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1963 Eltra Koliber 2

Coat pocket portable, thermoplastic cabinet
6 1/4 x 3 1/2 x 1 9/16 inches / 159 x 89 x 40 mm
2-band LW/MW, five transistors (COSEM France, 2x SFT319; TEWA Poland, 2x TG50, one unidentified)
Superheterodyne circuit
Four 1.5-volt cells
Manufactured by Eltra / Zaklady Radiowe; Bydgoszcz, Poland

The color of this cabinet really is as shown, a beautiful pale green. The black plastic raised-lettering "Koliber 2" logo and the black dial center and dial numbers create a striking contrast against the soft green background of the cabinet body. The Koliber 2 came in a number of other cabinet colors, yet I can't help but wonder if this green cabinet with its black trim was intended to mimic the beautiful green-painted TEWA transistors with their black lettering found inside the radio (see bottom photo below). Stamped on the lower left corner of the cabinet's back face are the English-language words, "MADE IN POLAND", indicating that this radio was made for export.

The five transistors here consist of a pair of COSEM France black can SFT319s, a pair of TEWA Poland green painted TG50 top hats, and one unmarked TEWA green "Euro"-shaped audio transistor.

TEWA was Poland's semiconductor manufacturer — it didn't begin producing transistors until 1960 (AF transistors), so the Koliber 2 may have been the first Polish transistor radio to routinely employ Polish-made transistors. The 1959 Eltra MOT-59 and the 1960/61 Koliber MOT-601 both appear to have used transistors produced by Western European manufacturers, although some units of the 1960/61 Koliber MOT-601 may have incorporated several TEWA audio transistors.

Eltra Koliber 2

1963 Eltra Koliber 2


Eltra Koliber 2

detail of inside cabinet back half


Eltra Koliber 2

chassis — click on the photo for a larger view —
the three green TEWA transistors are folded over on the far left side of the photo


TEWA transistors

a better look at the three TEWA transistors — the TEWA logo is visible on the left top hat

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