Which radio fits this case? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Bob_Moss · 10th Apr 2009, 6:33 pm

This small case belonged to a 1960s Transistor portable, 3" by 4.5" by 1.25" deep.
Hole in bottom left for earphone.
Made in Hong Kong.

Can the collective Vast Brain of the forum help me find something to fill it?

Thanks,

Bob.

camtechman · 10th Apr 2009, 6:51 pm

I'll take to Lottery odds of 14 million to 1

ajs37 · 10th Apr 2009, 7:17 pm

I've got an old sock that will fill it!

Steve_P · 10th Apr 2009, 8:43 pm

Do for somebody's fags and lighter perhaps!

Seriously though, this could be from several sets from UK, Japan or Hong-Kong. I would try some of the Japanese sets from the 60s, especially the smaller ones.

Cheers,

Steve P.

Paul_RK · 10th Apr 2009, 8:53 pm

I'd guess it would more or less fit dozens if not hundreds of single band, six transistor Hong Kong models, which seem to differ in little but the details of the metal plate fitted above the 'speaker grille - this one's an example http://home.ca.inter.net/~hagelin/StarLite.jpg - and all the challenge is in finding the one whose tuning window and brand badge occur in just the right places.

Paul

michamoo · 10th Apr 2009, 9:45 pm

Hi Bob
That case is to fit a Benkson 709161 Radio.
The reason i know this is because i have one

Actually i have lost the case from mine!

Mr Moose · 10th Apr 2009, 10:02 pm

Hello,
The first transistor radio I owned was a Benkson made in Hong Kong in the 1960s. Your case is for a vertical style radio whereas the one I had was a horizontal design but the leather cases are very similar and they did make a vertical version. They have the same construction of sewn leather, the same shape of loudspeaker slots, the same long slot so you could read the Benkson name through it and the same embossing round the openings. There is an example of the radio I had with its case as on ebay here http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/ebayISAPI.d...m=170318062916
I think the radio would be an earlier version of this radio www.***********/photos/eek/118203215/page2/ but of the earlier style of the one on ebay.
Yours, Richard

mickjjo · 10th Apr 2009, 10:05 pm

I think you are right..

:-

http://www.***********/photos/eek/118203215/

Regards, Mick.

michamoo · 10th Apr 2009, 10:22 pm

http://www.***********/photos/eek/118203215/

Yes that is the set i have. Incidently there should be a small leather pouch for the earphone also atched to that leather case.

Paul_RK · 10th Apr 2009, 10:34 pm

I don't think that set's the one - look at the relative positions of the right hand side of the Benkson name and of the tuning window. If the Benkson radio were in the leather case you'd not be able to see the frequency scale at all. Could be a Benkson even so, but these things came with so many different brands.

Paul

michamoo · 10th Apr 2009, 11:48 pm

Well i can see that it would fit my Benkson perfectly.

Paul_RK · 11th Apr 2009, 1:48 am

I'm not saying it wouldn't fit, only that if it did you'd be tuning blind - the top of the tuning scale would about coincide with the bottom of the window in the leather case. Or by all means prove me wrong by arrangement with Bob!

Regards,
Paul

Bob_Moss · 11th Apr 2009, 9:41 pm

Thanks for the help folks, I knew the forum would be able to give me some clues.

The Benkson looks good but not quite right, and there's no trace of an earphone pouch.

This was I believe the first transistor set our family owned, and I remember the radio being disposed of as "it's not worth repairing". I was given the useful case (I must have been about 6 at the time).

As I feared, it is is a bit of a needle in a haystack, but your input has been valuable nontheless.

Thanks,

Bob.

Bob_Moss · 11th Apr 2009, 9:48 pm

NB just found a Benkson transistor 6 with case and the apertures are slightly different, which confirms Paul's suspicions.

Definitely the same manufacturer though!

Bob.

Paul_RK · 12th Apr 2009, 12:00 am

Here are a couple more little Hong Kong sets - I don't have a Benkson, but very likely the flickr model has much the same circuit board as these as well as the same case moulding. I'd guess that your case would fit them but for the tuning window and brand name positions. Note the Viscount has an extra front panel window for the on/off-volume control setting: only OFF and from 1 to 5, these didn't go very loud at all

Regards,
Paul

Bob_Moss · 31st May 2009, 6:07 pm

At last, the haystack has been searched and the needle found!

It is a Benkson, as speculated, but a Six De-Luxe (Model 707)

Thanks for the guidance, folks.

Bob.

10th Apr 2009, 6:33 pm	#1
Bob_Moss Pentode Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire, UK. Posts: 216	Which radio fits this case? This small case belonged to a 1960s Transistor portable, 3" by 4.5" by 1.25" deep. Hole in bottom left for earphone. Made in Hong Kong. Can the collective Vast Brain of the forum help me find something to fill it? Thanks, Bob. Attached Thumbnails __________________ I was so upset that I cried all the way to the chip shop.

10th Apr 2009, 6:51 pm	#2
camtechman Nonode Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Milton Keynes, Bucks. UK. Posts: 2,552	Re: Which radio fits this case? I'll take to Lottery odds of 14 million to 1 __________________ When I die, please don't let my Wife sell my collection for the amount I told her I paid for it!

10th Apr 2009, 7:17 pm	#3
ajs37 Heptode Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 900	Re: Which radio fits this case? I've got an old sock that will fill it!

10th Apr 2009, 8:43 pm	#4
Steve_P Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6,644	Re: Which radio fits this case? Do for somebody's fags and lighter perhaps! Seriously though, this could be from several sets from UK, Japan or Hong-Kong. I would try some of the Japanese sets from the 60s, especially the smaller ones. Cheers, Steve P. __________________ If we've always had it, why is the Car Boot open? You're not sneaking another Old TV in are you...?

10th Apr 2009, 8:53 pm	#5
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,259	Re: Which radio fits this case? I'd guess it would more or less fit dozens if not hundreds of single band, six transistor Hong Kong models, which seem to differ in little but the details of the metal plate fitted above the 'speaker grille - this one's an example http://home.ca.inter.net/~hagelin/StarLite.jpg - and all the challenge is in finding the one whose tuning window and brand badge occur in just the right places. Paul

10th Apr 2009, 9:45 pm	#6
michamoo Hexode Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cambridge, Cambs. UK. Posts: 469	Re: Which radio fits this case? Hi Bob That case is to fit a Benkson 709161 Radio. The reason i know this is because i have one Actually i have lost the case from mine!

10th Apr 2009, 10:02 pm	#7
Mr Moose Octode Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 1,043	Re: Which radio fits this case? Hello, The first transistor radio I owned was a Benkson made in Hong Kong in the 1960s. Your case is for a vertical style radio whereas the one I had was a horizontal design but the leather cases are very similar and they did make a vertical version. They have the same construction of sewn leather, the same shape of loudspeaker slots, the same long slot so you could read the Benkson name through it and the same embossing round the openings. There is an example of the radio I had with its case as on ebay here http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/ebayISAPI.d...m=170318062916 I think the radio would be an earlier version of this radio www.***********/photos/eek/118203215/page2/ but of the earlier style of the one on ebay. Yours, Richard

10th Apr 2009, 10:05 pm	#8
mickjjo Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dartford, Kent, UK. Posts: 1,661	Re: Which radio fits this case? I think you are right.. :- http://www.***********/photos/eek/118203215/ Regards, Mick.

10th Apr 2009, 10:22 pm	#9
michamoo Hexode Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cambridge, Cambs. UK. Posts: 469	Re: Which radio fits this case? http://www.***********/photos/eek/118203215/ Yes that is the set i have. Incidently there should be a small leather pouch for the earphone also atched to that leather case.

10th Apr 2009, 10:34 pm	#10
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,259	Re: Which radio fits this case? I don't think that set's the one - look at the relative positions of the right hand side of the Benkson name and of the tuning window. If the Benkson radio were in the leather case you'd not be able to see the frequency scale at all. Could be a Benkson even so, but these things came with so many different brands. Paul

10th Apr 2009, 11:48 pm	#11
michamoo Hexode Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cambridge, Cambs. UK. Posts: 469	Re: Which radio fits this case? Well i can see that it would fit my Benkson perfectly.

11th Apr 2009, 1:48 am	#12
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,259	Re: Which radio fits this case? I'm not saying it wouldn't fit, only that if it did you'd be tuning blind - the top of the tuning scale would about coincide with the bottom of the window in the leather case. Or by all means prove me wrong by arrangement with Bob! Regards, Paul

11th Apr 2009, 9:41 pm	#13
Bob_Moss Pentode Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire, UK. Posts: 216	Re: Which radio fits this case? Thanks for the help folks, I knew the forum would be able to give me some clues. The Benkson looks good but not quite right, and there's no trace of an earphone pouch. This was I believe the first transistor set our family owned, and I remember the radio being disposed of as "it's not worth repairing". I was given the useful case (I must have been about 6 at the time). As I feared, it is is a bit of a needle in a haystack, but your input has been valuable nontheless. Thanks, Bob. __________________ I was so upset that I cried all the way to the chip shop.

11th Apr 2009, 9:48 pm	#14
Bob_Moss Pentode Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire, UK. Posts: 216	Re: Which radio fits this case? NB just found a Benkson transistor 6 with case and the apertures are slightly different, which confirms Paul's suspicions. Definitely the same manufacturer though! Bob. __________________ I was so upset that I cried all the way to the chip shop.

12th Apr 2009, 12:00 am	#15
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,259	Re: Which radio fits this case? Here are a couple more little Hong Kong sets - I don't have a Benkson, but very likely the flickr model has much the same circuit board as these as well as the same case moulding. I'd guess that your case would fit them but for the tuning window and brand name positions. Note the Viscount has an extra front panel window for the on/off-volume control setting: only OFF and from 1 to 5, these didn't go very loud at all Regards, Paul Attached Thumbnails

31st May 2009, 6:07 pm	#16
Bob_Moss Pentode Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire, UK. Posts: 216	Re: Which radio fits this case? At last, the haystack has been searched and the needle found! It is a Benkson, as speculated, but a Six De-Luxe (Model 707) Thanks for the guidance, folks. Bob. Attached Thumbnails __________________ I was so upset that I cried all the way to the chip shop. Last edited by Dave Moll; 31st May 2009 at 7:59 pm. Reason: to comply with forum rules