20's radio ID - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

greenstar · 25th Aug 2012, 10:38 am

Despite my growing pile of incomplete projects for the winter I visited the Princethorpe Rally a couple of weekends ago, and immediately fell for an early 3 valve radio. This is my first from that decade, and I find most exciting. My recalcitrant Davenset still has priority (but I am trying to paint the house before the windows fall out), so for the moment I am looking at the background to this set.

The box has the name 'Gillan' inside the lid. Valves, in order, are BVA 1LF (Mullard B199), Mullard PM1, T220. These appear either to be random insertions by a dealer, or have been swapped about.

Google has yielded nothing of Gillan. Any information much appreciated.

Aub · 25th Aug 2012, 11:28 am

Is that a grid bias battery in there? I wonder if its the original?

PJL · 25th Aug 2012, 12:16 pm

Gillan gets a mention here http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/gillan_gillan_iii.html

The description seems to fit with your radio.

greenstar · 25th Aug 2012, 5:43 pm

Aub, yes, it looks like a contemporary GB battery. What to do with that - clearly it will be non functional. Should it be saved as is, or serve as the case for a few newer cells?
PJL, thanks for the Gillan link. I had wondered if it was a later homebuild. For some reason Google didn't pick up on this - I should have thought to look at radiomuseum. The set isn't exactly the same, as appears to have transformers between stages rather than rc coupling at LF.
(I really will persist with the Davenset, and thanks for your help. I measured anode currents and they seem far out, but have not yet tinkered with GB).
One question - the Gillan has a plug in coil. Would this mean there were others to extend the coverage?
Thanks,
Tony

Ed_Dinning · 25th Aug 2012, 8:11 pm

Hi Tony, there were a range of coils like this, but possibly only 1 was supplied with the set and the others were optional extras to extend the range.
Valves appear to be the wrong types but the 2 early stages should still operate if the valves are OK

Ed

25th Aug 2012, 10:38 am	#1
greenstar Octode Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Leicester, Leics. UK. Posts: 1,684	20's radio ID Despite my growing pile of incomplete projects for the winter I visited the Princethorpe Rally a couple of weekends ago, and immediately fell for an early 3 valve radio. This is my first from that decade, and I find most exciting. My recalcitrant Davenset still has priority (but I am trying to paint the house before the windows fall out), so for the moment I am looking at the background to this set. The box has the name 'Gillan' inside the lid. Valves, in order, are BVA 1LF (Mullard B199), Mullard PM1, T220. These appear either to be random insertions by a dealer, or have been swapped about. Google has yielded nothing of Gillan. Any information much appreciated. Attached Thumbnails

25th Aug 2012, 11:28 am	#2
Aub Nonode Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK. Posts: 2,038	Re: 20's radio ID Is that a grid bias battery in there? I wonder if its the original? __________________ Life's a long song, but the tune ends too soon for us all.

25th Aug 2012, 12:16 pm	#3
PJL Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seaford, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 5,997	Re: 20's radio ID Gillan gets a mention here http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/gillan_gillan_iii.html The description seems to fit with your radio.

25th Aug 2012, 5:43 pm	#4
greenstar Octode Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Leicester, Leics. UK. Posts: 1,684	Re: 20's radio ID Aub, yes, it looks like a contemporary GB battery. What to do with that - clearly it will be non functional. Should it be saved as is, or serve as the case for a few newer cells? PJL, thanks for the Gillan link. I had wondered if it was a later homebuild. For some reason Google didn't pick up on this - I should have thought to look at radiomuseum. The set isn't exactly the same, as appears to have transformers between stages rather than rc coupling at LF. (I really will persist with the Davenset, and thanks for your help. I measured anode currents and they seem far out, but have not yet tinkered with GB). One question - the Gillan has a plug in coil. Would this mean there were others to extend the coverage? Thanks, Tony Attached Thumbnails

25th Aug 2012, 8:11 pm	#5
Ed_Dinning Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK. Posts: 8,194	Re: 20's radio ID Hi Tony, there were a range of coils like this, but possibly only 1 was supplied with the set and the others were optional extras to extend the range. Valves appear to be the wrong types but the 2 early stages should still operate if the valves are OK Ed