The Kuba Komet

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The Kuba Komet was made by the Kuba Corporation of Wolfenbüttel, West Germany, from 1957-61. It was a complete entertainment system with the following features:

* Imperial FET 1021 SL 53-centimetre television (58cm from 1960)
* international band stereo radio (ultra short wave, medium wave, short wave & long wave)
* four-speed stereo turntable with automatic record changer
* eight speakers (6 front, 2 side; external speakers could also be connected)

Buyers could pay extra for a magnetic wire recorder, and a remote control with UHF tuner.

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The body was constructed of solid wood with a high gloss polyester finish (light panels are maple or imperial palm; dark panels are wenge, an African hardwood). The top section containing the TV was swivel mounted.

The entire unit was 2.2 metres wide, and weighed between 131-192 kilograms (depending on the model). I have no idea how people managed to get this thing into their houses, but I do know it sure as hell wasn't coming out again.

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Radio:

* GRAETZ F 44K (1957-58)
* Imperial 609 (1959-60)
* Imperial 609a (1960-62)

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Turntable:

* Telefunken TW 561 (1957)
* Telefunken TW 501 (1959-62)

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Magnetic wire recorder:

* Telefunken MAGNETOPHON KL 175 T

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The Komet was a serious luxury item, with a hefty price tag of 2,798 Deutschmarks (3,227 DM with the wire recorder).

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Only 900 Komets were made, and it is believed that only 10 still exist today. If you're in Germany, you can see one on display at the Deutsches Rundfunk-Museum.

 
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