper right is Köln (signal seeker) with chrome buttons. I will talk about them more in the upcoming column. I have no photos of Kölns except from the mid-1960s.

Sorry, yes they are detailed enough! The two on the left have the three bands and both of the ones on the right are Kölns. Would like color photos of all of them -- preferably in cars! I have a few Telefunken photos. I'm not clear about the model numbers and years though I suspect the number in the model is the year.
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James Davies
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Re: Radio photos wanted for posterity

#10 Post by James Davies »

Brett, the 3-band version was also called a Frankfurt, just the newer version for 1955/56.

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/blaupunkt ... 453_2.html

Yours should have an R 7xxxx serial number or later I suspect?

Serial numbers for Frankfurt radios:

from M 63501 --- 2-channel MMMUU (AM/FM)
from R 70001 --- 3-channel MMUUL (AM/FM/SW)

Look through the documents on this page:

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/blaupunkt ... rie_m.html

The original Frankfurt from 1953 (the A 453) and the renamed 1954 version "Frankfurt" are essentially the same radio. MMMUU, AM/FM. Serial numbers like 523376 for the 1953 version up to 540500 in 1954, where there was a technical (internal) change from 540501 onward. And then they changed the name to "Frankfurt" and a serial numbering scheme to a letter and 5-digit numbers.

But the original A 453 was the first with the push buttons.

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/blaupunkt_a453_a_453.html

To summarize:

For 1953:
A 253 - AM radio with push buttons without letters
A 353 - AM, short and marine, push buttons with KMMML
A 453 - AM/FM, push buttons with MMMUU, 5xx xxx serial numbers

For 1954/55:
A 453 became the "Frankfurt" M, same MMMUU layout, 6xxxx serial numbers

For 1955/56
"Frankfurt" R, gained short wave, MMUUL layout, R 7xxxx serial numbers

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Brett Johnson
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Re: Radio photos wanted for posterity

#11 Post by Brett Johnson »

I can add 50916, 50989 and 60201 to July 1953 cars with Blaupunkt radios listed on the Kardex. There are a handful of others back to 5050 8/50 and 5001 (first Gläser cabriolet) 11/50. There are a flurry in early 1954 and they become pretty common in late 1955.
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James Davies
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Re: Radio photos wanted for posterity

#12 Post by James Davies »

Thanks Brett! In the case of my car, 50960, it lists nothing on the Kardex. Same for 60226. Just "USA de Luxe". Typical of Hoffman cars during this era.

The photo below shows an early 1954 model car in Sweden. 52280. It has a Blaupunkt, probably the A 453.
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Re: Radio photos wanted for posterity

#13 Post by Brett Johnson »

James Davies wrote: Thu Mar 09, 2023 10:43 am To summarize:

For 1953:
A 253 - AM radio with push buttons without letters
A 353 - AM, short and marine, push buttons with KMMML
A 453 - AM/FM, push buttons with MMMUU, 5xx xxx serial numbers

For 1954/55:
A 453 became the "Frankfurt" M, same MMMUU layout, 6xxxx serial numbers

For 1955/56
"Frankfurt" R, gained short wave, MMUUL layout, R 7xxxx serial numbers
I'm not positive, but believe that the letter year codes are actually calendar years, as was the case with Bosch, Hella and SWF. Earlier I mentioned that very early radios had no letter codes and presented a list from The Samba. From the above it seems reasonable that it may be logical to add M for 1954 along with R for 1955.

M = 1954
R = 1955
K = 1956
etc.

Radios were not all installed during their year of manufacture as is true for other date-stamped components. Dealer/owner ones often much later.

Still looking of color photos -- column due shortly...
Brett Johnson

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