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Hi, I have recently found a B&O Grand Prix Model 506K. It has two medallions on the top of the cabinet that say with translation world exposition for Art and Technology in Paris 1937. Exposition Internationale des arts et techniques 1937.
Can someone please tell me why these radios have these medals on them as I can't seem to find on the internet why the B&O radio 505K has these medallions?
I see the Grand Prix 505K and the 507 has these medallions as well. I am wondering why it is just these models, with the 1937 medals?
Thanks in advance. Chris
Hi Chris and welcome to Beoworld.
That's an interesting question - I can't answer it, though I do have one myself so look forward to someone answering it! The exposition was a look at 'modern life' so I guess B&O products then were seen as 'cutting edge' and new. The French Wiki site has a more detailed description:
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exposition_universelle_de_1937
but it is briefly described on the UK Wiki pages.
I guess it was in this pavillion that B&O may have exhibited some of their radios of that time.:
http://www.worldfairs.info/expopavillondetails.php?expo_id=12&pavillon_id=119
I suspect the medals on the radios are the equivalent of saying 'as exhibited in the MOMA' albeit 16 years after the exhibition and with different radios.
Dave..
Crvee8, etc
I also am very curious to find out anything I can about these unique pieces of history. If anyone has some info or suggested sources, please forward to this forum.
Thanks
Hi,
Unfortunately I am yet to find out anything more about the medallions on these radios or an explanation about why they were used. Hopefully someone may provide further information.
Many of the Grand Prix models of the 1940s and 1950s had the "medals". Actually the Grand Prix models were known as "the ones with the medals".First was Master De Luxe 40 - so not entirely limited to Grand Prix models.The medals were given at an 1937 exhibition in Paris, where B&O was honered with them for exceptionally good sound reproduction.Martin
(Edited typo).
Martin,
What puzzles me is that the medals refer to the 1937 world exhibition in Paris.
Earlier in 1935, B&O were awarded the " Grand Prix Diplome " at the Brussels world exhibition.
Rudy
1937 is of course correct.
Thanks Rudy.
Martin
Have you any explanation why the medals refer to the world exhibition in Paris in stead of the world exhibition in Brussels, where B&O received the Grand Prix diplome?
They were two different events. The Paris event came later.- Or I'm not sure what you mean.Martin
Yes, I know that there were two exhibitions.
1935 in Brussels, where B&O received the Grand Prix diplome.
1937 in Paris. (as mentioned on the medals). Why do the medals refer to the 1937 exhibition in Paris?
Have B&O also received an award in Paris?
It would have been more logical that the medals refer to the exhibition in Brussels, where the Grand Prix diplome was awarded.
Or was it just a commercially more interesting to put Paris on the medals?
I always considered it two different and unrelated events with two different and unrelated rewards.I may be wrong though.I suppose this is something Ronny would be able to answer.
It wasn't until a couple of years later, B&O began using the Grand Prix name. Actually the Master De Luxe 40 was thebasis for what became the Grand Prix series and it had the medals right up front rather than discretely hidden under thefold-down dial on later models.
Now I own one of the medals from 1937 in my collection
The material is plastic and 8 cm in diameter.