Another Obscure Studebaker First

[DEEPNHOCK]

Blaupunkt put their first automotive stereo system in a Studebaker (in 1932)

(source)

http://www.e-guru.org/2009/08/29/origin-development-and-history-of-the-car-stereo-system-by-victor-epand/

(copy)
Evolution of the car stereo system was subsequently taking place in various parts of the world . In the year 1932, Germany Blaupunkt fitted their first radio to a Studebaker and in the United Kingdom Crossley offered a factory fitted wireless in their 10 hp models from 1933. Thus began the evolution for the car stereo system.



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[JeffDeWitt]

Very interesting but I don't think that was a stereo, I think it's more the authors use of the English language.

Was stereo even invented in 1932? Where would a car audio system have gotten a stereo signal in 1932, not from FM (FM stereo was still 30 years in the future) and stereo records about as far off.

Jeff DeWitt

http://carolinastudes.net

[MyStude_Baker]

Radio has been around a long time. In fact it was the only entertainment they had at that time. No Television until 1947 I believe. I do have to correct one point though about the seek push button function. My 1951 Studebaker has a push button seek on it. They said that it wasn't introduced until 1952. Maybe they didn't have the seek function in Germany.

-Glenn

1951 Commander Land cruiser

[Roscomacaw]

I'm with JD here. I'll eat my figurative hat if that 1932 unit had dual channels to it![^]


BTW, the first, very rudimentary televisions were demonstrated in the 20s. Then before WWII there was a broadcast going on, I believe in the NY area. After WWII, TV really started to get it's footing.


1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1963 Cruiser
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President two door

[showbizkid]

Stereo FM was in development throughout the 50s and was finally approved by the FCC in 1961. The system we have now was developed by GE and Zenith, both working independently.

The Motorola C-QUAM AM stereo system was the only AM Stereo system that didn't require fancy new receivers; listeners could hear the stereo signal by tuning two mono receivers slightly to the right and left of the frequency center. But this wasn't in development until the late 70s.

Philco did invent an experimental AM Stereo system that was tested in the New York City market, but that wasn't until the 1950s.

All of that to say that yes, I think it is the writer's use of English that muddies the issue somewhat



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Clark in San Diego
'63 F2/Lark Standard

http://studeblogger.blogspot.com

https://www.studebakersandiego.com

[JeffDeWitt]

It's an interesting article but it's also quite apparent that English is not the authors primary language. (I'm not being critical, I wish I could write in his language as well as he can write in ours!)

I used to have a Jeep Comanche and the factory radio had AM Stereo. I had no idea until one day I was driving along and WPTF's new jingle came on with them singing "AM Stereo 680" and it was actually in stereo!

Jeff DeWitt

http://carolinastudes.net

[showbizkid]

MoPar was really the only company to deploy AM Stereo radios in any great number. I remember rolling along with my brother-in-law, listening to Padres games on the AM radio in his mid-80s Voyager, hearing Ted Leitner on the right channel and Jerry Coleman on the left!


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Clark in San Diego
'63 F2/Lark Standard

http://studeblogger.blogspot.com

https://www.studebakersandiego.com

[studegary]

If you carefully read the first post, it does not say that the radios in the 1930s were stereo radios, just that those radios of the 1930s led to the development of the modern stereo car radio.

A local radio station used to broadcast in AM stereo. I won an AM stereo radio from the station. Their transmitter was an army surplus unit (WW II) that had two channels, so they used both.

My father bought a fairly early FM stereo radio. It maust have been in the 1940s or early 1950s.

FDR had TV in his home in 1939. The set was one where you viewed the image on a mirror. I remember seeing it in the 1940s. We had a neighbor that had TV in the 1940s, but we didn't get a set until 1951. It was/is a 17 inch Air King that still worked when I sold my father's home in 2007.

I remember renting a car that had an AM stereo radio. I think that the car was a Toyota.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[showbizkid]

Veering WAY off topic now, the Early Television Museum in Hilliard, Ohio is a pretty cool place to visit. They have working sets from the earliest days of TV, including early Bell Labs mechanical reproducers from the '20s. Check out their website at http://www.earlytelevision.org/ - I've spent hours and hours browsing their site!


[img=left]http://members.cox.net/clarknovak/lark.gif[/img=left]

Clark in San Diego
'63 F2/Lark Standard

http://studeblogger.blogspot.com

https://www.studebakersandiego.com

[Johnnywiffer]

All my Fieros had an AM stereo radio. Only prob, most AM stations don't broadcast in stereo. The owner's manuals said:

quote:"AM stations broadcasting in C-QUAM stereo may be received in stereo...Switching to "stereo" improves fidelity but may increase noise on weaker stations....Most AM stereo stations across the country broadcast in C-QUAM but some do not. Check with your local stations for compatability in your ares."

Only one station (KTSA) in San Antonio did but I think it stopped.

John

[showbizkid]

Most stations yanked their AM Stereo gear a few years back. It never really took off, unfortunately. Just like Quad in the 70s... great idea, lousy marketing.


[img=left]http://members.cox.net/clarknovak/lark.gif[/img=left]

Clark in San Diego
'63 F2/Lark Standard

http://studeblogger.blogspot.com

https://www.studebakersandiego.com

[tim87114]

Yep and now you get digital TV. And when the Dog walks by it cuts out. Great Idea.....

[comatus]

We bandy these terms around, having forgotten that there used to be a difference. Makes you feel old. There were RCA experimental stereo recordings made soon after recording became electronic, and before tape was invented. The Germans were making orchestral stereo recordings on paper tape with iron filings glued on during WWII (I have a copy of one, and it's good). But broadcasting in stereo is a whole different story.

We tore down my grandparents' house last week, and one of the things in the attic I decided to let go was the 1920's floor model radio. The demolition crew decided they wanted it. One of the (4) guys who brought it down the garret stair was about 16. As I stood by with my dad, who's 87, looking on wistfully, the kid asked, "Say, oldtimer, did you listen to the first moon landing on this?"

Even the other wreckers laughed at that. My dad said, "Would you believe the first flight across the Atlantic?" He didn't.

So we went out to lunch, and I related the tale to our waitress, about my age. She giggled and said she could remember that moon landing, but wasn't sure if TV was in color in 1963.

I'm just going to start speaking Latin everywhere. Might's well.

[comatus]

Oh, hey, I remember. The first guy to install a radio in a car was Lowell Thomas' Grand Canyon rafting guide, an Eagle Scout named Barry Goldwater.

[okc63avanti]

We have digital TV now, does anyone know if AM and FM will ever become digital broadcast ???

<div align="left">John</div id="left">

<div align="left">'63 Avanti, R1, Auto, AC, PW (unrestored)</div id="left">