I was hoping for help with this old ferguson thorn radio - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

radiorick · 14th Sep 2007, 1:10 am

I was hoping for help with this. I bought it at auction thinking it was a radio but it turned out to not have or ever appeared to have the circuits in it to be a radio...it has the same back as a radio, marked mains ac/dc and labeled 627U radio. What it actually has is two speakers in it, an old Phillips and a Celestion 8" at least the celestion seems original. I was hoping to have a little knowledge on it. It is stamped 1960 inside and I couln't find anything on it locally or online. Thanks in advance and I do have some more pictures if anyone was able to help.
Best regards
Rick

Mike Phelan · 14th Sep 2007, 7:29 am

Rick (and welcome!)
I don't know the actual model of the original item, but what you have is just an extension speaker cabinet that has been made from a Thorn radio when they were not worth much.

Definitely a case of caveat emptor - hope you did not give a fortune for it.

Station X · 14th Sep 2007, 7:49 am

It's a Ferguson 627U which has been converted to an extension speaker. Looking at the picture of this set in the service sheet confirms this. The radio's controls and tuning scale were to the right of the speaker.

newlite4 · 14th Sep 2007, 9:24 am

It is a shame to see this, these are strikingly attractive sets in their natural state. One consolation is that the conversion (butchery!

) would have been done maybe 30 years ago. At least the cabinet is in one piece complete with that striking grille

.
Neil

Paul_RK · 14th Sep 2007, 9:25 am

Yes, this is how it used to look https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...5&d=1155261880 , hence the red leathercloth still visible around the 'speaker frame of yours. There aren't that many of them around but they're very much an acquired taste, I'm sure some folk would think yours has been done a favour...

Regards,
Paul

radiorick · 14th Sep 2007, 7:43 pm

Hi again, and thanks...I did only pay $5 canadian dollars for it, so it was not too bad. I just heard them call it, no one opened and I jumped with 5 and won. It is a nice looking radio in its original configuration and thanks for the picture. I was pretty sure it was a hack job but at least now I know. I've got an odd old tube Onkyo too, but I think that is japan so different place. Thanks again, and best regards from Canada.

Rick

14th Sep 2007, 1:10 am	#1
radiorick Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 2	I was hoping for help with this old ferguson thorn radio I was hoping for help with this. I bought it at auction thinking it was a radio but it turned out to not have or ever appeared to have the circuits in it to be a radio...it has the same back as a radio, marked mains ac/dc and labeled 627U radio. What it actually has is two speakers in it, an old Phillips and a Celestion 8" at least the celestion seems original. I was hoping to have a little knowledge on it. It is stamped 1960 inside and I couln't find anything on it locally or online. Thanks in advance and I do have some more pictures if anyone was able to help. Best regards Rick Attached Thumbnails

14th Sep 2007, 7:29 am	#2
Mike Phelan Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK Posts: 4,609	Re: I was hoping for help with this old ferguson thorn radio Rick (and welcome!) I don't know the actual model of the original item, but what you have is just an extension speaker cabinet that has been made from a Thorn radio when they were not worth much. Definitely a case of caveat emptor - hope you did not give a fortune for it. __________________ Mike.

14th Sep 2007, 7:49 am	#3
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: I was hoping for help with this old ferguson thorn radio It's a Ferguson 627U which has been converted to an extension speaker. Looking at the picture of this set in the service sheet confirms this. The radio's controls and tuning scale were to the right of the speaker. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

14th Sep 2007, 9:24 am	#4
newlite4 Octode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,805	Re: I was hoping for help with this old ferguson thorn radio It is a shame to see this, these are strikingly attractive sets in their natural state. One consolation is that the conversion (butchery!) would have been done maybe 30 years ago. At least the cabinet is in one piece complete with that striking grille. Neil __________________ preserving the recent past, for the distant future.

14th Sep 2007, 9:25 am	#5
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,256	Re: I was hoping for help with this old ferguson thorn radio Yes, this is how it used to look https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...5&d=1155261880 , hence the red leathercloth still visible around the 'speaker frame of yours. There aren't that many of them around but they're very much an acquired taste, I'm sure some folk would think yours has been done a favour... Regards, Paul

14th Sep 2007, 7:43 pm	#6
radiorick Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 2	Re: I was hoping for help with this old ferguson thorn radio Hi again, and thanks...I did only pay $5 canadian dollars for it, so it was not too bad. I just heard them call it, no one opened and I jumped with 5 and won. It is a nice looking radio in its original configuration and thanks for the picture. I was pretty sure it was a hack job but at least now I know. I've got an odd old tube Onkyo too, but I think that is japan so different place. Thanks again, and best regards from Canada. Rick