Mullard Transceiver Radio - any info please? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

NatalieOlivia · 24th Oct 2018, 3:34 pm

Hello all,

I have been kindly left a radio by my granddad who passed away a few years ago but I have no information on it at all. My knowledge is lacking in the radio department so any help would be very much appreciated. I think it may be a transceiver but I'm not sure. Please see photos attached.

Thank you in advance!

Natalie

G3VKM_Roger · 24th Oct 2018, 5:33 pm

Hi Natalie, it may be a transceiver, or more probably a transmitter-receiver where the receiver and transmitter are on different frequencies. I wasn't aware Mullard made sets for seagoing customers but I would say it is a ship to shore radio telephone of the type that used to be common on smaller ships, like fishing boats or sea-going yachts.

Does it look if it would work off the mains or more probably a battery? It's probably pre-1970s as it uses valves according to the markings?

Am interesting item, there are people on this forum with more marine radio knowledge than I so I'm sure you'll get more info.

Regards

Roger

G6Tanuki · 24th Oct 2018, 5:48 pm

It definitely looks to me like a 1950s "Fish-Fone" - the glass insulator/wingnut on top being characteristic of something that would have allowed connection of an end-fed wire antenna slung up in the rigging.

These 'fish-fones' had crystal-controlled transmitters working on fixed frequencies to comply with the regulations at the time. It may be of interest to someone restoring a vintage North Sea trawler or yacht, though it could not be licensed for marine-band use these days.

G3VKM_Roger · 24th Oct 2018, 5:55 pm

Yes, a marine set but I wonder if it is an emergency set, as it looks to have clasps for a cover to make it waterproof? Usually. such sets were fixed on the distress channels and weren't used for normal ship-to-shore communication. The "HT" switch says valve to me but maybe the receiver was transistorised.

I can't see any reference on the web to Mullard being in the marine radio business.

An interesting find!

Regards

Roger

CambridgeWorks · 24th Oct 2018, 6:02 pm

I agree, looks like "fishfone" as they also used channels for communication. A standby set, as Richard says. There are clasps for a cover to be fitted to protect it when not in use? A "normal" installation I imagine would not have those. It would just be a permanent fixture in the boat. It looks to be almost mint condition as well. Should be of value to a collector I imagine? Whether of Mullard manufactured items, ship to shore communications or just HF SW transmitters. A VMARS enthusiast even?
I wouldn't like to guess at a value though. I have never seen or heard of Mullard transmitters in all my decades of my amateur radio hobby. These are somewhat specialist items, especially when in such a lovely condition.
Rob

Station X · 24th Oct 2018, 9:03 pm

A picture looking straight at the whole front panel would help to confirm whether this is a maritime set. In particular there appears to be a tuning scale for the receiver.

NatalieOlivia · 25th Oct 2018, 6:21 pm

Thank you all for your replies. This is all very interesting and new to me. It looks as though it would work off the mains.

I've attached a few more photos which are hopefully a little clearer and could maybe shed a bit more light.

Best wishes,

Natalie

NatalieOlivia · 25th Oct 2018, 6:29 pm

Another photo. This is inside, on the back panel.

Many thanks,

Natalie

Terry_VK5TM · 26th Oct 2018, 1:33 am

That last photo shows that it needs 24v DC to power it, so not mains powered.

Radio Wrangler · 26th Oct 2018, 5:39 am

It looks to use a pair of valves in the output stage of the transmitter, but one is missing.
The transmitter uses specially made quartz crystals to set the frequency of each of the six channels it can transmit on. It may not have all six channels set up. There is a great big transformer about half-way up which is probably the modulation transformer needed in an AM transmitter. A photo of the tuning scale of the receiver should show what frequency range it covers. Turning the channel knob of the transmitter might bring different frequency numbers into view in the little windows and show which frequencies the user could transmit on. Most likely around 2 to 4 Megahertz (2 to 4 Megacycles they called it then).

Having several channels suggests it wasn't just an emergency radio. Catches for a protective cover weren't unusual.

The receiver has a switch labelled BFO. A BFO is needed to be able to receive Morse signals.

It's beautifully made and in superb condition. More likely to have been in some training establishment than on a boat.

Value? Monetarily, not a lot, I'm afraid. There won't be many of these around, certainly not in that condition. They aren't in demand and don't have people fighting to get them so prices stay low. People go silly over the transmitters and receivers from Lancaster bombers for some reason. Fishing boats don't stir them.

It might be a rather hefty memento of your grandad, and a clue to his past, if you choose to keep it.

If you want to sell it, the valves alone might sell for more than the complete item. Some, not all, valves sell for ridiculously high prices. And Mullard is one of the makes of valve most preferred by the people paying inflated prices. If you put it up for sale, it's quite likely that the buyer would have the valves on Ebay in a twinkling of an eye and the rest would be scrapped. As a group, the denizens of this forum would rather see equipment preserved for posterity (good old posterity!) If not, we'd rather see you get the full value rather than some wheeler-dealer.

Tuning around this frequency range in the sixties found loads of trawlers chatting. The language was famously foul between the boats, and then there were boyfriend/girlfriend conversations where both parties had clearly forgotten everyone was listening

David

G4XWDJim · 26th Oct 2018, 5:41 am

The valves with retainers near the middle and top in the picture look like they could be 6146s or their 24 volt equiv. 6159 (19v) with one missing.

Looks a nice piece of gear but will the receiver section be easily usable.

Jim

Crossed with David

John KC0G · 26th Oct 2018, 7:15 am

Page 9 of:
http://www.godfreydykes.info/NavalCo...s1947-1988.pdf
indicates that the Mullard GNE 510 saw some sort of service in the Royal Navy in the late 1940's.

I had a quick look at the HMS Collingwood Heritage Collection web site, but could not find mention of it, even in a list of portable equipment used in the RN in 1950. It seems that they have had to downsize their collection in the last few years. If they do not have any, I am sure that they would appreciate some really good high resolution pictures.

73 John

G4CMY_Tony · 26th Oct 2018, 10:02 am

Page 604 of Shortwave Magazine from January 1956 gives a brief description

https://www.americanradiohistory.com...WM-1956-01.pdf

ms660 · 26th Oct 2018, 10:25 am

The GNE 510 looked a lot different to the GNE 510L in the OP's photo:

https://www.americanradiohistory.com...h=%22gne510%22

Lawrence.

24th Oct 2018, 3:34 pm	#1
NatalieOlivia Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 3	Mullard Transceiver Radio - any info please? Hello all, I have been kindly left a radio by my granddad who passed away a few years ago but I have no information on it at all. My knowledge is lacking in the radio department so any help would be very much appreciated. I think it may be a transceiver but I'm not sure. Please see photos attached. Thank you in advance! Natalie Attached Thumbnails

24th Oct 2018, 5:33 pm	#2
G3VKM_Roger Heptode Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Southeast Norfolk, UK. Posts: 773	Re: Mullard Transceiver Radio - any info please? Hi Natalie, it may be a transceiver, or more probably a transmitter-receiver where the receiver and transmitter are on different frequencies. I wasn't aware Mullard made sets for seagoing customers but I would say it is a ship to shore radio telephone of the type that used to be common on smaller ships, like fishing boats or sea-going yachts. Does it look if it would work off the mains or more probably a battery? It's probably pre-1970s as it uses valves according to the markings? Am interesting item, there are people on this forum with more marine radio knowledge than I so I'm sure you'll get more info. Regards Roger Last edited by G3VKM_Roger; 24th Oct 2018 at 5:36 pm. Reason: sp

24th Oct 2018, 5:48 pm	#3
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 13,998	Re: Mullard Transceiver Radio - any info please? It definitely looks to me like a 1950s "Fish-Fone" - the glass insulator/wingnut on top being characteristic of something that would have allowed connection of an end-fed wire antenna slung up in the rigging. These 'fish-fones' had crystal-controlled transmitters working on fixed frequencies to comply with the regulations at the time. It may be of interest to someone restoring a vintage North Sea trawler or yacht, though it could not be licensed for marine-band use these days.

24th Oct 2018, 5:55 pm	#4
G3VKM_Roger Heptode Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Southeast Norfolk, UK. Posts: 773	Re: Mullard Transceiver Radio - any info please? Yes, a marine set but I wonder if it is an emergency set, as it looks to have clasps for a cover to make it waterproof? Usually. such sets were fixed on the distress channels and weren't used for normal ship-to-shore communication. The "HT" switch says valve to me but maybe the receiver was transistorised. I can't see any reference on the web to Mullard being in the marine radio business. An interesting find! Regards Roger

24th Oct 2018, 6:02 pm	#5
CambridgeWorks Nonode Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Spalding, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 2,858	Re: Mullard Transceiver Radio - any info please? I agree, looks like "fishfone" as they also used channels for communication. A standby set, as Richard says. There are clasps for a cover to be fitted to protect it when not in use? A "normal" installation I imagine would not have those. It would just be a permanent fixture in the boat. It looks to be almost mint condition as well. Should be of value to a collector I imagine? Whether of Mullard manufactured items, ship to shore communications or just HF SW transmitters. A VMARS enthusiast even? I wouldn't like to guess at a value though. I have never seen or heard of Mullard transmitters in all my decades of my amateur radio hobby. These are somewhat specialist items, especially when in such a lovely condition. Rob __________________ Apprehension creeping like a tube train up your spine - Cymbaline. Film More soundtrack - Pink Floyd

24th Oct 2018, 9:03 pm	#6
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: Mullard Transceiver Radio - any info please? A picture looking straight at the whole front panel would help to confirm whether this is a maritime set. In particular there appears to be a tuning scale for the receiver. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

25th Oct 2018, 6:21 pm	#7
NatalieOlivia Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 3	Re: Mullard Transceiver Radio - any info please? Thank you all for your replies. This is all very interesting and new to me. It looks as though it would work off the mains. I've attached a few more photos which are hopefully a little clearer and could maybe shed a bit more light. Best wishes, Natalie Attached Thumbnails

25th Oct 2018, 6:29 pm	#8
NatalieOlivia Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 3	Re: Mullard Transceiver Radio - any info please? Another photo. This is inside, on the back panel. Many thanks, Natalie Attached Thumbnails

26th Oct 2018, 1:33 am	#9
Terry_VK5TM Nonode Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Tintinara, South Australia, Australia Posts: 2,339	Re: Mullard Transceiver Radio - any info please? That last photo shows that it needs 24v DC to power it, so not mains powered. __________________ Terry VK5TM https://www.vk5tm.com/

26th Oct 2018, 5:39 am	#10
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,869	Re: Mullard Transceiver Radio - any info please? It looks to use a pair of valves in the output stage of the transmitter, but one is missing. The transmitter uses specially made quartz crystals to set the frequency of each of the six channels it can transmit on. It may not have all six channels set up. There is a great big transformer about half-way up which is probably the modulation transformer needed in an AM transmitter. A photo of the tuning scale of the receiver should show what frequency range it covers. Turning the channel knob of the transmitter might bring different frequency numbers into view in the little windows and show which frequencies the user could transmit on. Most likely around 2 to 4 Megahertz (2 to 4 Megacycles they called it then). Having several channels suggests it wasn't just an emergency radio. Catches for a protective cover weren't unusual. The receiver has a switch labelled BFO. A BFO is needed to be able to receive Morse signals. It's beautifully made and in superb condition. More likely to have been in some training establishment than on a boat. Value? Monetarily, not a lot, I'm afraid. There won't be many of these around, certainly not in that condition. They aren't in demand and don't have people fighting to get them so prices stay low. People go silly over the transmitters and receivers from Lancaster bombers for some reason. Fishing boats don't stir them. It might be a rather hefty memento of your grandad, and a clue to his past, if you choose to keep it. If you want to sell it, the valves alone might sell for more than the complete item. Some, not all, valves sell for ridiculously high prices. And Mullard is one of the makes of valve most preferred by the people paying inflated prices. If you put it up for sale, it's quite likely that the buyer would have the valves on Ebay in a twinkling of an eye and the rest would be scrapped. As a group, the denizens of this forum would rather see equipment preserved for posterity (good old posterity!) If not, we'd rather see you get the full value rather than some wheeler-dealer. Tuning around this frequency range in the sixties found loads of trawlers chatting. The language was famously foul between the boats, and then there were boyfriend/girlfriend conversations where both parties had clearly forgotten everyone was listening David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

26th Oct 2018, 5:41 am	#11
G4XWDJim Octode Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Littlehampton, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,465	Re: Mullard Transceiver Radio - any info please? The valves with retainers near the middle and top in the picture look like they could be 6146s or their 24 volt equiv. 6159 (19v) with one missing. Looks a nice piece of gear but will the receiver section be easily usable. Jim Crossed with David

26th Oct 2018, 7:15 am	#12
John KC0G Hexode Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Posts: 278	Re: Mullard Transceiver Radio - any info please? Page 9 of: http://www.godfreydykes.info/NavalCo...s1947-1988.pdf indicates that the Mullard GNE 510 saw some sort of service in the Royal Navy in the late 1940's. I had a quick look at the HMS Collingwood Heritage Collection web site, but could not find mention of it, even in a list of portable equipment used in the RN in 1950. It seems that they have had to downsize their collection in the last few years. If they do not have any, I am sure that they would appreciate some really good high resolution pictures. 73 John

26th Oct 2018, 10:02 am	#13
G4CMY_Tony Triode Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Stonehouse, Gloustershire, UK Posts: 46	Re: Mullard Transceiver Radio - any info please? Page 604 of Shortwave Magazine from January 1956 gives a brief description https://www.americanradiohistory.com...WM-1956-01.pdf

26th Oct 2018, 10:25 am	#14
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Mullard Transceiver Radio - any info please? The GNE 510 looked a lot different to the GNE 510L in the OP's photo: https://www.americanradiohistory.com...h=%22gne510%22 Lawrence.