Roberts P5A (1946) - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

mark pirate · 7th Oct 2012, 1:40 pm

I had been after one of these sets for quite a while now. This example is only the second one I have seen, so must be a rare model.

According to Trader sheet 826, this set was released in April 1946, at a price of £16 16s plus £3 12s 3d purchase tax. This is an AC mains-only 3 band portable with proper octal valves.

As can be seen from the photos, this was not in the best of condition. Apart from being filthy, the leather on the handle was missing, the hinges and catches were rusty and dull, the rexine covering was coming away in places but the chassis was nice and clean with its original valves in place.

After a visual check it was connected to my variac, but was dead, so out came the chassis. A nice easy job, after removing four screws the chassis comes out complete with frame aerial.

The mains transformer is covered with a metal box. With this removed, I had access to the mains lead which turned out to be the first problem. There was a break somewhere in the lead, I replaced this and noticed the mains filter cap had exploded; this was removed and the set now powered up. The AF section was working, but otherwise dead and a check on the valves revealed that the EBC33 sounded like a pocket full of change!

I fitted a replacement and the set came to life, but turning the volume up over a quarter of its travel caused bad distortion and I noticed the set was drawing more current. This turned out to be the AF coupling cap and with this replaced the set was working well. On replacing the remaining waxies, no real improvement was achieved but the electrolytics were all ok so were left in place.

The cabinet was stripped of its fittings and washed using laundry liquid, helped by a nailbrush. This worked very well and the cabinet now looked good. The hinges and catches were cleaned with a Dremmel fitted with a wire brush attachment and the hinges polished with Brasso.

The dial and knobs were cleaned and polished with T-cut and the set was reassembled, given a final polish with Mr Sheen. I am pleased with the end result, just need to recover the handle as a finishing touch.

This set was nice to work on. Replacing the caps was a doddle, all the components are easily accessible and well laid out. The set really does perform well with plenty of volume and a really nice sound. Strangely the tone control is at the back of the set along with pickup input and external aerial and earth sockets.

The before photos....

mark pirate · 7th Oct 2012, 1:43 pm

And the after photos....

Mike Brett · 8th Oct 2012, 2:08 pm

Fine looking set you have there Mark, great restoration job. I am sure it sounds every bit as good as it looks.
Mike

phil3153 · 8th Oct 2012, 6:00 pm

From the design you would think it would be a mains-battery radio of the era. Great restoration.

7th Oct 2012, 1:40 pm	#1
mark pirate Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK Posts: 5,185	Roberts P5A (1946) I had been after one of these sets for quite a while now. This example is only the second one I have seen, so must be a rare model. According to Trader sheet 826, this set was released in April 1946, at a price of £16 16s plus £3 12s 3d purchase tax. This is an AC mains-only 3 band portable with proper octal valves. As can be seen from the photos, this was not in the best of condition. Apart from being filthy, the leather on the handle was missing, the hinges and catches were rusty and dull, the rexine covering was coming away in places but the chassis was nice and clean with its original valves in place. After a visual check it was connected to my variac, but was dead, so out came the chassis. A nice easy job, after removing four screws the chassis comes out complete with frame aerial. The mains transformer is covered with a metal box. With this removed, I had access to the mains lead which turned out to be the first problem. There was a break somewhere in the lead, I replaced this and noticed the mains filter cap had exploded; this was removed and the set now powered up. The AF section was working, but otherwise dead and a check on the valves revealed that the EBC33 sounded like a pocket full of change! I fitted a replacement and the set came to life, but turning the volume up over a quarter of its travel caused bad distortion and I noticed the set was drawing more current. This turned out to be the AF coupling cap and with this replaced the set was working well. On replacing the remaining waxies, no real improvement was achieved but the electrolytics were all ok so were left in place. The cabinet was stripped of its fittings and washed using laundry liquid, helped by a nailbrush. This worked very well and the cabinet now looked good. The hinges and catches were cleaned with a Dremmel fitted with a wire brush attachment and the hinges polished with Brasso. The dial and knobs were cleaned and polished with T-cut and the set was reassembled, given a final polish with Mr Sheen. I am pleased with the end result, just need to recover the handle as a finishing touch. This set was nice to work on. Replacing the caps was a doddle, all the components are easily accessible and well laid out. The set really does perform well with plenty of volume and a really nice sound. Strangely the tone control is at the back of the set along with pickup input and external aerial and earth sockets. The before photos.... Attached Thumbnails

7th Oct 2012, 1:43 pm	#2
mark pirate Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK Posts: 5,185	Re: Roberts P5A (1946) And the after photos.... Attached Thumbnails

8th Oct 2012, 2:08 pm	#3
Mike Brett Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 452	Re: Roberts P5A (1946) Fine looking set you have there Mark, great restoration job. I am sure it sounds every bit as good as it looks. Mike

8th Oct 2012, 6:00 pm	#4
phil3153 Triode Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Diss, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 31	Re: Roberts P5A (1946) From the design you would think it would be a mains-battery radio of the era. Great restoration.