Description
SNR Excelsior 55 !
This radio works with its original tube amplifier and speaker, with a WIFI/Bluetooth module added so you can listen to your digital music from your phone or computer.
We left this radio all original because of its rarity and its investment value. All the tubes and capacitors have been changed on this radio. It works like the day it was made. It requires an antenna and earth wire to be attached to pickup radio stations. The lowest range of the AM selector is now the WIFI/Bluetooth selection.
Find more information about WIFI features.
WIFI connectivity also opens up the possibility of synchronous wireless streaming to multiple devices (multi-room). If you buy a second device (radio, WIFI record player or WIFI speaker), one could play the left track and the other the right, or one could play your music in the living room and the other in the kitchen. We also sell a WIFI adaptor that converts your audio system into a WIFI speaker via a simple jack plug.
More information on multiroom broadcast.
Specs
- Original tube amplifier, restored. Capacitors and tubes have been replaced (see pictures)
- Original speaker (see pictures)
- WIFI connectivity
- Bluetooth connectivity
- WIFI/Bluetooth remote
- Original AM radio tuner
- Original and functional back lighting and green "magic" eye
- The power supply will be set to 110 or 220V depending on the country of destination. The plug will be changed if a French plug is not suitable for your country.
- Dimensions : 57 x 38 x 26 cm
Case condition
The radio shows some minor signs of its age:
- the paint is all original and such has some corrosion marks along the edges of the case and the edges of the base
- some minor cracks in the grill near the knobs
In other words, this radio is in perfect condition for its 68 years of age, as the pictures show!
Important ! Shipping information
The radio will be shipped with the chassis separated from the case, in a (very) large package. When you receive it, you'll need to carefully insert the chassis into the case, screw the assembly from below (large flathead screwdriver) and then reposition the four buttons on the front panel (small flathead screwdriver). The operation is simple, and a video tutorial will be sent to the purchaser.
We ship it this way so the chassis can’t damage the fragile front grill. It will arrive in a very large box.
The shipping surcharge is included in the advertised price.
History of the radio
The Nouvelle Société de Radiophonie S.N.R. (63 rue du Faubourg-Poissonière, Paris IXe) was born in 1935 and produced radios until 1961. Its first models, small and unadorned, were adapted to the context of the crisis of the time, but SNR quickly evolved towards bakelite radios to keep up with the other manufacturers. The competition raged after World War II, and the design team began to search for a signature that would set them apart. New, more modern models, made of metal and inspired by Art Deco, came out of the factories in 1947. The success was very fast.
The Excelsior 55, nicknamed "the butterfly", is the Grail of Art-deco radios! Produced only one year, it is very difficult to find. So far we have found only two others, and this is the first one whose condition is so good that we are able to restore the original circuits.
We don't know how SNR came from being so successful to shutting down in 1961. If you have any information on this subject, please tell us !
Free shipping to UK, Germany, Spain, Netherland, Belgium and France.
Full one year warranty
A question? Contact us
Harry Reber –
The radio arrived very well packaged and I was able to get them easily reassembled according to the helpful manual attached to the box.
Actually I didn’t power on the radio yet – I’m a bit scared that something goes wrong…
However, my intention is not to use it anyway – to me it’s just a piece of art to look at which stands now in the center of my living room.
Thank you again – confident about this purchase.