Navy broadcast receiver identification - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

John Mann · 3rd Feb 2018, 4:13 pm

Hello. I'm posting this here in case this is a piece of Navy equipment, although I think it will probably prove to be a domestic set. Sorry about the poor quality. My father was a naval instructor at Chatham Dockyard in 1947-8 and this is his classroom. In his letters home he refers to this set only as a "1947 pattern wireless". Can anyone identify it?
Thanks, John.

ms660 · 3rd Feb 2018, 4:17 pm

Marconi CR100.

Lawrence.

John Mann · 3rd Feb 2018, 7:53 pm

Thanks Lawrence, that makes sense. Well done on identifying it, there is hardly any detail in the picture. Presumably the loudspeaker could have come from anywhere or might even have been made in a carpentry class.

The receiver sadly did not get the chance to demonstrate its full performance, being only used to listen to the 15-minute daily "Forces Educational Broadcast" on the Light Programme!

G6Tanuki · 3rd Feb 2018, 7:58 pm

I'm fascinated by what's written on the blackboard: looks like they were costing-out a rather expensive movie!

John Mann · 3rd Feb 2018, 9:50 pm

I can enlighten you, since I have the original letter that went with the photo:
"This is my hut - Room 13. You can see "A" The 'Information Room' with piles of Hansards and Educational Supplements. "B" The wireless in the corner. "C" a colourful agriculture poster. "D" Blackboard with statistics for Discussion Group on 'Film Industry'. "

turretslug · 3rd Feb 2018, 10:24 pm

Is that a dual-cone speaker or some other construction detail? (Nerdy detail time-) I'm intrigued by the way that the CR100 logging scale seems to be back-lit- I thought that they had opaque steel discs with black graduation on off-white with no illumination (the horizontal bar frequency scale roller being top-lit), though of course a great many were made and they may have changed in detailing over time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by G6Tanuki

looks like they were costing-out a rather expensive movie!

'Twas ever thus....

John Mann · 4th Feb 2018, 11:10 am

I initially thought that the lower circular item was a crude rheostatic volume control. Looking at the original photo (from a Box Brownie, so the resolution is nowhere near as good as you might expect on a negative that size) it does have 4 screw holes around the circumference like the main speaker. Did anyone sell, or even home make, dual-cone speakers in 1947?

Regarding the "back lighting", it may just be the reflection of the low sun. Look how it is lighting up the book spines.

gm0ekm cecil · 7th Feb 2018, 6:59 pm

Being a Naval set-up this set looks more like a Marconi B28 ...(Admiralty Patt.)

3rd Feb 2018, 4:13 pm	#1
John Mann Triode Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Banbury, Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 42	Navy broadcast receiver identification Hello. I'm posting this here in case this is a piece of Navy equipment, although I think it will probably prove to be a domestic set. Sorry about the poor quality. My father was a naval instructor at Chatham Dockyard in 1947-8 and this is his classroom. In his letters home he refers to this set only as a "1947 pattern wireless". Can anyone identify it? Thanks, John. Attached Thumbnails

3rd Feb 2018, 4:17 pm	#2
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Navy broadcast receiver identification Marconi CR100. Lawrence.

3rd Feb 2018, 7:53 pm	#3
John Mann Triode Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Banbury, Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 42	Re: Navy broadcast receiver identification Thanks Lawrence, that makes sense. Well done on identifying it, there is hardly any detail in the picture. Presumably the loudspeaker could have come from anywhere or might even have been made in a carpentry class. The receiver sadly did not get the chance to demonstrate its full performance, being only used to listen to the 15-minute daily "Forces Educational Broadcast" on the Light Programme!

3rd Feb 2018, 7:58 pm	#4
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 13,998	Re: Navy broadcast receiver identification I'm fascinated by what's written on the blackboard: looks like they were costing-out a rather expensive movie!

3rd Feb 2018, 9:50 pm	#5
John Mann Triode Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Banbury, Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 42	Re: Navy broadcast receiver identification I can enlighten you, since I have the original letter that went with the photo: "This is my hut - Room 13. You can see "A" The 'Information Room' with piles of Hansards and Educational Supplements. "B" The wireless in the corner. "C" a colourful agriculture poster. "D" Blackboard with statistics for Discussion Group on 'Film Industry'. "

4th Feb 2018, 11:10 am	#7
John Mann Triode Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Banbury, Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 42	Re: Navy broadcast receiver identification I initially thought that the lower circular item was a crude rheostatic volume control. Looking at the original photo (from a Box Brownie, so the resolution is nowhere near as good as you might expect on a negative that size) it does have 4 screw holes around the circumference like the main speaker. Did anyone sell, or even home make, dual-cone speakers in 1947? Regarding the "back lighting", it may just be the reflection of the low sun. Look how it is lighting up the book spines. Last edited by John Mann; 4th Feb 2018 at 11:13 am. Reason: Add comment on back light

7th Feb 2018, 6:59 pm	#8
gm0ekm cecil Tetrode Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Shetland, UK. Posts: 79	Re: Navy broadcast receiver identification Being a Naval set-up this set looks more like a Marconi B28 ...(Admiralty Patt.)