Ever Ready 5214 Car boot find with badly painted cabinet - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Electronpusher0 · 15th Jun 2019, 12:10 pm

I went to my local car boot again today and almost walked by this radio but the seller tempted me with this and another valve portable for £10 the pair. I really do not need any more radios, as my wife will confirm....

Seems complete, even to the original "clear" cover for the dial, which is so milky it will have to be replaced.

It's a crying shame someone decided to slap paint on the cabinet, managed to get splashes on the knobs and aerial socket. The knobs and socket will clean up but I would wecome advice on the cabinet. Is it possible to clean off or should I just rub it down and re-paint? I suspect the paint is emulsion.

Peter

Electronpusher0 · 15th Jun 2019, 12:12 pm

Photo of the dial, The tuning still works

Peter

ajgriff · 15th Jun 2019, 12:42 pm

Good find. This thread may be of interest:

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=107770

Alan

Electronpusher0 · 15th Jun 2019, 1:23 pm

Thanks Alan,
I have checked the link and thats a beautiful restoration job, looks like I've got something to aspire to.

I forgot to mention that this is the model with the early side contact valves.

Peter

Mike. Watterson · 15th Jun 2019, 10:30 pm

All the pre-1941 models are side contact. It was when they had to use US or Mullard branded US, during the Comfort Set version production that they gradually changed to Octal.
The drive is direct, so turns the opposite way to the needle. The later 1945 A and the 1941 Domestic and "comfort set" models used indirect tuning drive.
Also later 1945 A version models have visible bolts on the front.
See Radio Museum. I have the Lissen version of this model. Most have a sort of textured cloth. I touched mine up with artist's acrylic paint, to "hide" bare bits:
1939 to 1941 approximately: https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/ever_a..._portable.html
Later version: More likely from 1941 rather than 1940. The Factories in London were destroyed in the 1941 Blitz, hence new production outside London.
https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/ever_a...ortable_2.html

My Lissen version:
https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/lissen...able_8515.html

There is a suspicion that many Mullard/Philips 1.4V Edge connect valves were USA imports without the octal base and the base fitted in the UK.
Ever Ready branded valves had been Mullard perhaps from 1935. Earlier Lissen valves (1920s to 1934) may have been bought from various makers and then Lissen fitted bases.

Mike. Watterson · 15th Jun 2019, 10:41 pm

See also the Model A for comparison. The circuit may be identical.
https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/ever_a.html
The 1939 to 1941 table models (wood and Bakelite versions) of the 5214 chassis with larger speaker (also Lissen versions) are much rarer.
The Model D is basically the Octal version of the 5214 (a Model A) in the 1940s Bakelite cabinet. Slightly rare.
https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/ever_b...ble_model.html
The Model G is very rare. It was soon replaced by the model T (based on K, which is basis of Sky Queen)
It's a B7G version of the 5412/A/D design.
https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/ever_b...ble_model.html

I think I have a Model A as well as the Lissen. The Lissen 8515 performs very well.

Electronpusher0 · 15th Jun 2019, 10:48 pm

Thanks Mike, useful information. I fear the cabinet on mine will be a challenge as large areas of the fabric have been removed and then painted.
Looking at the base, which has not been painted, it looks like mine was the blue and black version. I may have to strip the case and cover it in black faux leather to get the texture and then paint in the blue lowlands as it were.
I think I will concentrate on getting it working first.
Peter

Mike. Watterson · 16th Jun 2019, 12:25 pm

You can soak and emboss heavy paper and then paint with Acrylic to give a sort of rexine effect.
Also paint base coat, allow to dry completely, "paint" lowland pattern with slightly dilute PVA glue, overpaint entirely with highland colour while tacky and watch the lowlands appear. Painting ENTIRE surface with slightly dilute PVA glue, then carefully overpainting all with Acrylic (sometimes slightly dilute and using a sponge) just before PVA dries gives the cracked effect common on late 1940s cabinets (Ever Ready C side panels, some McMichael models)

Rather than making fresh entire "fake" covering you can tear up soft paper (like wallpaper lining) and paste on direct with PVA. Then paint lowlands, then highlands perhaps with a sponge.
Cheap bottles of Artists acrylic paint are good. Not poster or gouache. Sometimes I do use sample pots of of cream vinyl wall paint to touch up. Works well on the INSIDE of perspex.

15th Jun 2019, 12:10 pm	#1
Electronpusher0 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Bognor Regis, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 2,294	Ever Ready 5214 Car boot find with badly painted cabinet I went to my local car boot again today and almost walked by this radio but the seller tempted me with this and another valve portable for £10 the pair. I really do not need any more radios, as my wife will confirm.... Seems complete, even to the original "clear" cover for the dial, which is so milky it will have to be replaced. It's a crying shame someone decided to slap paint on the cabinet, managed to get splashes on the knobs and aerial socket. The knobs and socket will clean up but I would wecome advice on the cabinet. Is it possible to clean off or should I just rub it down and re-paint? I suspect the paint is emulsion. Peter Attached Thumbnails

15th Jun 2019, 12:12 pm	#2
Electronpusher0 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Bognor Regis, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 2,294	Re: Ever Ready 5214 Car boot find with badly painted cabinet Photo of the dial, The tuning still works Peter Attached Thumbnails

15th Jun 2019, 12:42 pm	#3
ajgriff Nonode Join Date: May 2004 Location: Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 2,587	Re: Ever Ready 5214 Car boot find with badly painted cabinet Good find. This thread may be of interest: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=107770 Alan

15th Jun 2019, 1:23 pm	#4
Electronpusher0 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Bognor Regis, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 2,294	Re: Ever Ready 5214 Car boot find with badly painted cabinet Thanks Alan, I have checked the link and thats a beautiful restoration job, looks like I've got something to aspire to. I forgot to mention that this is the model with the early side contact valves. Peter Last edited by Electronpusher0; 15th Jun 2019 at 1:25 pm. Reason: spelling

15th Jun 2019, 10:30 pm	#5
Mike. Watterson Heptode Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Limerick, Ireland. Posts: 901	Re: Ever Ready 5214 Car boot find with badly painted cabinet All the pre-1941 models are side contact. It was when they had to use US or Mullard branded US, during the Comfort Set version production that they gradually changed to Octal. The drive is direct, so turns the opposite way to the needle. The later 1945 A and the 1941 Domestic and "comfort set" models used indirect tuning drive. Also later 1945 A version models have visible bolts on the front. See Radio Museum. I have the Lissen version of this model. Most have a sort of textured cloth. I touched mine up with artist's acrylic paint, to "hide" bare bits: 1939 to 1941 approximately: https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/ever_a..._portable.html Later version: More likely from 1941 rather than 1940. The Factories in London were destroyed in the 1941 Blitz, hence new production outside London. https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/ever_a...ortable_2.html My Lissen version: https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/lissen...able_8515.html There is a suspicion that many Mullard/Philips 1.4V Edge connect valves were USA imports without the octal base and the base fitted in the UK. Ever Ready branded valves had been Mullard perhaps from 1935. Earlier Lissen valves (1920s to 1934) may have been bought from various makers and then Lissen fitted bases.

15th Jun 2019, 10:41 pm	#6
Mike. Watterson Heptode Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Limerick, Ireland. Posts: 901	Re: Ever Ready 5214 Car boot find with badly painted cabinet See also the Model A for comparison. The circuit may be identical. https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/ever_a.html The 1939 to 1941 table models (wood and Bakelite versions) of the 5214 chassis with larger speaker (also Lissen versions) are much rarer. The Model D is basically the Octal version of the 5214 (a Model A) in the 1940s Bakelite cabinet. Slightly rare. https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/ever_b...ble_model.html The Model G is very rare. It was soon replaced by the model T (based on K, which is basis of Sky Queen) It's a B7G version of the 5412/A/D design. https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/ever_b...ble_model.html I think I have a Model A as well as the Lissen. The Lissen 8515 performs very well. Last edited by Mike. Watterson; 15th Jun 2019 at 10:47 pm. Reason: typo

15th Jun 2019, 10:48 pm	#7
Electronpusher0 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Bognor Regis, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 2,294	Re: Ever Ready 5214 Car boot find with badly painted cabinet Thanks Mike, useful information. I fear the cabinet on mine will be a challenge as large areas of the fabric have been removed and then painted. Looking at the base, which has not been painted, it looks like mine was the blue and black version. I may have to strip the case and cover it in black faux leather to get the texture and then paint in the blue lowlands as it were. I think I will concentrate on getting it working first. Peter

16th Jun 2019, 12:25 pm	#8
Mike. Watterson Heptode Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Limerick, Ireland. Posts: 901	Re: Ever Ready 5214 Car boot find with badly painted cabinet You can soak and emboss heavy paper and then paint with Acrylic to give a sort of rexine effect. Also paint base coat, allow to dry completely, "paint" lowland pattern with slightly dilute PVA glue, overpaint entirely with highland colour while tacky and watch the lowlands appear. Painting ENTIRE surface with slightly dilute PVA glue, then carefully overpainting all with Acrylic (sometimes slightly dilute and using a sponge) just before PVA dries gives the cracked effect common on late 1940s cabinets (Ever Ready C side panels, some McMichael models) Rather than making fresh entire "fake" covering you can tear up soft paper (like wallpaper lining) and paste on direct with PVA. Then paint lowlands, then highlands perhaps with a sponge. Cheap bottles of Artists acrylic paint are good. Not poster or gouache. Sometimes I do use sample pots of of cream vinyl wall paint to touch up. Works well on the INSIDE of perspex.