Can someone identify this radio (Rel Primus) - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Retro-valve-guy · 15th Aug 2016, 3:11 pm

I am picking this stuff up shortly and cant find out what kind of radio it might be, didn't get much info from the seller either ?

If anyone can identify it ?

Phil G4SPZ · 15th Aug 2016, 4:12 pm

The knobs and expanded metal speaker grille suggest that it may be a Sobell. Late 40s or early 50s at a guess.

Boater Sam · 15th Aug 2016, 4:27 pm

Not wishing to contradict and I am possible totally wrong but is that not a metal 'speaker fret but that heavy crocheted fabric much loved by Grundig and Telefunken?
It looks very similar and teutonic.

Phil G4SPZ · 15th Aug 2016, 4:34 pm

Hi Sam, hope you're well. You could be right, the photo isn't too clear, but the 'top hat' style knobs look just the same as those on the Sobell Table Gram that my parents owned. That said, the word Telefunken does appear in the image name, which I didn't spot at first, so there's a clue...!

I'm sure all will become clear when the OP collects the set.

Boater Sam · 15th Aug 2016, 4:57 pm

Greetings Phil.
Those knobs are distinctive, chunkier than most. Can't put a name to them though. Are they concentric spindles?
Ah yes, so it does say Telefunken but if its an ebay ad it could well be erroneous. Sellers get confused and in turn confuse us. Some days it doesn't take much!

Phil G4SPZ · 15th Aug 2016, 5:10 pm

Yep, concentric. I didn't spot that before!

Confused of Bewdley

Phil G4SPZ · 15th Aug 2016, 9:43 pm

There are over 1,000 images of Telefunken radios on the Radiomuseum.org website - type 'Telefunken' into the search box, then click on the picture gallery button. Several sets look very similar, but not identical. Happy browsing!

Tom_I · 15th Aug 2016, 10:12 pm

The Telefunken idea may be a red herring. The picture is from a Slovenian website where the radio is part of a job lot of three items, the other two of which are "two old Telefunken televisions" (dva stara televizorja Telefunken). The make of the radio is not identified.

Edward Huggins · 16th Aug 2016, 9:46 am

The dark wood finish, thin gold/cream surround and heavy woven grille fabric do suggest early 1950s European to me. Edward

Tom_I · 17th Aug 2016, 11:06 am

I think this is it, though the one in the original post has non-standard fabric on the speaker grille. It's a Rel Primus, 1941-42, made in Brno, Czech Republic (as it is now).

Googling will bring up information, but here's a link to Oldradio.cz, where the picture came from, and where you can download circuit diagrams for the two versions (AC only and AC/DC).

Retro-valve-guy · 21st Aug 2016, 10:31 pm

I went there and got it and yes Tom is right it is a early 1940s Rel Primus and for a radio from the early 40s is in very good condition with its back, more will say photos

And yes this was a lot of three the two other items were two identical Telefunken TV sets and one is in very nice condition all complete with wat seems to be all original tubes but the other one is a whole different story, the tubes were all missing and the tube has gone to air

and there is a visible sign were someone hit in the neck. But gonna make a another thread for them.

The radio looks to be all original as far as I can tell .I plugged it in and I get is the power transformer buzzes loudly and I get no other activity at all, there is deff. a short in it somewhere. I never worked on something this old so this is gonna be something new. I just hope the tubes in the radio are good cause these are older and harder to find.

15th Aug 2016, 3:11 pm	#1
Retro-valve-guy Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Celje, Slovenia. Posts: 128	Can someone identify this radio (Rel Primus) I am picking this stuff up shortly and cant find out what kind of radio it might be, didn't get much info from the seller either ? If anyone can identify it ? Attached Thumbnails

15th Aug 2016, 4:12 pm	#2
Phil G4SPZ Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 4,748	Re: Can someone identify this radio ? The knobs and expanded metal speaker grille suggest that it may be a Sobell. Late 40s or early 50s at a guess. __________________ Phil Optimist [n]: One who is not in possession of the full facts

15th Aug 2016, 4:27 pm	#3
Boater Sam Banned Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Middlewich, Cheshire, UK. & Winter in the Philippines. Posts: 3,897	Re: Can someone identify this radio ? Not wishing to contradict and I am possible totally wrong but is that not a metal 'speaker fret but that heavy crocheted fabric much loved by Grundig and Telefunken? It looks very similar and teutonic.

15th Aug 2016, 4:34 pm	#4
Phil G4SPZ Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 4,748	Re: Can someone identify this radio ? Hi Sam, hope you're well. You could be right, the photo isn't too clear, but the 'top hat' style knobs look just the same as those on the Sobell Table Gram that my parents owned. That said, the word Telefunken does appear in the image name, which I didn't spot at first, so there's a clue...! I'm sure all will become clear when the OP collects the set. __________________ Phil Optimist [n]: One who is not in possession of the full facts Last edited by Phil G4SPZ; 15th Aug 2016 at 4:37 pm. Reason: Update

15th Aug 2016, 4:57 pm	#5
Boater Sam Banned Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Middlewich, Cheshire, UK. & Winter in the Philippines. Posts: 3,897	Re: Can someone identify this radio ? Greetings Phil. Those knobs are distinctive, chunkier than most. Can't put a name to them though. Are they concentric spindles? Ah yes, so it does say Telefunken but if its an ebay ad it could well be erroneous. Sellers get confused and in turn confuse us. Some days it doesn't take much!

15th Aug 2016, 5:10 pm	#6
Phil G4SPZ Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 4,748	Re: Can someone identify this radio ? Yep, concentric. I didn't spot that before! Confused of Bewdley __________________ Phil Optimist [n]: One who is not in possession of the full facts

15th Aug 2016, 9:43 pm	#7
Phil G4SPZ Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 4,748	Re: Can someone identify this radio ? There are over 1,000 images of Telefunken radios on the Radiomuseum.org website - type 'Telefunken' into the search box, then click on the picture gallery button. Several sets look very similar, but not identical. Happy browsing! __________________ Phil Optimist [n]: One who is not in possession of the full facts

15th Aug 2016, 10:12 pm	#8
Tom_I Heptode Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: North Herts. UK. Posts: 549	Re: Can someone identify this radio ? The Telefunken idea may be a red herring. The picture is from a Slovenian website where the radio is part of a job lot of three items, the other two of which are "two old Telefunken televisions" (dva stara televizorja Telefunken). The make of the radio is not identified.

16th Aug 2016, 9:46 am	#9
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,327	Re: Can someone identify this radio ? The dark wood finish, thin gold/cream surround and heavy woven grille fabric do suggest early 1950s European to me. Edward

17th Aug 2016, 11:06 am	#10
Tom_I Heptode Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: North Herts. UK. Posts: 549	Re: Can someone identify this radio ? I think this is it, though the one in the original post has non-standard fabric on the speaker grille. It's a Rel Primus, 1941-42, made in Brno, Czech Republic (as it is now). Googling will bring up information, but here's a link to Oldradio.cz, where the picture came from, and where you can download circuit diagrams for the two versions (AC only and AC/DC). Attached Thumbnails

21st Aug 2016, 10:31 pm	#11
Retro-valve-guy Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Celje, Slovenia. Posts: 128	Re: Can someone identify this radio ? I went there and got it and yes Tom is right it is a early 1940s Rel Primus and for a radio from the early 40s is in very good condition with its back, more will say photos And yes this was a lot of three the two other items were two identical Telefunken TV sets and one is in very nice condition all complete with wat seems to be all original tubes but the other one is a whole different story, the tubes were all missing and the tube has gone to air and there is a visible sign were someone hit in the neck. But gonna make a another thread for them. The radio looks to be all original as far as I can tell .I plugged it in and I get is the power transformer buzzes loudly and I get no other activity at all, there is deff. a short in it somewhere. I never worked on something this old so this is gonna be something new. I just hope the tubes in the radio are good cause these are older and harder to find. Attached Thumbnails