Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Cap Tux, who shares this eBay find: a Dieter Rams Braun T1000CD.
I must say, £675.00 is a lot of money, but I’m not so sure it’s an inflated price for the Braun T1000CD. I believe I’ve seen them fetch even higher prices and the condition of this unit is excellent.
Here’s the seller’s description:
I bought this radio from an Italian colleague in 1983 when I worked in Nigeria. I am the second owner from new. It has been dry stored in a box at my home for for most of the last 35 years. It is in very excellent condition with only the most minor blemishes to the case. Comes with original paper work and circuit diagram numbered the same at the radio. Please see all the photos. I had this serviced and realigned by Graham at East Coast Wireless. I have just checked all the controls and apart from the dial light they all work.
I’m sure a Dieter Rams collector will grab this unit in short order. Frankly, if I had the radio funds for such a purchase, I’d be tempted. I don’t own a single Rams’ designed radio.
Thanks again, Cap! One of the great things about eBay is finding the occasional gem like this and simply admiring the design.
You could also buy a Royal or 7000 series Zenith T.O, a Soviet Selena, or one of the Japaneses clones from that era for a fraction of that price, and most of those are excellent shortwave receivers. The trouble with Western European transistor radios from the 1960s are that the transistors often develop tin whisker shorts, if this uses germanium transistors you can almost lay money on that, even if the set was new in the box.
The braun T1000 makes the zenith r7000 look and feel (and also
perform), like junk. This morning I picked up Saudi radio on the braun and the zenith couldn’t sniff it. You have to remember the zenith mystique and American’s affection for the transatlantics makes them rated above their actual construction and performance. The r7000-2 has the cheapest turning knob ever for instance.
From all i know (or remember) it’s not exactly a DX machine, it has a fair performance and a good sound but most of its myth is due to the Dieter Rams design and build quality. A collectible rather than a go-to radio nowadays.
I’ve seen and dreamed about this chap for a long time. Question is, though, is it still any good as a receiver? Does anyone have any (reasonably recent) experience with one?