20's or 30's radio ?? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

selector · 21st May 2009, 4:37 pm

Hi all - I have this and have no idea what it is. Unfortunately its lost its valves and has no name / id. It kind of looks like its been rehoused, but I'm not sure.

http://s190.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=IMG_3805.jpg

http://s190.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=IMG_3804.jpg

Can anyone give me any idea of what it may be or how old it might be. I guess its quite likely that its a home made kit....

Thanks
S

Darren-UK · 21st May 2009, 5:15 pm

For convenience I've added the first of the two linked images to the post above as a thumbnail.

Aub · 21st May 2009, 5:26 pm

Crickey! Are those the original batteries in the second picture?

Looks like it could be a nice restoration project. I would guess it's a late 20's set.

Good find.

Aub

selector · 21st May 2009, 6:37 pm

Yes - they're old ever ready ones ! Goodness knows how old they are !

I meant to put in the first post that it looks a bit like an 'Everyman Four' - but I assume they had 4 valves not 3 .

Sideband · 21st May 2009, 6:47 pm

I wonder if it's been rewired at some time? I thought that a lot of those early kits used bare wire with a square profile and brass screw terminals?

that looks very much like PVC wire. Guess the valves could be PM1HF, PM1LF and PM2

Rich

chipp1968 · 21st May 2009, 6:51 pm

Its too simple for an everyman set . But the dials indicate late 20s

Ed_Dinning · 21st May 2009, 9:11 pm

Hi Gents, looks like a simplified re-build of a late 20's set, maybe done in the 50's. The case and tuning caps have the look of a Gecophone. It should restore nicely.
I'm saying late 20's as there are no filament rheoststs, or evidence of the being on the front panel (it could of course be a newer panel)

Ed

Mr Moose · 22nd May 2009, 4:36 pm

Hello,
I would say that it is a home built radio from the late 1920's, probably built to a design from one of the wireless magazines of the time. It has two different makes of intervalve transformer so I suspect that some of the parts may have been reused from an earlier set. (This would also rule it out from being a kit set as they would have used the same make). That said it all looks original to me including the case, the only question I would have is over the wiring. If it is, as I suspect, varnished cotton covered wire it will be original, but if it is plastic covered it would be a later replacement.
It is a simple three valve, Detector, Low Frequency, and Output valve set.
I have a very similar home built set. It has the same circuit and the same basic layout although apart from the tuning dials, HF choke and one intervalve transformer the components are of different makes from yours.
Yours, Richard

selector · 22nd May 2009, 7:47 pm

Thanks all - it seems unanimous that its late 20's with modifications,

The wire is something plastic coated so has been redone at some point.

Attached are a few more close ups of the internal parts:

http://s190.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=IMG_3822.jpg
http://s190.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=IMG_3826.jpg
http://s190.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=IMG_3831.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...o/IMG_3832.jpg

There are a few others in that album (photobucket) if you are interested, I'm not sure what, internally, is of interest and whats not !

I am a furniture restorer and have repolished a few wood cases over the years, hence my interest. I have very little knowledge of the workings inside but am, never the less, interested in vintage radios.
I have a working DAC 90 and a Bush vhf 61 that I'd love to get restored, I so love the sound of these old radios.

I found this at an auction whilst looking at furniture and was fascinated by it. I think it will go to a new home. I really wouldn't know where to start or how to find the time to learn, too many hobbies already!
I also think there are many people who would get more enjoyment and appreciation out of it than me !

21st May 2009, 4:37 pm	#1
selector Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Leominster. Posts: 26	20's or 30's radio ?? Hi all - I have this and have no idea what it is. Unfortunately its lost its valves and has no name / id. It kind of looks like its been rehoused, but I'm not sure. http://s190.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=IMG_3805.jpg http://s190.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=IMG_3804.jpg Can anyone give me any idea of what it may be or how old it might be. I guess its quite likely that its a home made kit.... Thanks S Attached Thumbnails

21st May 2009, 5:15 pm	#2
Darren-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 4,061	Re: 20's or 30's radio ?? For convenience I've added the first of the two linked images to the post above as a thumbnail.

21st May 2009, 5:26 pm	#3
Aub Nonode Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK. Posts: 2,039	Re: 20's or 30's radio ?? Crickey! Are those the original batteries in the second picture? Looks like it could be a nice restoration project. I would guess it's a late 20's set. Good find. Aub

21st May 2009, 6:37 pm	#4
selector Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Leominster. Posts: 26	Re: 20's or 30's radio ?? Yes - they're old ever ready ones ! Goodness knows how old they are ! I meant to put in the first post that it looks a bit like an 'Everyman Four' - but I assume they had 4 valves not 3 . Last edited by Dave Moll; 21st May 2009 at 7:44 pm. Reason: unnecessary full quote of preceding post removed

21st May 2009, 6:47 pm	#5
Sideband Dekatron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 7,571	Re: 20's or 30's radio ?? I wonder if it's been rewired at some time? I thought that a lot of those early kits used bare wire with a square profile and brass screw terminals? that looks very much like PVC wire. Guess the valves could be PM1HF, PM1LF and PM2 Rich __________________ There are lots of brilliant keyboard players and then there is Rick Wakeman.....

21st May 2009, 6:51 pm	#6
chipp1968 Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Somerset, UK. Posts: 2,356	Re: 20's or 30's radio ?? Its too simple for an everyman set . But the dials indicate late 20s

21st May 2009, 9:11 pm	#7
Ed_Dinning Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK. Posts: 8,194	Re: 20's or 30's radio ?? Hi Gents, looks like a simplified re-build of a late 20's set, maybe done in the 50's. The case and tuning caps have the look of a Gecophone. It should restore nicely. I'm saying late 20's as there are no filament rheoststs, or evidence of the being on the front panel (it could of course be a newer panel) Ed

22nd May 2009, 4:36 pm	#8
Mr Moose Octode Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 1,043	Re: 20's or 30's radio ?? Hello, I would say that it is a home built radio from the late 1920's, probably built to a design from one of the wireless magazines of the time. It has two different makes of intervalve transformer so I suspect that some of the parts may have been reused from an earlier set. (This would also rule it out from being a kit set as they would have used the same make). That said it all looks original to me including the case, the only question I would have is over the wiring. If it is, as I suspect, varnished cotton covered wire it will be original, but if it is plastic covered it would be a later replacement. It is a simple three valve, Detector, Low Frequency, and Output valve set. I have a very similar home built set. It has the same circuit and the same basic layout although apart from the tuning dials, HF choke and one intervalve transformer the components are of different makes from yours. Yours, Richard Last edited by Mr Moose; 22nd May 2009 at 4:41 pm.

22nd May 2009, 7:47 pm	#9
selector Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Leominster. Posts: 26	Re: 20's or 30's radio ?? (new pics added) Thanks all - it seems unanimous that its late 20's with modifications, The wire is something plastic coated so has been redone at some point. Attached are a few more close ups of the internal parts: http://s190.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=IMG_3822.jpg http://s190.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=IMG_3826.jpg http://s190.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=IMG_3831.jpg http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...o/IMG_3832.jpg There are a few others in that album (photobucket) if you are interested, I'm not sure what, internally, is of interest and whats not ! I am a furniture restorer and have repolished a few wood cases over the years, hence my interest. I have very little knowledge of the workings inside but am, never the less, interested in vintage radios. I have a working DAC 90 and a Bush vhf 61 that I'd love to get restored, I so love the sound of these old radios. I found this at an auction whilst looking at furniture and was fascinated by it. I think it will go to a new home. I really wouldn't know where to start or how to find the time to learn, too many hobbies already! I also think there are many people who would get more enjoyment and appreciation out of it than me !