Thanks guys, very reassuring to know I have backup from you. 🤒
This set, being a Grand Prix, was top notch at its time.
Built in 1962-63, its circuits and build quality was close to the max of what was possible
for a livingroom set back then and it's a superb performer when setup and serviced properly.
The owner had a choice of AM (LW/MW/SW) with a built-in AM antenna and FM
(requiring an external antenna) with the option of stereo in
the form of an extra module to build in. DIN plugs at the back are provided to
connect a turntable and a taperecorder, suggesting that the Grand Prix was meant
to be the center piece of what would potentially have been a quite impressive
sound system.
The Grand Prix supports an optional external echo-unit. This was probably mainly
a fashion-thing, only lasting a couple of years and I don't really see the
point myself, unless trying to achieve a "broader" hall-like sound.
Actually the so called echo-unit is more like a reverb unit but that's another story.
Not to my liking anyways and not many echo units exists, suggesting that it, not
surprisingly, wasn't a huge success. A (valve-type) socket is provided for
the echo unit at the back just below the 4 DIN speaker sockets (2 pairs).
A vast amount of controls are available and still it's easy to navigate and
use on a daily basis.
The top two round knob-like things are dial lamp holders which also holds the
dial glass in place.
The dial glass is actually perspex and very light so it sits firmly, held in
place only by those two holders.
The holder caps screw off and the dial lamp pops out, making dial lamp replacement
a 10-second job.
The next pair of round knobs have separate inner and outer knobs.
The left one has the outer portion functioning as the volume control and
the inner portion rotates the built-in AM ferrite antenna.
To the right, the tuning knobs, inner portion is for FM, tuning on the lower
part of the dial and outer portion controls AM with it's separate dial pointer
on the upper part of the dial.
The little round knobs on the bottom row are from left to right:
Bass, echo-amount(and echo off), balance and treble.
The push-buttons from left to right are:
OFF, Speakers 1, Speakers 2, Stereo, Turntable, AFC/Antenna, LW, MW, SW1, SW2 and FM.
Pressing both SW-buttons at the same time selects Tape.
Tuning is childs play.
The AFC control switch is also provided as a function on the tuning knob in that
pushing inwards on any portion of the knob (at FM tuning), switches off AFC
while tuning and back on again when the knob is released.
The "magic eye" tuning valve with it's distinct green bar will help you find the
best signal point and the AFC will help keep it.
All very fine but what have we got to work with then ?
Bad things are that the cabinet is showing signs of a life in the basement, serving
as a platform for cans with fluids, paint or the likes. It also has some water-stains
and a split along its right side.
Apart from this, the cabinet is largely unmarked and I wouldn't be surprised if
it could be brought back nicely even if it will probably never break completely
free from its history.
A knob is missing. This type of knob was used heavily on B&O's TV's and radios
in those years and still they can prove hard to find. I don't see it as a huge problem though, at least
not for the time being.
The FONA decal, because that's what it is, was put on by the dealer.
FONA is a large chain of radio dealers in Denmark, they have been around for ages
and actually just recently stopped selling B&O.
I enjoy preserving labels and decals like this whenever possible but
this particular decal is not as nice as it looks in the photo and it would be
very hard, if not impossible, to restore the cabinet while preserving the decal
so I'm afraid it will have to go. Not being something B&O intended in
the first place, I have no problem accepting that.
Good things are that the rest of the set seems to be fairly intact. The dial is
unmarked, an important factor, and the back and bottom covers are both
present with the odd, almost mandatory missing, screw.
The mains flex is the original standard figure-of-eight type, looking safe and sound.
Thanks for your kind offer Chris, it may come in very handy as it did last time.
It would have to be a huge car to fit this fancy "cup holder with integrated radio"
in the dashboard, for sure. Not really portable either, no remote control and
I'm sure, it wouldn't know what to do if shown an mp3-file. 😂
Martin
