Who made this radio? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Alan Stepney · 30th Jul 2012, 8:03 pm

This is a "Good Listening" badged radio that I bought recently. Good Listening, whose head office was less than a mile from where I now live, was a rental company, that latterly concentrated on Sobell TV's, and earlier, had radios built for them in batches.

Typically, they would be models that a maker had discontinued, but would build a batch for GL, who would have their own design of cabinet, either fitted by the set maker, or by others.

This is a conventional superhet, using, UU6 rectifier, then TH41, VP41, HL42DD, Pen45.

The construction appears, to me, to look more pre-war than post, but it must have been made after 1946 as it has Third Programme on the dial.

I am sure that it is based upon, or was, a chassis from a major maker, and the tone control on the back might give a clue as to its identity.

AVO_VCM163 · 30th Jul 2012, 8:59 pm

Hello Alan
Looks very similar to the RI 491/493 Airflow. See Trader sheet 887.

Surprisingly this valve line up was used by several manufacturers up to about 1948.

Roy

Alan Stepney · 31st Jul 2012, 1:05 pm

Thanks Roy.
That looks a likely suspect.

AVO_VCM163 · 31st Jul 2012, 4:32 pm

Although there were at least 7 sets manufactured post-war with that valve line-up the RI 491/493 seems to be the only one that matches the physical lay-out and coil types.

Surprisingly the Masteradio RG250 seems to have been introduced as late as 1950 with those valves! Perhaps the post-war companies bought up the old RGD and Murphy stocks; they were the two main UK pre-war companies using that valve line-up.

During the war and afterwards, RI were largely sub-contractors. The 491/493 was the last radio chassis marketed under their own brand in about 1948. It would seem that they supplied chassis, if not complete sets to "Good Listening". Perhaps you can compare the cabinets as well as the chassis to obtain a definitive answer?

Best regards, Roy

Alan Stepney · 2nd Aug 2012, 12:30 pm

Whilst the chassis is the same as the RI Airflow, the cabinet is much different.
(See attached photo.)

Quite a nice looking set, and it sounds superb (now that I have removed all the bodges!)

30th Jul 2012, 8:03 pm	#1
Alan Stepney Rest in Peace Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Dorset, UK. Posts: 947	Who made this radio? This is a "Good Listening" badged radio that I bought recently. Good Listening, whose head office was less than a mile from where I now live, was a rental company, that latterly concentrated on Sobell TV's, and earlier, had radios built for them in batches. Typically, they would be models that a maker had discontinued, but would build a batch for GL, who would have their own design of cabinet, either fitted by the set maker, or by others. This is a conventional superhet, using, UU6 rectifier, then TH41, VP41, HL42DD, Pen45. The construction appears, to me, to look more pre-war than post, but it must have been made after 1946 as it has Third Programme on the dial. I am sure that it is based upon, or was, a chassis from a major maker, and the tone control on the back might give a clue as to its identity. Attached Thumbnails

30th Jul 2012, 8:59 pm	#2
AVO_VCM163 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Hampshire, UK. Posts: 297	Re: Who made this radio? Hello Alan Looks very similar to the RI 491/493 Airflow. See Trader sheet 887. Surprisingly this valve line up was used by several manufacturers up to about 1948. Roy

31st Jul 2012, 1:05 pm	#3
Alan Stepney Rest in Peace Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Dorset, UK. Posts: 947	Re: Who made this radio? Thanks Roy. That looks a likely suspect.

31st Jul 2012, 4:32 pm	#4
AVO_VCM163 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Hampshire, UK. Posts: 297	Re: Who made this radio? Although there were at least 7 sets manufactured post-war with that valve line-up the RI 491/493 seems to be the only one that matches the physical lay-out and coil types. Surprisingly the Masteradio RG250 seems to have been introduced as late as 1950 with those valves! Perhaps the post-war companies bought up the old RGD and Murphy stocks; they were the two main UK pre-war companies using that valve line-up. During the war and afterwards, RI were largely sub-contractors. The 491/493 was the last radio chassis marketed under their own brand in about 1948. It would seem that they supplied chassis, if not complete sets to "Good Listening". Perhaps you can compare the cabinets as well as the chassis to obtain a definitive answer? Best regards, Roy

2nd Aug 2012, 12:30 pm	#5
Alan Stepney Rest in Peace Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Dorset, UK. Posts: 947	Re: Who made this radio? Whilst the chassis is the same as the RI Airflow, the cabinet is much different. (See attached photo.) Quite a nice looking set, and it sounds superb (now that I have removed all the bodges!) Attached Thumbnails