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| Name: |
Admiral (brand) Continental Radio & Television Co.
(USA)
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| Abbreviation: |
admiral |
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| Products: |
model-types others
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| Summary: |
Continental Radio & Television Co. with its brand Admiral was one of the big radio producers in the USA and ranked 1939 number 5 in sales volume. Before it was "Transformer Corp. of America" which sold Admiral radios. See below. The end was in 1979.
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| Founded: |
1924 |
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| Closed: |
1979 |
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| History: |
Admiral is the brand of Continental Radio & Television Corporation, 3800W. Cortland Street, Chicago, Illinois, USA bzw. Admiral Corporation at the same address is the marketing company for the maker.
The story goes: "A group of four investors founded Continental Radio & Television Corporation in 1934 by literally selling their belongigns to raise the initial capital. The company was a success right from the start. Concentration was on quality to an inexpensive prize. In 1939 Admiral ranked number 5 in sales volume by 1939." [Bunis]. Below we have a bit a different story - and there are early Admiral models ...
Admiral was also successful when the movement of major sales outlets, such as Montgomery Ward and Sears, made their way into the radio sles in the end of the 30s. Continental Radio and Television Corp. made the Admiral, Globe Trotter, Radiomaster and Star Raider brands for them and some more.
Admiral radios were also exported. A catalogue in France [602-39] even lists some French models (5D33X and 952 from the 50s) but they are made in the USA. In Switzerland "Thali" published schematics for the most imported models and Admiral is one of the listed brands from the USA.
Because of quality problems and the growing competition from Japan the plants of the company had to be closed in 1979. The main losses resulted from TV sets.
A more detailled story:
Ross Siragusa founded the Admiral Corp. during the Depression and transformed it from a small radio and phonograph company into one of the leading makers of televisions, audio products and home appliances.
In 1924, Siragusa had developed an earlier company, Transformer Corp. of America, which grew quickly by selling battery chargers for radios. But by 1929, the Depression caused Siragusa's company to go out of business.
Undaunted, he turned to manufacturing radios. To get some start-up cash, Siragusa sold his automobile and home furnishings, and in 1934, created a new company, the Continental Radio and Television Corp., which is known most for its brand Admiral. Growth exploded with the arrival of contracts for military electronics during World War II; afterward, Siragusa steered Admiral into television.
A pioneering TV brand, it became one of the top three in sales and was one of the first to produce color sets. In 1951, Admiral sold five million television sets, but then came a downturn. Disputes simmered over the regulatory framework for color television, and a new excise tax left manufacturers with huge inventories.
By discounting its television sets and increasing its promotion of home appliances, Admiral survived for a while. But during an industry shakeout, with profits falling, the company was sold to Rockwell International Corp., which later pulled it out of the TV business.
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Some models:
| Ctry |
Year |
Name |
1st Tube |
Notes |
| USA |
36
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133 Ch = 8 AU (8AU)
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6A7
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150 - 350 kHz, 535 - 1730 kHz, 2350 - 7100 kHz plus 6 pushbuttons for short wave bands. Pu...
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| USA |
36
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134 Ch = 8AU (8 A U)
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6A7
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See mod. 133 for details - also 8AU = same chassis.
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| USA |
52
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5Z22 (5 Z 22) Ch= 5Z2 (5 Z 2)
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12SA7
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Color=Mahogany
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| USA |
49
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5Z23 (5 Z 23) Ch= 5Z2 (5 Z 2)
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12SA7
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Color=Ivory
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| USA |
54
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6M22 (6 M 22) Ch= 6M2 (6 M 2)
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12BA6
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Color=Mahogany
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| USA |
60 / 61
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4L26B (4 L 26 B) Ch= 4L2B (4 L...
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12BE6
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The SAMS Photofact date 5-61, set 531, folder 3 shows the same tube complement, tube locat...
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| USA |
60 / 61
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4L28B (4 L 28 B) Ch= 4L2B (4 L...
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12BE6
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The SAMS Photofact date 5-61, set 531, folder 3 shows the same tube complement, tube locat...
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| USA |
60 / 61
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4L27B (4 L 27 B) Ch= 4L2B (4 L...
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12BE6
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The SAMS Photofact date 5-61, set 531, folder 3 shows the same tube complement, tube locat...
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| USA |
60 / 61
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4L29B (4 L 29 B) Ch= 4L2B (4 L...
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12BE6
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The SAMS Photofact date 5-61, set 531, folder 3 shows the same tube complement, tube locat...
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| USA |
60
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Y2993 (Y 2993) "Avalon" Ch= 4P...
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12AU6
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| USA |
60
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Y2996 (Y 2996) "Avalon" Ch= 4P...
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12AU6
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| USA |
60
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Y2998 (Y 2998) "Avalon" Ch= 4P...
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12AU6
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| [rmxhdet-en] |
Further details for this radio
manufacturer by the members (rmfiorg):
| Admiral coding in the early 60s on Y plus 4-digit models (23.07.2008) Ernst Erb 525/0 |
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In 1960/61 Admiral started a rather big range of small radios with or without clock or alarm clock with a coding starting with Y, followed by 4 number digits. But the start was with Y7.., Y8.. and Y9.. - an Y with 3 number digits. This range ended probably with Y86.. in 1963/64. In that period there is only a very few models which do not fit into this system.
On Y-4digit numbers, digit position 3 is indicating a case name and
digit 4 the case color(s).
The chassis begins always with the number of tubes or transistors.
There is also a mixed 4-digit range like Y853B (chassis 5B5B) etc. And there are models with more digits like Y2238GPS with chassis 6M3C or Y2301GP (6M3D). Before the Y... Admiral made also models like 4Y11 (chassis 4y1) with a digit in front of the Y. Before the above mentioned period simple 3 digit numbers were common for Admiral , sometimes followed by a letter - but also models like 4L...
After above mentioned period, the Y was followed by a letter.
To our present knowledge model ranges/chassis families are:
Y7.. 5E5 (same chassis for models 691 and 692 from before)
Y8.. 5A5, 5B5, 5L5, 8T1
Y9.. 1F1
Y9.. and Y10.. chassis 5K5.
Y11.. 4E3 with model Y1189 from 1960, perhaps 1959.
Y19.. probably after above period: 20A6
Y20.. 7A2, 7B2C, 7V1, 8A2
Y21.. 7B2B, 7D2, 8D2
Y22.. 6M3, 7B2D
Y23.. 6V3, 7K2, 7L2, 8F2, 8G2
Y24.. 8K2
Y29.. 4P3
Y30.. 4N3, 4P3A, 5B6, 5F6, 5N5, 5S5, 5T5 and 5V5
Y31.. 4R3, 5A6
Y32.. 6N3
Y33.. and Y34.. 4X3, 5D6, 5R5, 6X3
Y34.. 6W3
Y35.. 4A4, D6, 5K6, 5L6, 5M6
Y37.. 5E6
Y40.. and Y41.. (3N1, 4F3, 5K5 = record players with amp.) , 5M5
Y44.. 3PA7 (tuner) and 7N2A (amp.)
Y46.. 4S3A
Y48.. and Y49.. 8P1, 9P1
Y49.. 1F1B, 9P1
Y50.. 2K1, 3L2 (record players with amp.)
Y60.. 3J2A (record players with amp.)
Y81.. and Y82.. 8N2
Y86.. combination of 12A2 + 4C4 + 8D3
Each of the chassis family can have a different system of cabinet names and color scheme.
Each of the chassis families were treated a bit different. In common they have the case designation codes.
Example on case names for the Y33 series:
Y33.. are having the chassis 5D6 (like 6D6A, 6D6B, 6D6C, 6D6D, 6D6E and 6D6F).
One common schematic is for 6D6A, B and C for which Beitman lists 14 models (missing the model Y3343 "Lyric" in Ermine White. Other Y33.. are not included below:
Digit 3:
2 = Overture
3 = Serenade
4 = Lyric
5 = Duet
6 = Tempo
7 = Fiesta
8 = Marquis
Digit 4:
0 = grey
1 = black, here "Baltic Black".
2 = white, here "Coral White".
3 = white, here "Ermine White".
4 = pink, here "Cameo Pink".
6 = yellow (incl. gold), here "Ming Yellow".
7 = beige, here "Brighton Beige".
8 = green, here "Grotto Green" or "Tempra Turquoise".
9 = blue or grey (am = gray), here "Beryl Blue", "Beyl Blue/White") or "Magna Gray".
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