Radiogram (furniture)
Encyclopedia
In British English
, a radiogram is a now old-fashioned piece of furniture that combined a valve radio
and record player. The word radiogram is a portmanteau of radio and gramophone.
Radiograms reached their peak of popularity in the post-war era, supported by a rapidly growing interest in records
. Originally they were styled in polished wood
to blend with the furniture styles of the 1930s, with many styled by the leading designers of the day. An expensive instrument of entertainment for the house, fitted with a larger loudspeaker than the domestic radio
, the radiogram soon began to develop features such as the record autochanger, which would accept 6 or 7 records and play them one after another. Certain recordings could be ordered as a box set which would combine the recorded piece in order, to suit an autochanger set-up. In the 1940s and 1950s, sales of the radiogram, coupled with the then-new F.M. waveband
, and the advent of the 45 rpm single
and the LP record
, meant that many manufacturers considered the radiogram to be more important than the fledgling television
set sales. Later models took on the modern lines, piano gloss finish and plastic and gilt trim of the 1960s. Stereogram
versions became available to take advantage of stereo
records.
When valve radio development ended in the late 1960s and transistors began to take over, radiograms started to become obsolete. By the late 1970s, they had been replaced by more compact equipment, such as the Hi-Fi and the music centre.
Since radiograms were manufactured in such huge numbers they are not as rare or valuable as TV sets or table radios from the same period. An exception to this are models from certain manufacturers which have become collectable such as Hacker Radio Ltd., Dynatron
, Blaupunkt
, Braun
, and Saba.
British English
British English, or English , is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the United Kingdom from forms used elsewhere...
, a radiogram is a now old-fashioned piece of furniture that combined a valve radio
Receiver (radio)
A radio receiver converts signals from a radio antenna to a usable form. It uses electronic filters to separate a wanted radio frequency signal from all other signals, the electronic amplifier increases the level suitable for further processing, and finally recovers the desired information through...
and record player. The word radiogram is a portmanteau of radio and gramophone.
Radiograms reached their peak of popularity in the post-war era, supported by a rapidly growing interest in records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
. Originally they were styled in polished wood
Wood finishing
Wood finishing refers to the process of embellishing and/or protecting the surface of a wooden material. The process starts with surface preparation, either by sanding by hand , scraping, or planing. Imperfections or nail holes on the surface may be filled using wood putty or pores may be filled...
to blend with the furniture styles of the 1930s, with many styled by the leading designers of the day. An expensive instrument of entertainment for the house, fitted with a larger loudspeaker than the domestic radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, the radiogram soon began to develop features such as the record autochanger, which would accept 6 or 7 records and play them one after another. Certain recordings could be ordered as a box set which would combine the recorded piece in order, to suit an autochanger set-up. In the 1940s and 1950s, sales of the radiogram, coupled with the then-new F.M. waveband
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
, and the advent of the 45 rpm single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
and the LP record
LP record
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
, meant that many manufacturers considered the radiogram to be more important than the fledgling television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
set sales. Later models took on the modern lines, piano gloss finish and plastic and gilt trim of the 1960s. Stereogram
Stereogram
A stereogram is pair of two-dimensional panels depicting the view of a scene or an object from the vantage points of the right and left eyes. Observing the panels superimposed in a stereoscope results in the experience of three-dimensionality by virtue of the fact that object depth is encoded as...
versions became available to take advantage of stereo
STEREO
STEREO is a solar observation mission. Two nearly identical spacecraft were launched into orbits that cause them to respectively pull farther ahead of and fall gradually behind the Earth...
records.
When valve radio development ended in the late 1960s and transistors began to take over, radiograms started to become obsolete. By the late 1970s, they had been replaced by more compact equipment, such as the Hi-Fi and the music centre.
Since radiograms were manufactured in such huge numbers they are not as rare or valuable as TV sets or table radios from the same period. An exception to this are models from certain manufacturers which have become collectable such as Hacker Radio Ltd., Dynatron
Dynatron
For the brand, see Dynatron Radio LtdThe dedicated dynatron vacuum tube was invented by Albert Hull in 1918. It has three electrodes: a thermionic cathode, a perforated anode, and a supplementary anode or plate, and its characteristic curves have a region exhibiting negative resistance, which is...
, Blaupunkt
Blaupunkt
GmbH is a German manufacturer of electronics equipment, noted for its home and car audio equipment. It was a 100% subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH until March 1st, 2009 when its Aftermarket and Accessories branch including the brand name were sold to Aurelius AG of Germany for an undisclosed...
, Braun
Braun (company)
' , formerly Braun AG, is a German consumer products company based in Kronberg, Germany.From 1984 until 2005, Braun was a wholly owned subsidiary of The Gillette Company, which had purchased a controlling interest in the company in 1967...
, and Saba.
External links
- Radiograms.co.uk Collectors site dedicated to Radiograms
- Braun Table Radiogram, 1962 At the Object Wiki, Science Museum , London
- Hacker Radio Ltd., Maidenhead manufacturer at Radiomuseum.org