Unidentified HMV radio, chassis only - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Richardgr · 12th May 2022, 1:28 pm

Can anyone identify this HMV radio from its chassis? It looks similar to this one ...
All-World Autoradiogram 660

The tuning scale is very odd - it is just graduated in something like degrees.

Paul_RK · 12th May 2022, 1:44 pm

Unless I'm mistaken that's just a logging scale, and the tuning dial as such has gone missing - perhaps was fitted to the cabinet. The disc rotates many times from one end of the scale to the other, so in particular short wave station positions could be accurately recorded by noting the number on the disc together with the approximate position on the dial. It does look like the chassis used in the HMV 650/655/660 and Marconi 561/563/564.

Paul

Techman · 12th May 2022, 1:52 pm

It is the logging scale, it can be seen in the RM picture along with the main scale which is fixed to the cabinet - my Dynatron uses the same idea, except the dial glass is fixed to the radio tuner chassis. It looks like it would originally have had two elliptical speakers mounted at angles and only clamped to the cabinet with two clamps each.

Paul_RK · 12th May 2022, 2:13 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Techman

It looks like it would originally have had two elliptical speakers mounted at angles and only clamped to the cabinet with two clamps each.

That's the arrangement with the radiogram versions - the one I have is the Marconi 563, with very different presentation

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/marconi_563.html

Just one speaker in the table radio versions, though, so perhaps the chassis is from one of those.

Techman · 12th May 2022, 3:44 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul_RK

the one I have is the Marconi 563, with very different presentation

Ah yes, I see it is.

I was wondering if there was a table radio version, but thought that this would have more likely used just a single KT63 as the output.

rontech · 13th May 2022, 8:44 am

It is a model 650 or HMV variants . My father had a table model 650 bought second hand in 1951. Sadly it was scrapped sometime in the late 1960's.

It had a push pull output stagewith two KT63s. I think the amp section was transformer coupled to provide phase splitting. 8 - 10 watt output.

mister valve · 13th May 2022, 11:43 am

Yes I would go along with HMV 650.... It's one of HMV's 'super' all singing, all dancing chassis', which I would consider is a must for restoring. Looking at the circuit diagram, I would say that the receiver part, would be near communications receiver standard (but without a BFO). With an audio amplifier & output stage nearing high fidelity (1930's standard).

Maybe a cabinet might come along on (say) an auction site with a good dial but possibly a scrap chassis, where a good restored chassis could be made to fit the restored cabinet.

rontech · 14th May 2022, 9:09 am

There is an interesting BBC report 1940's on the 650 with reference also to a Murphy competitor radio

Report No C035 June 1945 Byfield and Maurice. ( Report serial No 145?/21)

A google search will locate a download link

Tony_Sterling · 15th May 2022, 10:31 am

Hi if you have the Bulletin for 2005 vol30 no.2 Summer in you will find one of these sets with photos repaired by Gary Tempest.

Richardgr · 17th May 2022, 6:35 pm

Thanks for the comments. It is going begging, probably a tenner to a good home, but I just don't have any room for another project.

turretslug · 17th May 2022, 6:52 pm

The lack of corrosion is a hopeful sign for the multitude of wound components. Would be a proper in-deep project for someone whose interests extend to joinery! Quite a grand radio in its heyday.

Richardgr · 18th May 2022, 8:07 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by rontech

It is a model 650 or HMV variants . My father had a table model 650 bought second hand in 1951. Sadly it was scrapped sometime in the late 1960's.

It had a push pull output stagewith two KT63s. I think the amp section was transformer coupled to provide phase splitting. 8 - 10 watt output.

Yes, that's it ...
Model 650

That would be a great set to own! I have a couple of 1930's radios that sound really amazing through the large field coil speakers with a Bluetooth on the phono input (I replaced the capacitors, and added earthed mains lead). This one has the added advantage that the amplifier could be used independently, saving tube life on the radio tubes.

12th May 2022, 1:28 pm	#1
Richardgr Heptode Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Täby, Sweden Posts: 702	Unidentified HMV radio, chassis only Can anyone identify this HMV radio from its chassis? It looks similar to this one ... All-World Autoradiogram 660 The tuning scale is very odd - it is just graduated in something like degrees. Attached Thumbnails

12th May 2022, 1:44 pm	#2
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,255	Re: Unidentified HMV radio, chassis only Unless I'm mistaken that's just a logging scale, and the tuning dial as such has gone missing - perhaps was fitted to the cabinet. The disc rotates many times from one end of the scale to the other, so in particular short wave station positions could be accurately recorded by noting the number on the disc together with the approximate position on the dial. It does look like the chassis used in the HMV 650/655/660 and Marconi 561/563/564. Paul

12th May 2022, 1:52 pm	#3
Techman Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 5,000	Re: Unidentified HMV radio, chassis only It is the logging scale, it can be seen in the RM picture along with the main scale which is fixed to the cabinet - my Dynatron uses the same idea, except the dial glass is fixed to the radio tuner chassis. It looks like it would originally have had two elliptical speakers mounted at angles and only clamped to the cabinet with two clamps each.

13th May 2022, 8:44 am	#6
rontech Heptode Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Southport, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 646	Re: Unidentified HMV radio, chassis only It is a model 650 or HMV variants . My father had a table model 650 bought second hand in 1951. Sadly it was scrapped sometime in the late 1960's. It had a push pull output stagewith two KT63s. I think the amp section was transformer coupled to provide phase splitting. 8 - 10 watt output. __________________ Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana

13th May 2022, 11:43 am	#7
mister valve Hexode Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 311	Re: Unidentified HMV radio, chassis only Yes I would go along with HMV 650.... It's one of HMV's 'super' all singing, all dancing chassis', which I would consider is a must for restoring. Looking at the circuit diagram, I would say that the receiver part, would be near communications receiver standard (but without a BFO). With an audio amplifier & output stage nearing high fidelity (1930's standard). Maybe a cabinet might come along on (say) an auction site with a good dial but possibly a scrap chassis, where a good restored chassis could be made to fit the restored cabinet. __________________ If you live, the chassis was dead; if you're dead, the chassis was live !!!!

14th May 2022, 9:09 am	#8
rontech Heptode Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Southport, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 646	Re: Unidentified HMV radio, chassis only There is an interesting BBC report 1940's on the 650 with reference also to a Murphy competitor radio Report No C035 June 1945 Byfield and Maurice. ( Report serial No 145?/21) A google search will locate a download link __________________ Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana

15th May 2022, 10:31 am	#9
Tony_Sterling Tetrode Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Plumstead, London, UK. Posts: 76	Re: Unidentified HMV radio, chassis only Hi if you have the Bulletin for 2005 vol30 no.2 Summer in you will find one of these sets with photos repaired by Gary Tempest. __________________ taxitony

17th May 2022, 6:35 pm	#10
Richardgr Heptode Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Täby, Sweden Posts: 702	Re: Unidentified HMV radio, chassis only Thanks for the comments. It is going begging, probably a tenner to a good home, but I just don't have any room for another project.

17th May 2022, 6:52 pm	#11
turretslug Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Surrey, UK. Posts: 4,394	Re: Unidentified HMV radio, chassis only The lack of corrosion is a hopeful sign for the multitude of wound components. Would be a proper in-deep project for someone whose interests extend to joinery! Quite a grand radio in its heyday.