Optaphon 1
The Optaphon 51 WA + WAP
One of the rarest radio sets in existence - only 6 known examples up till now. In this case, the 'Optaphon' tape player is installed in an "Patrizier- Studio" cabinet .
The tape reels.
This unit I have in my collection in three different versions.
One is a portable, well, not really. It is the actual shipping crate, which as you can see in the picture somebody has covered with leather.
The next one is built into a model "Patrizier-Studio", and the last one is installed in a 'music furniture' (collectors' style) 1954 model "Universum".
Open reel cassette of an OPTAPHON Bottom view of a unit.
The OPTAPHON 51WAP is even more of a rarity since it has a built-in record player.
This picture shows a chassis with tape rack and standard tape. Additional information about the OPTAPHON is available in the database "Patrizier -Studio, or "OPTAPHON 54", or "Universum Truhe", or "OPTAPHON" pages 2 and 3.
As far as I know, at present there are still 7 or 8 units in existence:
One supposedly can be seen at the museum in Bad Larspe, two are on display at LOEWE in Kronach and three of them are with us at the Radiomuseum-Bocket; there is yet another unit which I have sold at Ebay some time ago. It has been sold again at Ebay for 171.00 Euro.
Unfortunately this specimen had been altered before I received it, and therefore one could not call it an original anymore. A tube and a pot had been added, presumably to make it serve as an amplifier.
The green drive belt was standard issue by the LOEWE works in Kronach.
An important advice:
Should you be fortunate to acquire a set like this, please be very careful in handling it! A electrical fault such as a short to the chassis could be life-threatening due to the fact that then all components were made of metal!