In the Soviet Union, the radiogramophone (also known as radiola) was a device that combined the functions of a player and a radio receiver. The “Symphony” model, which is presented in the National Museum of the Republic of Mari El, used to belong to Mari El composer Ivan Molotov. After Molotov’s death, the radiogramophone passed to the family of his sister Antonina Patrusheva. Later she donated the item to the museum’s collection.
The first radiogramophone “Symphony” was produced at the radio manufacturing plant named after A. Popov in Riga in 1964. Several improved models were later developed on its basis — “Symphony-2”, “Symphony-003”, “Estonia-stereo”.
The radiogramophone from the collection of the National Museum of the Republic of Mari El could receive the signal of radio stations on long, medium, and short waves, play audio recordings from records and magnetic media, which were tape reels at that time. An external speaker system consisting of two speakers produces high-quality sound.
The radiogramophone could be set on the tall wooden legs painted in black. A similar set of shorter legs was used for the speakers.
The back of the case has a power socket, voltage switch, jacks for the antenna, tape recorder, and speakers. A record player is built into the upper right side of the case and is covered by a hinged lid. Next to the disc that held the vinyl record, there was a turntable head with a needle and a rotational speed switch that allowed you to select several modes — 16, 33, 45, or 78 revolutions per minute.
There is a plastic panel on the front side. The controls could be used to select the operating mode and tune the radio station. The scale features divisions, as well as the marks that allowed to tune in to the USSR cities’ broadcast, which included Moscow, Leningrad, Kyiv, Tbilisi, Tashkent, and others. They were tuned by ear, with a special knob. The radiogramophone also had an automatic tuning function for the desired radio station by pressing the key with the “АП” label. The timbre could be adjusted with two knobs on the front panel by making it higher or lower to produce a more pleasant sound.
The first radiogramophone “Symphony” was produced at the radio manufacturing plant named after A. Popov in Riga in 1964. Several improved models were later developed on its basis — “Symphony-2”, “Symphony-003”, “Estonia-stereo”.
The radiogramophone from the collection of the National Museum of the Republic of Mari El could receive the signal of radio stations on long, medium, and short waves, play audio recordings from records and magnetic media, which were tape reels at that time. An external speaker system consisting of two speakers produces high-quality sound.
The radiogramophone could be set on the tall wooden legs painted in black. A similar set of shorter legs was used for the speakers.
The back of the case has a power socket, voltage switch, jacks for the antenna, tape recorder, and speakers. A record player is built into the upper right side of the case and is covered by a hinged lid. Next to the disc that held the vinyl record, there was a turntable head with a needle and a rotational speed switch that allowed you to select several modes — 16, 33, 45, or 78 revolutions per minute.
There is a plastic panel on the front side. The controls could be used to select the operating mode and tune the radio station. The scale features divisions, as well as the marks that allowed to tune in to the USSR cities’ broadcast, which included Moscow, Leningrad, Kyiv, Tbilisi, Tashkent, and others. They were tuned by ear, with a special knob. The radiogramophone also had an automatic tuning function for the desired radio station by pressing the key with the “АП” label. The timbre could be adjusted with two knobs on the front panel by making it higher or lower to produce a more pleasant sound.
