Anyone know anything about Braido (Ekco?).

[minor8hp]

I've just bought a Braidio Model 21 in a local auction. According to Radiomuseum, it's a '46 Ekco. It's Bakelite and looks like an Ekco both inside and out.

On the back of the radio it states "This radio is the property of Entertainment Rentals Ltd"

Was Braidio a rental branch of Ekco? Anyone heard of Entertainment Rentals Ltd?

[McMurdo]

According to Radio! Radio! the set was made by Ekco for Rentertainments Limited. I suspect they were just a rental firm like many others who had basic sets made for them by OEMs such as Ekco.

[mark pirate]

I may be wrong, but I seem to remember that Bradio sets were intended for the blind, looking at the dial seems to bear this out.

Mark

[Brigham]

BRAille raDIO?

[Paul_RK]

Wondered that myself ever since I had one of these 40 or so years ago - nice old thing, very sturdy Bakelite casing, and I wish I'd kept it longer. I'm pretty sure the embossing on the back of mine was "Rentertainments Braidio". There was nothing by way of Braille markings, but the exposed tuning pointer is unusual and I suppose would have allowed a blind user to remember its orientation for favourite stations.

Paul

[minor8hp]

Thanks for that. Everything points to it being a radio for the blind.
The set was built for reliability and ease of servicing.
The whole case comes off in one piece by releasing 2 screws. Everything is underrated and well ventillated, the whole tuner unit is detatchable and can be easily changed.
The V5A designers could have learned a lot from this!

[marconi_pete]

Apologies for opening up this thread again. I'm about to pick up a Braidio Model 21 this friday and would like to know what the valve lineup is. I have some pictures of the chassis from the set but the valve markings have been rubbed off. I've attached a couple of pictures showing the upper chassis with the valves in place. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks,
Peter

[AC/HL]

One's pretty obviously an EBC33, and I'd guess the one next to it is an EL32.
It would probably have had the standard Mullard range originally.

[paulsherwin]

Yes, probably ECH35 / EF39 / EBC33 / EL32 / AZ31 originally. It looks as if some of the valves may have been replaced with American near equivalents at some stage.

[marconi_pete]

Originally Posted by AC/HL

One's pretty obviously an EBC33, and I'd guess the one next to it is an EL32.
It would probably have had the standard Mullard range originally.

Originally Posted by paulsherwin

Yes, probably ECH35 / EF39 / EBC33 / EL32 / AZ31 originally. It looks as if some of the valves may have been replaced with American near equivalents at some stage.

Thanks Paul and Bill for clearing that one up for me. It did cross my mind that some of the valves may not have been of the original spec. I'll have a better look at the set on friday, take out the american equivalents and fit the original Mullard valves in place when I get the set on the bench.

Thanks,
Peter

[Mr Moose]

Hello,
I think the output valve is an EL33, and not an EL32 which has a top cap connection
Yours, Richard

[paulsherwin]

Yes, well spotted, that's certainly more likely.

[marconi_pete]

Originally Posted by Mr Moose

I think the output valve is an EL33, and not an EL32 which has a top cap connection

Thanks Richard.

[AC/HL]

Yes, EL33 was the standard one, not 32, different pinouts (and base depth for some reason).

[skodajag]

Were Braidio Entertainments possibly an offshoot of Radio Rentals? I ask because I recently found a set which looks identical to the Radio Rentals 58, including having "58" on the dial, but with "Braidio Entertainments" on the Paxolin back panel.

[ukcol]

If you're after a circuit the EKCO A23 is likely to be very similar except the A23 has extra circuitry for the push button tuning.