Emerson Model 517 (???) "Moderne" Table Radio in Ivory Plaskon (1947)
The Emerson 517 "Moderne" is an ac/dc
powered all-American-five receiver that
was styled by industrial designer
Raymond Loewy.
Using the same cabinet style as the
contemporaneous model 511, the 517
was initially offered in an ebony cabinet
at $29.95. A wooden version of the 511/
517 was also available as model 541.
I believe the ivory colored radio featured
here to actually be a model 511 with
incorrect labelling on its base (probably
done after market). For a more detailed
discussion of the differentiation between
models 517 and 511, see the foot of my
511 page "Is It a 511 or 517?".
The 517 covers standard broadcast and
the example here uses a type-I chassis
with tube line-up 12SA7, 12SK7, 12SQ7,
50L6GT and 35Z5GT. A rarer later type
II chassis appeared, using the miniatures
12BE6, 12BA6, 12AT6, 50B5 and 35W4.
powered all-American-five receiver that
was styled by industrial designer
Raymond Loewy.
Using the same cabinet style as the
contemporaneous model 511, the 517
was initially offered in an ebony cabinet
at $29.95. A wooden version of the 511/
517 was also available as model 541.
I believe the ivory colored radio featured
here to actually be a model 511 with
incorrect labelling on its base (probably
done after market). For a more detailed
discussion of the differentiation between
models 517 and 511, see the foot of my
511 page "Is It a 511 or 517?".
The 517 covers standard broadcast and
the example here uses a type-I chassis
with tube line-up 12SA7, 12SK7, 12SQ7,
50L6GT and 35Z5GT. A rarer later type
II chassis appeared, using the miniatures
12BE6, 12BA6, 12AT6, 50B5 and 35W4.
...in a beauty and performance class all by itself.
The cabinet comprises a continuous moulded shell, enclosed on all sides but open at the bottom to allow
loading of the chassis. The top features a recessed carrying handle that doubles as a ventilation slot. The
plaskon cabinet is often subject to stress lines around the carrying handle and at the corners of the grille.
The example photographed here is however perfect. Note that the ivory model was available in painted bake-
lite as well as ivory plaskon.
loading of the chassis. The top features a recessed carrying handle that doubles as a ventilation slot. The
plaskon cabinet is often subject to stress lines around the carrying handle and at the corners of the grille.
The example photographed here is however perfect. Note that the ivory model was available in painted bake-
lite as well as ivory plaskon.
Copyright TubeRadioLand.com
| truly available in ivory, as implied by this ad from April |