McMichael Mains Three - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Brian Gulland · 22nd Feb 2020, 10:07 pm

Greetings fellow Radio enthusiasts,my first post, having joined very recently.

Amongst a job lot of old radios I bought in a junk shop about 1990 is a large very heavy tall wooden box.
In the screen at the top there appear to be 2 wavebands, the top one being marked 200 to 580, although additional notches each end extend that to 180 to 580. The one below is marked 900 to 2000.

I am intrigued to know roughly what year it was built, and how I can contact other owners of the same model.
Could take photos of the set, should there be any interest.
All the best
Brian Gulland

AC/HL · 23rd Feb 2020, 2:20 am

Hello Brian and welcome.
Is this the one: https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/mcmich...ins_three.html

Cobaltblue · 23rd Feb 2020, 9:49 am

Hi Brian and welcome to the forum.

If its indeed the model linked to by AC/HL I have the same set but Sans Valves.

No idea where it is though!

I bought mine sometime late 80's early 90's from an emporium.

Once the price was agreed they suddenly announced that the valves had been removed and that if they were to be included the price was double

They still had them 10 years later.

I have the correct valve types to fit in it just never got around to restoring it. Too many other sets.

It's a pretty good example of a mains set Mc Michael seemed to like using a voltage doubling arrangement for the HT not sure if this set does that though.

There was also a Battery version of the set.

Cheers

Mike T

Mr Moose · 23rd Feb 2020, 11:29 am

Hello,

There is a slightly different version with the same chassis but a rather posher case.

http://www.museumoftechnology.org.uk...and.php?key=77

Yours Richard

Brian Gulland · 24th Feb 2020, 8:55 am

Thanks Bill AC/HL
YES BINGO !!
That’s exactly like mine,and some useful info on that page too.
Thanks again
Brian

ChasHeater · 25th Feb 2020, 6:28 pm

HI Brian, I too have one of these. I got mine from a chap in Andover a few years back. They are amazingly robust and apart from a rewind of one transformer is pretty much 1930's original! I have attached the December 1930 Wireless World article which gives the circuit and some more details. Need a high impedance speaker but they do work well. All the best, Charlie

Cobaltblue · 25th Feb 2020, 6:38 pm

Hi Charlie

Thanks for the link if I ever find mine it will give me a good start

I see that it uses the Voltage Doubling HT I mentioned in #3.

Cheers

Mike T

22nd Feb 2020, 10:07 pm	#1
Brian Gulland Diode Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Bognor Regis, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 2	McMichael Mains Three Greetings fellow Radio enthusiasts,my first post, having joined very recently. Amongst a job lot of old radios I bought in a junk shop about 1990 is a large very heavy tall wooden box. In the screen at the top there appear to be 2 wavebands, the top one being marked 200 to 580, although additional notches each end extend that to 180 to 580. The one below is marked 900 to 2000. I am intrigued to know roughly what year it was built, and how I can contact other owners of the same model. Could take photos of the set, should there be any interest. All the best Brian Gulland

23rd Feb 2020, 2:20 am	#2
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,642	Re: McMichael Mains Three Hello Brian and welcome. Is this the one: https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/mcmich...ins_three.html

23rd Feb 2020, 11:29 am	#4
Mr Moose Octode Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 1,043	Re: McMichael Mains Three Hello, There is a slightly different version with the same chassis but a rather posher case. http://www.museumoftechnology.org.uk...and.php?key=77 Yours Richard

24th Feb 2020, 8:55 am	#5
Brian Gulland Diode Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Bognor Regis, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 2	Re: McMichael Mains Three Thanks Bill AC/HL YES BINGO !! That’s exactly like mine,and some useful info on that page too. Thanks again Brian

25th Feb 2020, 6:38 pm	#7
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,878	Re: McMichael Mains Three Hi Charlie Thanks for the link if I ever find mine it will give me a good start I see that it uses the Voltage Doubling HT I mentioned in #3. Cheers Mike T __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk

23rd Feb 2020, 9:49 am	#3
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,878	Re: McMichael Mains Three Hi Brian and welcome to the forum. If its indeed the model linked to by AC/HL I have the same set but Sans Valves. No idea where it is though! I bought mine sometime late 80's early 90's from an emporium. Once the price was agreed they suddenly announced that the valves had been removed and that if they were to be included the price was double They still had them 10 years later. I have the correct valve types to fit in it just never got around to restoring it. Too many other sets. It's a pretty good example of a mains set Mc Michael seemed to like using a voltage doubling arrangement for the HT not sure if this set does that though. There was also a Battery version of the set. Cheers Mike T __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk Last edited by Cobaltblue; 23rd Feb 2020 at 9:50 am. Reason: Spacing :(