AWA Ballerina Radiogram (1961)

This radiogram is currently available to secure prior to restoration. It will undergo a complete Retraphonics restoration in-house at our Gold Coast workshop, including restoration and servicing of the original amplifier and turntable, with the cabinetry attended to as required.

Pre-order restorations are generally completed within approximately 30–90 days from order. Once your pre-order is placed, we'll confirm the expected completion timeframe for your individual radiogram.

The AWA Ballerina B14 is one of the rarest Australian radiograms we have come across. Very few of these units were made, and this is the only example we have encountered.

Built in Australia in 1961, the Ballerina was among the first Australian-made radiograms to offer stereophonic sound reproduction — a point of pride reflected in the word Stereophonic set along the front panel in a beautiful purple aluminium strip.

The model takes its name from Carlotta Edward's famous painting The Waltz (La Valse), which portrays nineteen ballerinas. The cabinet's legs were designed to evoke a ballerina's legs, right down to the shoe-like feet.

The cabinet is a true mid-century design, approximately one metre in length, with timber legs to the floor, plywood construction and brushed aluminium fascia panels. The original varnish will be retained to preserve the cabinet's originality.

True to its era, the Ballerina is fitted with an English-made BSR UA14 turntable. The automatic record changer can stack up to ten records and play them continuously at the push of a single button.

As with every Retraphonics restoration, the turntable, amplifier and speakers remain the original artefacts, rebuilt to keep the unit completely original. As part of its restoration, the turntable will be stripped and rebuilt with new grease and lubricants, the motor disassembled and serviced, all rubber motor mounts and stacking arm grommets replaced, and the idler wheel replaced. The original mono cartridge will be converted to a high-quality two-channel stereo cartridge and stylus, allowing this radiogram to play stereo records for the first time.

The valve amplifier will be rebuilt to its original factory specifications, with all capacitors replaced — including the electrolytic and coupling wax/paper capacitors — the in-cabinet light bulbs renewed, all potentiometers and switches ultrasonically cleaned, and a new power cable fitted to suit modern applications.

Sound is delivered through full-range Plessey Rola alnico-magnet speakers, which perform well beyond the cabinet's compact size.

For those wanting modern convenience, our optional Phone Adaptor Kit allows you to play Spotify and other audio from your iPhone or Samsung straight through the radiogram's original amplifier and speakers.

The legs unscrew for transport, allowing the unit to fit comfortably in most cars.

Dimensions: 1072mm L x 442mm D x 620mm H.

Priced at $4,000 plus freight. Once complete, it will be available for collection from our Gold Coast workshop, with specialised Australia-wide freight available.

Please note: Images shown are representative of the model. As these are original vintage radiograms, no two units are exactly the same. Natural variations in timber grain, colour, cabinetry and other original details may be present in the radiogram you receive.