1955 Granco FM-610U Tube Radio (pics)

[Rob.]

Went in to a local vintage stereo shop this weekend and while digging through the back of the store, I found this Granco FM-610U Tube Radio. It was awfully dirty but no cracked and had a sticker on the bottom stating that it works, but noisy. So I took a chance on it and paid $20.00 for it. Took it home and cleaned it up in and out and gave it a polish.

The story of this company is crazy. The company was around for approx 10 or so years, but the factory burned down and management did not renew the insurance. I read that a Hot Iron was left unattended ! :cry: Shortly after, the company went bankrupt.

I was recently in touch (through email), with the daughter of the owner of Granco.
She told me that Granco design and assembly-line production made Granco the first U.S. company to produce low-cost AM-FM radios and the company would have continued to do well if Management had done the right thing. There were also Granco works in Emerson bodies.

More info here:
http://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_hersteller_detail.cfm?company_id=3849
http://antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=1327617#p1327617
http://antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=1327021#p1327021

By the way, what do you guys use to paint the gold lettering ?

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

Use Testors gold metallic kit paint and a small paintbrush used for detail work.

 

[Felvis]

A real nice design. Great find! Enjoy.

 

[Rob.]

Use Testors gold metallic kit paint and a small paintbrush used for detail work.

Thanks. So will this pen work as well ?

https://www.currys.com/catalogpc.htm?Category=KRYLON_LEAFING_PENS&Source=Search

 

[Rob.]

Update:

Brought in the radio to a local radio repair shop. They replaced a few caps.
All original tubes work. The speaker is blown, so it will need replacing.
I also painted the lettering with Krylon Gold paint. Looks better now.

If anyone has an original speaker for it, let me know.

Heres a video:

http://youtu.be/BV0rUFGKwsE

 

[Rob.]

The speaker is blown (distortion)
Here's a picture of the speaker for size reference.
Gonna either fix or replace it.

 

[allan1832]

Beautiful radio, I'd love to hear it!

You might think about replacing that selenium rectifier with a diode while you're figuring out the speaker situation.

Allan

 

[guiller]

Beatiful inside pictures, thanks for the sharing!

 

[JBL GUY]

Great pictures!


It is a cool radio.

Edit: My mistake, I need to pay attention when taking my medications.

 

[Rob.]

Great pictures!


It is a cool radio.

Edit: My mistake, I need to pay attention when taking my medications.

LOL