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If you are trying to find out more about a Northern Electric radio that you have - I've begun a list of Northern.Electric sets included in the Radio College of Canada data sheets on a CD-ROM that I have. Most of the notes on the individual models are merely what I've gleaned from reading the schematics and alignment instructions.

All of the sets shown here are also listed on the Wood and Plastic and Metal pages.

I first started collecting Northern Electric radios because I particularly liked the Baby Champ "rainbow" bakelite cabinet design, and because they were Canadian-made. Then I got carried away.

The name "rainbow" is just a nickname that collectors gave the early models, it was not a official one.

Ten Baby Champs...
Baby Champ 5000
"Rainbow"
Baby Champ 5002
"Rainbow"
Baby Champ 5104
"Rainbow"
Baby Champ 5110
"Rainbow"

Baby Champ 5110 Deluxe
"Rainbow"

Undergoing restoration

Baby Champ 5200

Baby Champ 5400

This thumbnail is from the eBay seller's description.

Baby Champ 5500

Baby Champ 5700
(blue) coming soon

This thumbnail is from the eBay seller's description.

Baby Champ 5700
(rose) picture only

A Couple of Midges...


It is my belief that the name "Midge" is not short for "midget radio", but is named after the small biting fly also known as "noseeum" or "sandfly".

Midge 5308

Midge 5508 thumbnail Midge 5508
aka "Bullet"

Midge 5708

Double bullseye

Other Northern Electric Radios

   

Northern Electric 540R
Photo only, for now.

This set has a leather-like covering on the cabinet, which used to be a nice red, until somebody painted it this wretched brown. It's also missing some vertical grille bars, similar to the model 552, below.

552 thumbnail

Northern Electric 552

(unrestored - page under construction)

Northern Electric 5004
Radio-Phono

5116 thumbnail
Northern Electric 5116

Northern Electric 5404 "Panda"
Brown - coming soon

This thumbnail is from the eBay seller's description.

Compare this cabinet design with that of the Raytheon model R51 in Robert Casey's (WA2ISE) collection that looks just like it.

Northern Electric 5404 "Panda"
Turquoise - coming soon

This thumbnail is from the eBay seller's description.

Northern Electric 5702
clock radio - picture only

This thumbnail is from the eBay seller's description.

   
   

Here's a few other Northern Electric sets, in other people's collections, including a Baby Champ prototype...
Northern Electric-related

Northern Electric Advertisement

from Macleans magazine, April 1951

Treasures in Tonal Design

Twelve-page brochure, ca 1950(?) showing several model of radios, radio-phonographs, and the first televisions offered by Northern Electric.

New 1951 Models

"Natural tone Enhancing design"

A two-colour brochure showing the 1951 models of the Baby Champ 5500, Midge 5408, and Panda 5404

   

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