Minerva 395 W – Austrian Pre-War Valve Radio from 1938/1939

The Minerva 395 W is a large Austrian table radio from the late 1930s, built by Minerva in Vienna. Introduced around 1938/1939, it represents the technically mature pre-war generation of European superheterodyne receivers. The set covers long wave, medium wave and short wave and was equipped with features such as a tuning indicator and variable bandwidth, which placed it above simpler household receivers of the same period. Contemporary information describes the 395 as a higher-grade Minerva model with “Bandbreitenregelung” and “elektrischem Auge”.

With its wooden cabinet, large horizontal dial and substantial loudspeaker, the Minerva 395 W still has the appearance of a serious living-room receiver from the years just before the Second World War. Technically, it is an AC mains set for 110–240 V operation and follows the superheterodyne principle with an intermediate frequency of about 128.5 kHz.

Condition

This Minerva 395 W is preserved in unrestored condition, exactly as acquired. No electrical or cosmetic restoration has yet been carried out.

In this state, the radio is especially interesting as a historical object. The cabinet, chassis, dial, controls and internal construction still show the condition in which the set survived.

Technical Data

Circuit Diagram

References

• Radiomuseum.org – Minerva 395-W Type 1939
• BIN-BR / Minerva Radio 1939 brochure – Minerva 395
• Radiomuseum Croatia – Minerva 395 W Type 1939

Pictures