Gerard's Namco

276
Item nr.

Namco Mini radio

American set made for the European market

**Data for Namco**
Production	U.S.A., 1940.
Bands	LW (800-2000m), MW (180-550m), SW (18-51m).
Tubes	6E8, 6D6, 75, EL84, AZ1.
Cabinet	Wood. Size 30x22x19 cm. Weight 6 kg.
Power	AC 220V.
Documents	Namco NY, this set on Rmorg.

The Design

The radio is a bit difficult to pin down, both in time and space. Somebody scratched 1935 on the back, but I do not think that this (correctly) represents the year of production. RM.org claims that Namco was in business from 1935 to 1940. The EL84 tube is much more recent (introduced around 1952) and the AZ1 rectifier was not used in the US. My conclusion is that it was an American radio for the European market, but later modified or repaired with European parts.

Of course, it is quite unusual for an American radio to tune Long Wave, because in America people don't listen to Long Wave (they don't even have it). Then, the dial is marked in French (with Petites Ondes and so on). And it has station names on the dial, which is not common in the States. The names are European stations from the time before the Copenhague radio plan (that was negotiated around 1948). Also the use of 6D6 and 6E8 octal tubes points to a date during or shortly after WWII.

Obtained	4/2006 from Maarten Lemmens.
Condition	7.
Disposed	Sold 11/2006.

This Object

The radio is fitted with a Dutch power transformer, and EL84 and AZ1 tubes.

These are certainly a later addition, as can also be seen from the wiring (right). Under the chassis we find a mixture of old American paper-wax capacitors and more modern (safer) replacements.

Part of Gerard's Radio Corner.
Generated by SiteBuilder on 26/2/2024 by Gerard (g.tel@uu.nl)