BP413 Receiver - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Stevemac · 24th Aug 2023, 9:06 pm

Today I have just had delivered the strangest receiver I have ever seen. It is a Reception Set B.P.413 (ZA22773) made during the war and is very small with a wooden case. Seems to be a similar kind of ‘utility’ receiver to one that was renovated on Retro, Electro, workshop last week. Has 4 valves ARTP2, ARP12, AR8, CV65 and works from batteries like the WS38 set. Civilian utility broadcast receivers from the war all had just MW or MW and LW. This one has a single band, but is 1.4Mhz – 4.0Mhz (160m and 80m) It has a built in frame aerial hidden around the front panel.
I have found very little about this receiver, except that someone suggested that it was made for use during the D Day landings to listen for instructions from the nearby battleships.
An interesting project.
Anyone know anything about this little gem?

Cobaltblue · 24th Aug 2023, 9:49 pm

Hi Steve and welcome to the forum

Responders please be mindful that no discussion of the Retro Electro Workshop.

There is a previous thread about this set here: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=106789

Cheers

Mike T

Stevemac · 24th Sep 2023, 6:10 pm

Following my earlier post, I have now renovated the very unusual Philco BP413 receiver.
This receiver was built in 1944 and was a utility receiver that has a single band of 1.4mhz - 4.2Mhz. This would be 80m and 40m, but I think it may have been intended for use of monitoring the marine band / trawler band. From what I have found out, they were used during the beach landings and carried in a waterproof back pack by troops. They were probably used to listen to the British Forces Radio transmissions after the landings.

I have replaced all the capacitors and some resistors and the radio works well with its quite large internal speaker. The radio was powered by the same battery used by the WS38 radio. I have now built in a Mains Battery Eliminator circuit to power the BP413.

The original radio when I got it had been painted with rosewood varnish, but the original colour was a dull battleship grey. I decided to strip it all down to the wood and paint with matt black. This makes it look much better.

Steve G4AQB

24th Aug 2023, 9:06 pm	#1
Stevemac Diode Join Date: Aug 2023 Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester, North West, UK. Posts: 2	BP413 Receiver Today I have just had delivered the strangest receiver I have ever seen. It is a Reception Set B.P.413 (ZA22773) made during the war and is very small with a wooden case. Seems to be a similar kind of ‘utility’ receiver to one that was renovated on Retro, Electro, workshop last week. Has 4 valves ARTP2, ARP12, AR8, CV65 and works from batteries like the WS38 set. Civilian utility broadcast receivers from the war all had just MW or MW and LW. This one has a single band, but is 1.4Mhz – 4.0Mhz (160m and 80m) It has a built in frame aerial hidden around the front panel. I have found very little about this receiver, except that someone suggested that it was made for use during the D Day landings to listen for instructions from the nearby battleships. An interesting project. Anyone know anything about this little gem? Attached Thumbnails

24th Aug 2023, 9:49 pm	#2
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,605	Re: BP413 Receiver Hi Steve and welcome to the forum Responders please be mindful that no discussion of the Retro Electro Workshop. There is a previous thread about this set here: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=106789 Cheers Mike T __________________ Don't care if it was a bargain why's it in my kitchen Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk

24th Sep 2023, 6:10 pm	#3
Stevemac Diode Join Date: Aug 2023 Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester, North West, UK. Posts: 2	Renovated BP413 Receiver Following my earlier post, I have now renovated the very unusual Philco BP413 receiver. This receiver was built in 1944 and was a utility receiver that has a single band of 1.4mhz - 4.2Mhz. This would be 80m and 40m, but I think it may have been intended for use of monitoring the marine band / trawler band. From what I have found out, they were used during the beach landings and carried in a waterproof back pack by troops. They were probably used to listen to the British Forces Radio transmissions after the landings. I have replaced all the capacitors and some resistors and the radio works well with its quite large internal speaker. The radio was powered by the same battery used by the WS38 radio. I have now built in a Mains Battery Eliminator circuit to power the BP413. The original radio when I got it had been painted with rosewood varnish, but the original colour was a dull battleship grey. I decided to strip it all down to the wood and paint with matt black. This makes it look much better. Steve G4AQB