Curious Ekco A21 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

YoungManGW · 7th Nov 2013, 10:14 pm

I have an Ekco A21 - at least I think I do! - that, instead of the five push-button pre-selects associated with this set, has nine such. The additional four are in line with the standard five, and appear where the flat 'blanking plates' are on the standard set. Does anyone have any thoughts on what this is please. A variant with which I'm not familiar perhaps?

mark pirate · 7th Nov 2013, 10:30 pm

I think it is an Ekco PB505.
I have got a very sad example, see this thread:https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=94312

Mark

YoungManGW · 7th Nov 2013, 10:38 pm

Ah ha, that is indeed what it is, although in a Bakelite cabinet. Thank-you Mark.

Nickthedentist · 7th Nov 2013, 10:50 pm

Isn't Mark's a Bakelite cabinet too, or have I misunderstood you?

Nick.

YoungManGW · 7th Nov 2013, 10:57 pm

This is really curious after all. The radio museum listing gives the PB505 as of 1939, in a wooden case. The A21 was released in November 1945, yet the cabinet's clearly a Bakelite emulation of the PB505's wooden affair. How odd, to copy, in a different material, a cabinet design of six years earlier, and use that to house both a new set (the A21) and an older one (the PB505).

mark pirate · 7th Nov 2013, 11:08 pm

My set is pre-war, It is the same chassis as the wooden model, but with a bakelite case, but I can't find any model reference for it. I guess Ekco carried on using the cabinet on post war models, as there was a serious shortage of wood, and cash for new tooling.

Mark

7th Nov 2013, 10:14 pm	#1
YoungManGW Hexode Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Oswestry, Shropshire, UK. Posts: 408	Curious Ekco A21 I have an Ekco A21 - at least I think I do! - that, instead of the five push-button pre-selects associated with this set, has nine such. The additional four are in line with the standard five, and appear where the flat 'blanking plates' are on the standard set. Does anyone have any thoughts on what this is please. A variant with which I'm not familiar perhaps?

7th Nov 2013, 10:30 pm	#2
mark pirate Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK Posts: 5,185	Re: Curious Ekco A21 I think it is an Ekco PB505. I have got a very sad example, see this thread:https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=94312 Mark

7th Nov 2013, 10:38 pm	#3
YoungManGW Hexode Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Oswestry, Shropshire, UK. Posts: 408	Re: Curious Ekco A21 Ah ha, that is indeed what it is, although in a Bakelite cabinet. Thank-you Mark. Last edited by YoungManGW; 7th Nov 2013 at 10:45 pm.

7th Nov 2013, 10:50 pm	#4
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,865	Re: Curious Ekco A21 Isn't Mark's a Bakelite cabinet too, or have I misunderstood you? Nick.

7th Nov 2013, 10:57 pm	#5
YoungManGW Hexode Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Oswestry, Shropshire, UK. Posts: 408	Re: Curious Ekco A21 This is really curious after all. The radio museum listing gives the PB505 as of 1939, in a wooden case. The A21 was released in November 1945, yet the cabinet's clearly a Bakelite emulation of the PB505's wooden affair. How odd, to copy, in a different material, a cabinet design of six years earlier, and use that to house both a new set (the A21) and an older one (the PB505).

7th Nov 2013, 11:08 pm	#6
mark pirate Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK Posts: 5,185	Re: Curious Ekco A21 My set is pre-war, It is the same chassis as the wooden model, but with a bakelite case, but I can't find any model reference for it. I guess Ekco carried on using the cabinet on post war models, as there was a serious shortage of wood, and cash for new tooling. Mark