LITERATURE tYPES

Most Blaupunkt radios have a paper tag on the right side of the radio body that shows a letter code indicating its “series”. This letter code always refers to a two-year span in which a specific series was produced (for example: A-series = 1969-1970), since new models were mid-year introductions.

Although this paper tag is almost always on the right side (passenger side of the car when mounted) of the radio, on early tube radio (circa 1955-58) the paper tag is on the left side. During the transition period in which tags moved from the left to the right, there are even radios that have two paper tags, with one on each side.

Depending on heat and humidity, these paper tags have often fallen off, since they were held in place with a dab of glue. The 1950’s and 1960’s radios have a higher chance of the paper tag still being present (more or stronger glue?), while the 1970’s radios have a smaller chance of the paper tags being in place.

The paper tags with the letter code also have a serial number. It is my understanding that the serial number on 1950’s and 1960’s radios are just the numeric order in which a certain radio was produced in that series. And until the Z-series 1968-1969 model, an old series was immediately discontinued once the new model year series was introduced. For example, a W-series will always be from 1965 and 1966 and will not have been produced any later than that.

This changed starting with the A-series 1969-1970 models. Some series continued being built for a few additional years, meaning that an old series was not immediately discontinued once the new model year began. It is the model code (not the serial number, which is usually located next to it) that gives us more information with the fourth digit indicating the year that radio design was originally introduced. This information works hand-in-hand with the letter code, which tells us the actual year the radio was built. 

Examples:

Model Code: 7630 640 000  with C-series is a 1970 design built 1971/1972
Model Code: 7632 641 200  with F-series is a 1972 design built  1974/1975
Model Code: 7631 640 000  with D-series is a 1971 design built  1972/1973

Letter Series Codes:

1955-1956- R     1956-1957- K     1957-1958- S     1958-1959- G    

1959-1960- Q     1960-1961- D     1961-1962- E     1962-1963- T
1963-1964- U     1964-1965- V     1965-1966- W    1966-1967- X
1967-1968- Y     1968-1969- Z     1969-1970- A      1970-1971- B 
1971-1972- C     1972-1973- D     1973-1974- E     1974- 1975- F
1975-1976- G     1976-1977- H     1977-1978- G     1978-1979- G

Green versus white dial face?

All T-series (1962/1963) and earlier Blaupunkt radios had a green dial no matter what model radio or which vehicle a radio was intended for. The green dial was not specific to any one vehicle as some people believe. This holds true for both European market radios as well as US market radios. During the following model year, the U-series (1963-1964) had the dial color changed to white, no matter what model radio. Note: Some 1970's European model Blaupunkt radios changed back from white to green dial faces.

When was shortwave added?

The Marine band feature on US market radios was dropped and shortwave added with the introduction of the W-series (1965-1966). Previously the buttons were labeled M,AM,AM,FM,FM. They were changed to AM,AM,SW,FM,FM. Shortwave was available before 1965 though using a seperate undermount shortwave adapter such as the earlier "big button" KV 810 or later "small button" KV 900. Shortwave was added to the European market radios as well beginning with the W-series (1965-1966). Previously the buttons were labeled L,M,M,U,U.  They were changed to L,M,K,U,U.

What are "M", "L"  "K" or "U" buttons?

The “M” button on a US market radio is the marine band, while the “M” button on a European market radio is the AM band. "L" stands for longwave (not applicable in the US, although it can at times pick up international stations at higher altitude on a clear night), "K" stands for shortwave and "U" stands for FM on European models.

The FM range, US market verses European market radios:

The FM range on US market radios always goes up to 108. The FM range on European market radios only goes up to 104 and even only up to 100 on earlier European market tube radios from the 1950's. The only European model Blaupunkt to break this rule are some Dortmund deluxe models from the early 1970’s and the export version of some Volkswagen specific Emden models. These were offered with a 108 FM range