Songster radio (yes, the gramophone needle makers). - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Paul_RK · 4th Nov 2018, 5:53 pm

Does anyone happen to recognise the chassis of this little mains transportable? It's branded as Songster, the trademark of J. Stead of Sheffield who were among the largest UK producers of gramophone needles, but I'm expecting it to have been made for them rather than by them as it's the only Songster radio I've ever heard of or seen.

Paul

Phil G4SPZ · 12th Nov 2018, 12:46 am

What an attractive set! It must be pretty rare. Does the valve line-up provide any clues?

Paul_RK · 12th Nov 2018, 1:11 am

Not to me. Rectifier (Cossor) and two metallised valves are unreadable. Output is a Cossor 402P, beside it is a Mazda VP1322.

crackle · 12th Nov 2018, 7:43 am

Hi Paul
What a lovely looking set, I do hope it can be preserved.

Mike

Paul_RK · 12th Nov 2018, 9:52 am

Hi Mike,

It should survive the move to Norfolk with us, and I'll hope to set about its sympathetic restoration sooner or later. The handle - I expect it's original - appears to be of the same type fitted to many a portable gramophone, the leather has long since gone. Considerable heat from the cabinet won't have helped it.

Gilbert, remembered for its gramophones, was another Sheffield firm which went briefly into radio. I've only occasionally heard of their sets, but of Songster ones there seems barely a trace beyond this little survivor. The company turned to producing hand tools, particularly it seems screwdrivers, before folding in the 1980s:

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/J._Stead_and_Co

Paul

Phil G4SPZ · 12th Nov 2018, 10:30 am

Thanks for that link to Grace’s Guide, Paul. An interesting but ultimately sad tale of a company that flourished for 7 decades by specialising in supplying other successful industries. Demand for its principal product, gramophone needles, must in particular have seemed like it would continue forever. Clearly they were essentially a mechanical engineering supplier rather than a radio manufacturer.

It might be worth creating a brief model page on RM.org as this might bring other sets out of the woodwork. On the other hand, it must be exciting to speculate that you might own the sole surviving example.

crackle · 12th Nov 2018, 11:16 am

I wholeheartedly agree with Phil, this could be a very rare radio and it would be nice to see it represented in the Radio Museum. The Manufacturer Stead & Co was added to RM in 2017. https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_hers...mpany_id=12985

If you would care to email the photos to me and give as much information as possible, dimensions, valves, voltages etc then I would be happy to add it for you.
Mike

Paul_RK · 15th Nov 2018, 11:22 am

Thanks for the offer, Mike. I know I've said before that I should start contributing directly to RM, but I think this time I really will. Moving house is a good opportunity for me to check the status there of the more obscure sets I have and to note those that either aren't yet included at all or aren't represented by photos, I'm sure there are a few of each.

I'd certainly welcome hearing of another Songster or two.

Paul

4th Nov 2018, 5:53 pm	#1
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,255	Songster radio (yes, the gramophone needle makers). Does anyone happen to recognise the chassis of this little mains transportable? It's branded as Songster, the trademark of J. Stead of Sheffield who were among the largest UK producers of gramophone needles, but I'm expecting it to have been made for them rather than by them as it's the only Songster radio I've ever heard of or seen. Paul Attached Thumbnails

12th Nov 2018, 12:46 am	#2
Phil G4SPZ Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 4,748	Re: Songster radio (yes, the gramophone needle makers). What an attractive set! It must be pretty rare. Does the valve line-up provide any clues? __________________ Phil Optimist [n]: One who is not in possession of the full facts

12th Nov 2018, 1:11 am	#3
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,255	Re: Songster radio (yes, the gramophone needle makers). Not to me. Rectifier (Cossor) and two metallised valves are unreadable. Output is a Cossor 402P, beside it is a Mazda VP1322.

12th Nov 2018, 7:43 am	#4
crackle Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Basildon, Essex, UK. Posts: 4,100	Re: Songster radio (yes, the gramophone needle makers). Hi Paul What a lovely looking set, I do hope it can be preserved. Mike

12th Nov 2018, 9:52 am	#5
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,255	Re: Songster radio (yes, the gramophone needle makers). Hi Mike, It should survive the move to Norfolk with us, and I'll hope to set about its sympathetic restoration sooner or later. The handle - I expect it's original - appears to be of the same type fitted to many a portable gramophone, the leather has long since gone. Considerable heat from the cabinet won't have helped it. Gilbert, remembered for its gramophones, was another Sheffield firm which went briefly into radio. I've only occasionally heard of their sets, but of Songster ones there seems barely a trace beyond this little survivor. The company turned to producing hand tools, particularly it seems screwdrivers, before folding in the 1980s: https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/J._Stead_and_Co Paul

12th Nov 2018, 10:30 am	#6
Phil G4SPZ Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 4,748	Re: Songster radio (yes, the gramophone needle makers). Thanks for that link to Grace’s Guide, Paul. An interesting but ultimately sad tale of a company that flourished for 7 decades by specialising in supplying other successful industries. Demand for its principal product, gramophone needles, must in particular have seemed like it would continue forever. Clearly they were essentially a mechanical engineering supplier rather than a radio manufacturer. It might be worth creating a brief model page on RM.org as this might bring other sets out of the woodwork. On the other hand, it must be exciting to speculate that you might own the sole surviving example. __________________ Phil Optimist [n]: One who is not in possession of the full facts

12th Nov 2018, 11:16 am	#7
crackle Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Basildon, Essex, UK. Posts: 4,100	Re: Songster radio (yes, the gramophone needle makers). I wholeheartedly agree with Phil, this could be a very rare radio and it would be nice to see it represented in the Radio Museum. The Manufacturer Stead & Co was added to RM in 2017. https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_hers...mpany_id=12985 If you would care to email the photos to me and give as much information as possible, dimensions, valves, voltages etc then I would be happy to add it for you. Mike

15th Nov 2018, 11:22 am	#8
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,255	Re: Songster radio (yes, the gramophone needle makers). Thanks for the offer, Mike. I know I've said before that I should start contributing directly to RM, but I think this time I really will. Moving house is a good opportunity for me to check the status there of the more obscure sets I have and to note those that either aren't yet included at all or aren't represented by photos, I'm sure there are a few of each. I'd certainly welcome hearing of another Songster or two. Paul