Hornyphon UKW WH567A – Austrian Radio-Phono Combination from 1957

The Hornyphon UKW WH 567A is a large Austrian tube radio from the late 1950s, combining a full-size radio receiver with an integrated Philips record player. Sets like this were no longer simply radio receivers, but complete home entertainment units for the living room.

Hornyphon was one of the well-known Austrian radio manufacturers, based in Vienna. The WH 567A belongs to the period when FM radio had already become an important feature, while long wave, medium wave and short wave were still expected on a high-quality domestic receiver.

A Radio and Record Player in One Cabinet

The most striking feature of this set is its combined design. The radio chassis, loudspeaker system and record player are housed in one wooden cabinet. This made the unit a convenient all-in-one music system: radio reception for daily listening, and records for music playback.

Compared with smaller table radios, the WH 567A gives a much more substantial impression. The wide front, the large tuning scale and the integrated phono section show the transition from the classic radio set to the domestic music furniture of the late 1950s.

Technical Notes

The WH 567A is a tube-based superheterodyne receiver with FM/UKW reception. As typical for this class of radio, it also covers the AM bands used at the time. The built-in record player is connected through the radio amplifier, so records are played back through the same tube audio stage and loudspeaker system.

The warm sound of these sets is not only caused by the tubes, but also by the large wooden cabinet and the comparatively generous loudspeaker arrangement. When properly restored, such a radio-phono combination can still give a very pleasant and room-filling sound.

Design

The cabinet follows the typical style of the mid- to late-1950s: polished wood veneer, a wide speaker cloth area, a clearly readable dial glass and decorative trim. The record player is integrated in the upper part of the cabinet and is hidden when not in use.

This makes the WH 567A visually different from ordinary table radios. It is both a technical device and a piece of furniture, intended to be placed prominently in the room.

Restoration Note

This Hornyphon WH 567A was restored as a combined radio and record-player unit. The work included cleaning the cabinet, chassis and controls, checking the mains wiring, inspecting the power supply, and rebuilding the aged paper and electrolytic capacitors.

To preserve the original appearance, the old capacitor bodies were opened, fitted with modern components inside, and carefully sealed again. The magic eye tube was also replaced with a new, fully functional example.

On the front panel, the gold-coloured plastic trim was refinished with gold paint. The control knobs were cleaned, polished and protected with Zapon lacquer. The speaker cloth was replaced with new material, improving the visual appearance while keeping the front close to its original style.

The record player required separate attention. The mechanism was cleaned and checked, old grease was removed, and moving parts were lubricated where necessary. The cartridge and stylus were replaced with new parts, which are surprisingly still available today. The rubber mat on the turntable was also replaced.

After restoration, both the radio section and the phono section were tested separately. With both parts working again, the set once more became what it was designed to be: a complete 1950s home music system.

Historical Context

In the 1950s, radio-phono combinations became increasingly popular. They offered families a way to listen to broadcast radio and to play records without needing separate equipment. For many households, such a set represented modern domestic comfort and a connection to the growing post-war music culture.

The WH 567A is a good example of this development. It combines traditional radio technology with the convenience of a built-in record player, shortly before transistor radios and later stereo systems began to change the market.