I recently sold this model and I am pleased to now offer another great example of this wonderful Bakelite 9 tube radio made in Holland (The Netherlands) for the American market by Phillips Inc. The sound is spectactular! It has been "repaired and preserved." By that I mean it is a fully functioning radio with original componentry except for any items found defective which were replaced. The Bakelite case and other parts have been thoroughly cleaned and polished but not refinished. Everything is original including the speaker grill cloth which has been cleaned.
The chassis was removed from the case and all parts were well inspected and tested. Any defective capacitors were replaced, any resistors out of specifications were replaced and any weak or dead tubes replaced. The panel lights were replaced. The magic tuning eye was replaced with a new equivalent and now shines brightly and responds to station strength as it was designed. Bass, Treble and Volume and push button controls have been cleaned and lubricated. They all respond well. The pressboard back is in good shape. There are no cracks or damage to the case and the original paint on the front bezel is in great shape
The Norelco B5X68A is a 9 tube radio with the following wave bands:
- FM: 108.0 - 87.5 MHz (standard FM)
- SW1: 15.8 - 7.5 MHz (short wave)
- SW2: 7.5 - 3.2 MHz (short wave)
- MW: 1600 - 529 kHz (medium wave - AKA AM)
It also has a "gram / fono" button that will allow you to play from an external device such as your phone with the proper cable.
1956 Philips/Norelco B5X68A 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.