This is a working Philips Philetta model number BD263U table top tube radio. After a few minutes of “warming up” this radio will pull in stations on all bands. It was considered a “second” radio for the kitchen or child's room as it is a nice compact design measuring only 11.2" long, 6.5" deep and 7" tall.
The Philetta was one of Philips' most popular small tabletops. This one has four bands: FM, SW (shortwave), MW (standard broadcast),and LW (longwave). On the back of the radio are connections for external FM and AM antennas, an external speaker, and a phonograph turntable. A small external FM antenna wire is included and is all that is needed to pull in many FM stations.
This radio has been previously worked on before I acquired it but as usual, I removed the chassis from the cabinet and cleaned and dusted everything. I tested the tubes, capacitors and resistors and anything that was not in acceptable ranges were replaced. Any brittle wiring was replaced. The pushbutton assembly was cleaned with DeoxIT D5 and works nicely. The plastic trim and grill were cleaned and hand polished. Both panel lights were replaced. The case is made of Bakelite. It has been primed, painted "banner red" and hand polished to a nice shine.
1958 Philips Philetta BD263U - 03 Kitchen German Tube Radio
At the beginning of 1941, Philips built the “Philetta 203U and 204U” models in Belgium with the newly developed miniaturized components, which were extremely small home radios for the time.
The Philetta tube radio continued being produced throughout the 1950s, with slight changes made to the design each year. The radio was popular due to its simple appearance, and the use of two panel lights at the front which dramatically lit up the grill when in use.
A leader in design
Much of Philips design expertise can be traced back to Louis Christiaan Kalff. An architect with a passion for graphic design, Kalff understood the importance of consistent, effective design and recognized its role in driving consumer preference for the company’s products as well as brand. The first product to reflect this design vision was the Philips radio, which also introduced the famous waves-and-stars shield. (from Philips Norelco website)
Nothing has been done to this radio that is not described here. THIS IS NOT A FULLY RESTORED RADIO but rather an original antique radio that has been inspected and repaired as necessary to make it function as it was originally intended. As with all of my radios, I have played this radio for hours several days a week before I put it up for sale. I do my best to describe every item in detail. Please look over the photos and contact me with any questions.
Vintage radios were manufactured decades ago in a time of relaxed electrical safety and with primitive technology as compared with today's standards. Many early radios were made with the metal chassis electrically connected to one side of the power cord. This can give you a strong shock if you happen to touch the radio chassis and anything else that is grounded at the same time. In addition, tubes can get very hot and cause serious burns if touched accidentally after the radio has been running for a while. These dangers are minimal if the complete cabinet, back, and knobs are all in place and no metal parts are exposed. Vintage Radio Electronics, whether restored or un-restored, are by nature hazardous due to their voltage, design, heat output and age. They should not be operated unattended, without adult supervision or for great lengths at a time. Any operation, adjustments or repairs are done at your own risk. None of the radios sold at this shop have been modified or upgraded to modern standards.