Step back in time with the meticulously rejuvenated 1958 Philips Philetta B2D 13A Kitchen German Tube Radio, exclusively available at Old Radio Garage. This iconic piece not only adds vintage charm to your kitchen but also delivers the authentic, warm sound of yesteryear's broadcasts. Expertly repaired and cleaned, it stands as a testament to our commitment to preserving the timeless appeal of antique vintage tube radios. Invest in a slice of audio history and experience unparalleled craftsmanship that resonates through every note.
The original beige finish is like new and hard to find in such good condition. After a few minutes of “warming up” this radio will pull in stations on all bands. This Philetta 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.
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.
I removed the chassis from the cabinet and cleaned and dusted everything. All tubes, capacitors and resistors were checked and measured. Any found to be defective were replaced. All moving parts were cleaned and lubricated. Both panel lights were replaced. The case is made of painted Bakelite. It has been hand polished to a nice shine.
The Philetta is exceptionally pretty in a dimly lit room. The 2 panel lights are edge mounted at the bottom of a one piece plastic grill / dial not only lighting the dial itself but casting a warm glow over the grill louvers.
This is a German radio that has been set to work in the US. The dial is in German and translates as follows: UKW is FM, MW is mediumwave or AM, LW is longwave, KW is shortwave and AUS is OFF. If you have questions about operating this radio, feel free to ask about specific functions like tuning to FM or AM, switching between modes, adjusting settings to achieve optimal reception or playing an external device through this radio.
1958 Philips Philetta B2D 13A Kitchen German Tube Radio
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.