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Vintage Radio (domestic) Domestic vintage radio (wireless) receivers only. |
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14th Dec 2019, 12:45 pm | #1 |
Diode
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 5
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Help with radio identification
Hi.
I'm new on here, just joined today. Could anybody help me identify this radio please, it has been in a loft for a minimum of 50 years untouched except by woodworm I would like to get this working but have no info at all. It runs on an accumalator plus another battery but not sure of the voltages etc. I have attatched some pictures and would welcome any help. Thanks, Adrian. |
14th Dec 2019, 1:31 pm | #2 |
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Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK.
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Re: Help with radio identification
Hello and welcome to the forums.
At a guess I'd say this is a Beethoven Model 60. Even if it isn't you'll need three batteries. A Low Tension (LT) battery, probably originally an accumulator, but nowadays it's more usual to use a Cyclon cell. A High Tension (HT) battery with taps for the screen grid supply. You can make one using PP3's in series. A grid bias battery. You can make one using AA or even AAA cells, as this battery supplies no current Are there any identification marks on the dial or back panel? What valves are fitted?
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14th Dec 2019, 2:32 pm | #3 |
Octode
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Carmel, Llannerchymedd, Anglesey, UK.
Posts: 1,498
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Re: Help with radio identification
Well, the OP could also make up a mains PSU if he is happy to do so...
Love the decaying GB battery! They used to come in very handy for testing lash-ups in the early days when experimenting with germanium transistors. |
14th Dec 2019, 2:54 pm | #4 |
Octode
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Yorkshire, England.
Posts: 1,294
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Re: Help with radio identification
Welcome Adrian, don't throw away the battery, someone may be looking to reproduce the artwork!
That's going to look pretty when you've spent some time on it.
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14th Dec 2019, 3:13 pm | #5 |
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Re: Help with radio identification
Here's a repro for which I claim no credit
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14th Dec 2019, 5:07 pm | #6 |
Octode
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Yorkshire, England.
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Re: Help with radio identification
That's a corker!
There are 60/90 volt battery kits available on eBay using 9 volt batteries which might be of interest to the OP.
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14th Dec 2019, 6:35 pm | #7 |
Diode
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 5
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Re: Help with radio identification
Hi,and thankyou all for your replys,i will look up beethoven 60 thats a start,im not planning on thowing away the existing battery and i will try to scan it for artwork if anybody needs to make a case cover.
can you tell me what the HT LT volts are likely to be please. I cant see any identity anywhere but a little plastic label mentions something about mullard, ive currently got the radio sealed in binliners filled with flyspray to try and kill the woodworm............ not at all keen on painting it with cuprinol. Adrian |
14th Dec 2019, 7:20 pm | #8 |
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Re: Help with radio identification
What valves are fitted?
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Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron. |
14th Dec 2019, 8:01 pm | #9 |
Diode
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK.
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Re: Help with radio identification
Hello, just had gentle look inside.
The clear glass is PM22A, the un-capped gold is, if I've read it right, PM1HL. Lastly the capped gold says S21B TRIOTRON RADIO. I've taken a picture. Thanks, Adrian. |
14th Dec 2019, 9:10 pm | #10 |
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Re: Help with radio identification
A guess again, but I'd say the third valve is an S218. Being a Triotron it's probably a replacement, but I don't know what it's equivalent to.
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14th Dec 2019, 9:20 pm | #11 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK.
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Re: Help with radio identification
120V HT, 2V LT and Grid Bias about 2/3.5V should get you running.
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14th Dec 2019, 9:25 pm | #12 |
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Re: Help with radio identification
Some of these radios used taps on the HT battery to feed the screen grid/s.
The hook terminals are obviously for the LT accumulator. Perhaps the OP could tell us how many wander plugs are fitted and their colours. Beethoven's code appears to have been BLACK HT -VE, RED HT +ve, GREEN Screen Grid, WHITE, BLUE and YELLOW Grid Bias. The GB battery may still be plugged up.
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14th Dec 2019, 10:02 pm | #13 |
Dekatron
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Re: Help with radio identification
Yes they do use taps Graham to feed screens.
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14th Dec 2019, 10:13 pm | #14 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK.
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Re: Help with radio identification
Looks like a pretty rare set to me, Beethoven are known more for little portables. I dont think I've seen a big woodie in the flesh.
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Kevin |
14th Dec 2019, 10:20 pm | #15 |
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Re: Help with radio identification
Here's mine:-
https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/beethoven_64.html I've got all the batteries, so I must get round to restoring it one day.
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14th Dec 2019, 11:20 pm | #16 | |
Diode
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 5
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Re: Help with radio identification
Quote:
Thanks for replying Hi, rare would be nice, but not for the value side, ive not found any info on the net as yet, most diagrams are 4 valve, this is 3. im not going to do anything until i gather all info i can from the knowledge on this site. adrian |
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15th Dec 2019, 1:22 pm | #17 |
Dekatron
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Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK.
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Re: Help with radio identification
Bear in mind this is a Tuned Radio Frequency (TRF) set so even when fully working the choice of radio stations will be quite limited, even with a good external aerial.
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Edward. |
15th Dec 2019, 9:20 pm | #18 | |
Dekatron
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Re: Help with radio identification
Quote:
If you do put a cabinet in a plastic bag, in the highly unlikely event that you do see beetles and dust (known as 'frass' - the excretion from the grubs), then yes, there were still a few lingering about. I'm not saying it would never happen, but it would be a remarkable coincidence to come into possession of a radio cabinet, just at the instant in their life cycle that the grubs are pupating into beetles and burrowing their way out. That said, in any event, most people seem to feel compelled to dose such cabinets with Cuprinol or whatever, feeling that even if 'it may not do any good, it won't do any harm, and it's best to be on the safe side'. Woodworm will find nothing of interest in a modern home - anything made of timber will be way too dry, but a damp garden shed or garage might interest them. A felled tree full of sap on the ground is much more of interest. I hope that might be reassuring. Good luck in your endeavours with the radio Adrian.
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17th Dec 2019, 1:42 pm | #19 |
Diode
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 5
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Re: Help with radio identification
Hi David, thank you for that info. The radio has been untouched in a loft for min 50yrs, so at first sight the holes and frass were quite worrying. I put it in the sealed bag to see if there was still any activity, and a way to kill them off without destroying the radio with Cuprinol.
Adrian Hi Edward, thanks for that info, will bear that in mind when i finally get into a position of powering it up. My 90ft longwire should yield some results at least. Adrian |
19th Dec 2019, 11:47 am | #20 |
Octode
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Exeter, Devon, UK.
Posts: 1,553
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Re: Help with radio identification
radio identification and woodworm.
The countryman's treatment for woodworm infestation is to put a piece/log of Alder wood in the shed/radio in the autumn. Then next autumn burn it and replace. Said to be used by National Trust for their houses. I cleared a wooden garage workshop over a few years by this method. Also harmless to bats if you are treating roof timbers in your loft, which might be a sensible precaution. The woodworm beetle prefers Alder above all other woods to lay its eggs in. The next best seems to be birch plywood with nice tasty glue, as used in radio cabinets and 1920 furniture backs. wme_bill |