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Vintage Audio (record players, hi-fi etc) Amplifiers, speakers, gramophones and other audio equipment.

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Old 23rd Jan 2008, 10:11 pm   #61
Paul_RK
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Default Re: Radiograms. Will they ever be wanted?

Hi Nick,

Yahoo just seems painfully slow tonight - nothing in the group's Files section will download at the moment. Brock's already with us at the Hacker group, though, and has downloaded the booklet, as mentioned here https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?p=157731 . The booklet's available from this site too now, via http://www.vintage-radio.info/docs/ .

I don't know of much that's available on HMV, RGD etc. - I do somewhere have a copy of the 1938 RGD catalogue any or all of which I could scan when I next find it. Other than that, the BVWS Bulletin, 'The Radiophile' etc. have carried a number of articles down the years about the companies and their products, but there isn't a lot that I'm aware of online or in book form.

Paul
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Old 23rd Jan 2008, 11:17 pm   #62
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Default Re: Radiograms. Will they ever be wanted?

In addition to the usual upper market post war radiograms such as the Decca decolas, and the RGD's , Peto-Scott made a beautiful impressive radiogram with garrard autochanger, multiband radio, switchable sensitivity, multi speakers etc... etc..I cant remember the model. no though............ianj
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Old 23rd Jan 2008, 11:25 pm   #63
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Default Re: Radiograms. Will they ever be wanted?

Probably the ARG101 - the only details I have are 8 valves plus rectifier, seven bands, £254.18s.4d in 1947-48.

Paul
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Old 11th Feb 2008, 1:57 am   #64
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Default Re: Radiograms. Will they ever be wanted?

Well, I wanted this one Just a few photos in celebration of a very lately arrived, and still dusty, fifteen valve Dynatron RG11A Berkeley which won't be losing its amplifier any time soon. It sounds potentially delightful already, but is due a limited overhaul after its fifty or so years, while a few bits (conspicuously the tuner knobs) aren't exactly as they should be and originals probably won't be readily sourced.

Paul
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Old 11th Feb 2008, 11:24 am   #65
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Default Re: Radiograms. Will they ever be wanted?

Absolutely lovely! I really fancy one of those later Dynatrons styled like a desk.
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Old 11th Feb 2008, 1:26 pm   #66
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Default Re: Radiograms. Will they ever be wanted?

WOW! I'm Mightily Impressed! Am I mistake or is there provision made for external speakers?

I saw an Dynatron "Balmoral" last month. A good resemblance to the big Magnavoxes of the same era. Ho are those on quality, tone, etc? I was under the impression that name died out in the 50's?

Brock

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Old 11th Feb 2008, 2:07 pm   #67
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Default Re: Radiograms. Will they ever be wanted?

Yes, external speakers are provided for - the amplifier's currently out for a spot of dusting, the earlier photo shows the two red and two black plugs supplied for the purpose still in position.

Dynatron was owned by the Hacker brothers until 1955 and run by them until '59. Quality becomes more variable after that: the better valved units were exclusive Dynatron designs, others had very ordinary Ekco chassis in more or less upmarket cabinets. The radiogram market was soon in steep decline, so production of those would have ended somewhere around the mid to late 70s at a guess: Dynatron music centres lasted a little longer, colour TVs longer still, then the name was revived in the early 90s for a line of cheap plastic portable radios.

Paul
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Old 11th Feb 2008, 5:39 pm   #68
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Default Re: Radiograms. Will they ever be wanted?

Paul,

What a beauty, style , quality and the cabinet finish is excellent.

Mike
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Old 11th Feb 2008, 5:44 pm   #69
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Default Re: Radiograms. Will they ever be wanted?

That is real quality, Paul. As a Hackerphile I would have expected nothing less!
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Old 11th Feb 2008, 6:21 pm   #70
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Default Re: Radiograms. Will they ever be wanted?

Thanks, Mike and Mike. I've always thought a vacancy existed here for a Dynatron radiogram, but had tended to think in terms of a slightly older one. This one turned up fifteen miles away, though, and the combined advantages of FM, relatively easily sourced valves and a turntable suitable for mono LPs were quite enough to win me over. Not sure how it will feel about occupying a modest terraced house, but the likely alternative didn't bear thinking about, and seemed all too likely given that the LF10A amplifier seems to be changing hands at around £200.

Paul
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Old 11th Feb 2008, 7:13 pm   #71
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Default Re: Radiograms. Will they ever be wanted?

Chassis looks very nicely made . what date is it mid 50s?
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Old 11th Feb 2008, 7:55 pm   #72
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Default Re: Radiograms. Will they ever be wanted?

Towards the end of the 50s, I think. The original RG11, in the same cabinet style, was a 1956 release, but the Ether Pathfinder chassis in the 11A is fitted according to a brochure to the 12A and 14 as well, and the Dynatron Museum site lists the RG14 as a 1959 release.

Paul
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Old 14th Feb 2008, 8:06 pm   #73
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Default Re: Radiograms. Will they ever be wanted?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul_RK View Post
Yes, external speakers are provided for - the amplifier's currently out for a spot of dusting, the earlier photo shows the two red and two black plugs supplied for the purpose still in position.

Dynatron was owned by the Hacker brothers until 1955 and run by them until '59. Quality becomes more variable after that: the better valved units were exclusive Dynatron designs, others had very ordinary Ekco chassis in more or less upmarket cabinets. The radiogram market was soon in steep decline, so production of those would have ended somewhere around the mid to late 70s at a guess: Dynatron music centres lasted a little longer, colour TVs longer still, then the name was revived in the early 90s for a line of cheap plastic portable radios.

Paul

Sweet! I have an October 1956 copy of Popular Mechanics magazine that shows how to upgrade a postwar imported- from-the-UK radiogram with a Garrard 4 speed changer, Multi curve phono preamp, and home built add on speaker. It looks to be one of the HMV's imported under the Garrard label.

I cant wait to hear your report on how yours sounds. Best of luck with it!

Brock
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Old 14th Feb 2008, 9:49 pm   #74
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Default Re: Radiograms. Will they ever be wanted?

I came across a couple of Radiograms in North Nicosia today. The lady wanted €1,400 for each of them . One was a Pye. Both in good nick but rather out of my price range.
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Old 14th Feb 2008, 10:31 pm   #75
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Default Re: Radiograms. Will they ever be wanted?

I've got two, as if 1 wasn't enough.
I've got an early long player Marconi that lives on the landing from 1947ish and a Seymour from 1949 that lives in the bedroom at the moment.
I plan to get sorted in the summer
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Old 15th Feb 2008, 1:59 pm   #76
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We need a photo gallery of some sort so we can post all our treasures in one spot!
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Old 16th Feb 2008, 11:13 pm   #77
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Default Re: Radiograms. Will they ever be wanted?

Hi Paul, very nice gram but the speakers look a bit flimsy for a proper radiogram . This is the baffle from my Decca Decola with 3x 12 inch Goodmans units. It has straps to lift it out of the cabinet and has the electronics mounted on top. Many of the panels are damped (or rather were!). I'm expecting it to be a touch bass heavy...

This thread is a constant reminder that I still haven't started work on it ...Peter
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Old 27th Mar 2008, 7:20 am   #78
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Default Re: Radiograms. Will they ever be wanted?

Here's my beastie ...
Pye Fen Man II Radiogram with record deck
Garrard Deck: Model RC88

Date: 1955-57

Wavebands: LW 950-1900 Metres, MW - 185-560 Metres, FM - 8.75-100 Mc/s

Dimensions with top closed: height: 81cm, width: 87cm, depth: 38cm
Dimensions with top open: height: 104cm, width: 87cm, depth: 54cm
(approx as there were a few .5's in there ... so have rounded up to the
nearest cm)

Cabinet construction: Wood, possibly veneer - thought to be mahogany or
walnut as it's very dark with light coloured wood veneer inside the lift up
top.

I purchased the set over 20 years ago from an elderly lady who
had it from new. The radiogram was in great working condition last time I used it which was about a year ago now and is a beautiful piece of vintage real wood craftmanship furniture despite a few scratches on the cabinet where it's been moved over the years.

There is a door on the left hand side of the radiogram which opens up to reveal a storage section for records. I still have the original instruction manual for the radiogram.

http://www.bluecats.co.uk/radiogram/garrard-deck2.jpg
http://www.bluecats.co.uk/radiogram/pye-fenman11a.jpg
http://www.bluecats.co.uk/radiogram/...an11-open1.jpg
http://www.bluecats.co.uk/radiogram/...man-11-top.jpg
http://www.bluecats.co.uk/radiogram/...nman-radio.jpg
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Old 27th Mar 2008, 10:50 am   #79
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Default Re: Radiograms. Will they ever be wanted?

Quote:
Originally Posted by vocalist View Post
Here's my beastie ...
Pye Fen Man II Radiogram
Very nice indeed! The non-radiogram versions of these are very sought-after because of their very good audio quality (4 speakers and loads of valves).

The RG version must sound even better; fewer but better speakers and more suitable cabinet for them. Paradoxically, it's almost certainly worth less though, due to its size.

Nick,
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Old 27th Mar 2008, 10:52 am   #80
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Default Re: Radiograms. Will they ever be wanted?

If I had the room I'd love a Fenman 2 radiogram, they must sound brilliant!!
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