1939 Westinghouse 780-X "A Christmas Story" SW Radio
Want to collect all five 780 models? Start with 780-X here and get also the table sized relative 780-B
In a Nutshell
The Very Correct Model 780-X, featured in the 1983 Movie "A Christmas Story" Restored, Serviced, and in Pristine Condition
Introduction: This is the fourth Westinghouse 780 console that I came to restore, but this time it is exactly the right one (780-X), the three other ones (refs.1-3) being the close relative 780-Y. And - guess what - you can also have the very rare table version model 780-B in a separate auction. Historian, graphic designer and radio enthusiast Jeremy Hopkin has written a lovely story about the authentic Westinghouse 780X Christmas Story radio (ref.4), comparing it to stills from the original movie. Nine year old boy Ralphie Parker 's life is dominated by his one wish, to get a Daisy Red Ryder BB gun with a compass for Christmas. He uses various tricks to convince his parents to get him this gift, steadfastly ignoring the stereotype "You'll shoot your eye out". He is listening on this very Westinghouse radio to a show "Little Orphan Annie" and waiting for his Secret Society Decoder Pin, not knowing that the message would be deciphered as "Be sure to drink your Ovaltine", since the show was sponsored since 1934 by the Ovaltine company. Another famous prop in this movie is a gorgeous lamp shaped as a lady's leg with fishnet-stocking that his father had won. The movie, directed by Bob Clark, was first released 37 years ago (Nov.18, 1983) and has since become a holiday classic and is shown numerous times on television during the Christmas season. Eight years ago the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". On the other hand it should not go unmentioned, especially today, when racial disparities finally are getting attention, that the movie has a serious racist problem in its Chinese Restaurant scene towards the end (ref.5).
model (year)
table/console
5th band
# horiz. bars
phono switch
speaker size
dial escutcheon
780-A (1939)
t
49m
4
back
6"
metal
780-B (1940)
t
SW
1
front
6"
ceramic
780-C (1940)
t
SW
2
front
6"
ceramic
780-X (1939)
c
49m
4
back
12"
ceramic
780-Y (1940)
c
SW
3
front
12"
ceramic
The five Westinghouse 780 models (3 table 780-A, -B, -C, 2 consoles 780-X, -Y) (ref.6) were produced by Westinghouse Canada only for the Canadian market of 1939/41, and differ slightly in their cabinet styles as well as in their chassis' specs. The table model 780-B is documented and up for sale in a separate article (ref.7). The radios are very beautiful with their many left-right matched veneer selections, and slanted control section, the radio in the movie, however, is in terrible condition, with non-authentic knobs, and a missing tuning eye (they replaced it with a red lamp). Technically the radio is a superb performer, with an extra 6SK7 RF amplifier stage at the front, slug (permeability)-tuned IF filters, 6 automatic tuning push-buttons, for the consoles made from real tortoise catalin, a tuning eye (mine refurbished with NOS/NIB Sylvania 6E5's), a large field coil speaker, and a factory installed switchable Phono input, supplemented with newly installed 3.5mm closed circuit phone adapters, that can be used to connect cellphones, mp3 players, etc.
About my Radio:
My fourth console is in best condition, this time with new finish and decals, no scratches, original knobs and push-buttons, original speaker and new speaker cloth, and 7 tubes selected from my stock, including a new old stock unused magic eye tube 6E5. The 5Y4 rectifier tube and its socket were replaced by a 80 tube when I got the radio. The chassis has been thoroughly cleaned and moveable parts treated with contact spray. The radio was recapped and plays without hum. A youtube video showing the radio playing various devices is available by clicking on thumbnail 34 or by going directly to ref.8. Please
e-mail me (Kris) for any questions, ich spreche Deutsch, je parle Français.
For the techies only:
No techies this time, it just works fine
