Graves? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

n_highfield · 18th Nov 2019, 9:10 pm

Just retrieved this from my mother's loft; had it for many years (old Tudor Rees purchase) and despite there being no makers name anywhere on the thing, always rather thought it to be from the king of 'easy term' J G Graves. Anyone confirm or otherwise?

Herald1360 · 19th Nov 2019, 1:31 am

Looks late '20s. SG, Det, AF?

Ekco, perhaps?

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/ekco_f...s_receive.html

has some appearance features in common.

joebog1 · 19th Nov 2019, 4:45 am

What a beautiful piece !!!!

DO NOT destroy it please :-(

Joe

Radio Tech · 19th Nov 2019, 11:37 am

Beautiful piece of radio equipment Nick, I wish I could come across something like this.

Regards

Ken

short wave · 19th Nov 2019, 11:38 am

Graves info ...

https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_hers...ompany_id=6246

David Simpson · 19th Nov 2019, 11:42 am

Nick, looks like you've a great winter project to get stuck into. The wooden cabinet should look good after a clean & polish. And as for that lovely bakelite tuning panel - a joy to behold. Certainly well screened. A 1929 - 30ish TRF I suspect. Thank god the GB Battery seems to have remained intact & not spread crud everywhere. Metal chassis, so not a Scott-Taggart like kit construction.
I too am currently delving into a set from that time period which has no maker's name. Apart from the numerous commercial maker's sets highlighted in 'Radio Radio', I suspect that there were a number of radio shop outlets who 'out-sourced' construction & used branded parts & components.

Regards, David

n_highfield · 19th Nov 2019, 6:38 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by joebog1

What a beautiful piece !!!!

DO NOT destroy it please :-(

Joe

Why would I destroy it?

n_highfield · 19th Nov 2019, 6:46 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by short wave

Graves info ...

https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_hers...ompany_id=6246

Thanks, I always thought Graves from the general style of panel engraving plus the distinctive wooden escutcheon (if that's the right word) over the ebonite panel but really nothing to go on as it doesn't quite match any of the models I can find on line or in R-R. Just hoped someone on here would recognise it.

n_highfield · 19th Nov 2019, 6:49 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radio Tech

Beautiful piece of radio equipment Nick, I wish I could come across something like this.

Regards

Ken

I started collecting when such things were still to be found in junk shops though as I said, this particular set did come from Tudor Rees - probably some time in the mid 80's.

n_highfield · 19th Nov 2019, 7:12 pm

By the way, I presume Graves did not actually make the sets they sold - would Plessey be a likely suspect for the actual builder?

n_highfield · 19th Nov 2019, 7:44 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by n_highfield

Quote:

Originally Posted by short wave

Graves info ...

https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_hers...ompany_id=6246

Thanks, I always thought Graves from the general style of panel engraving plus the distinctively shaped escutcheon (if that's the right word) over the ebonite panel but really nothing to go on as it doesn't quite match any of the models I can find on line or in R-R. Just hoped someone on here would recognise it.

Look at this illustration for R-R and you will hopefully see what I mean - or is that moulded into the panel?

HamishBoxer · 19th Nov 2019, 7:49 pm

Certainly worth restoring,though I am not convinced what the make might be.

Unless I am mistaken,I would watch and treat the woodworm (middle right).

David BVWS Archivist

n_highfield · 19th Nov 2019, 7:59 pm

I prefer to conserve rather than restore nowadays (got lazy!).

EDIT; Woodworm originally treated by the esteemable Mr Reece and I'm sure I must have 'topped it up' some time during the last 30 odd years!

n_highfield · 20th Nov 2019, 3:02 pm

Internal construction. Mixed bag of component manufacturers and overall a slightly later appearance than the external styling might suggest.

Looking at the baseboard, another top up of the woodworm treatment may well be in order!

n_highfield · 20th Nov 2019, 3:04 pm

Licence tag - does that rule out a kit built set?

HamishBoxer · 20th Nov 2019, 7:05 pm

I am not convinced it is a kit build.

n_highfield · 20th Nov 2019, 7:29 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by HamishBoxer

I am not convinced it is a kit build.

Indeed, that was my question; does the presence of a licence tag (assuming it is original) rule out a kit built set?

HamishBoxer · 20th Nov 2019, 7:32 pm

I believe it does.Plus the labels suggest commercial.

n_highfield · 20th Nov 2019, 7:56 pm

As does the extensive use of soldering - I also have a Cossor melody maker kit set and it is all screwed connections

murphymad · 20th Nov 2019, 8:23 pm

I can confirm that it is a Graves 'Screen grid Three' from 1929.

A very good friend on mine has had one for about 40 years in his collection and even has the Wireless World advertisement for the set tucked inside.

Mike...

18th Nov 2019, 9:10 pm	#1
n_highfield Pentode Join Date: May 2010 Location: West London, UK. Posts: 102	Graves? Just retrieved this from my mother's loft; had it for many years (old Tudor Rees purchase) and despite there being no makers name anywhere on the thing, always rather thought it to be from the king of 'easy term' J G Graves. Anyone confirm or otherwise? Attached Thumbnails __________________ B.Rgds Nick H. BVWS member

19th Nov 2019, 1:31 am	#2
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,536	Re: Graves? Looks late '20s. SG, Det, AF? Ekco, perhaps? https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/ekco_f...s_receive.html has some appearance features in common. __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O

19th Nov 2019, 4:45 am	#3
joebog1 Banned Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Mareeba, North Queensland, Australia Posts: 2,704	Re: Graves? What a beautiful piece !!!! DO NOT destroy it please :-( Joe

19th Nov 2019, 11:37 am	#4
Radio Tech Nonode Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Bocking, near Braintree, Essex, UK. Posts: 2,071	Re: Graves? Beautiful piece of radio equipment Nick, I wish I could come across something like this. Regards Ken

19th Nov 2019, 11:38 am	#5
short wave Pentode Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 246	Re: Graves? Graves info ... https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_hers...ompany_id=6246

19th Nov 2019, 11:42 am	#6
David Simpson Nonode Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Aberdeen, UK. Posts: 2,858	Re: Graves? Nick, looks like you've a great winter project to get stuck into. The wooden cabinet should look good after a clean & polish. And as for that lovely bakelite tuning panel - a joy to behold. Certainly well screened. A 1929 - 30ish TRF I suspect. Thank god the GB Battery seems to have remained intact & not spread crud everywhere. Metal chassis, so not a Scott-Taggart like kit construction. I too am currently delving into a set from that time period which has no maker's name. Apart from the numerous commercial maker's sets highlighted in 'Radio Radio', I suspect that there were a number of radio shop outlets who 'out-sourced' construction & used branded parts & components. Regards, David

19th Nov 2019, 7:12 pm	#10
n_highfield Pentode Join Date: May 2010 Location: West London, UK. Posts: 102	Re: Graves? By the way, I presume Graves did not actually make the sets they sold - would Plessey be a likely suspect for the actual builder? __________________ B.Rgds Nick H. BVWS member

19th Nov 2019, 7:49 pm	#12
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,935	Re: Graves? Certainly worth restoring,though I am not convinced what the make might be. Unless I am mistaken,I would watch and treat the woodworm (middle right). David BVWS Archivist __________________ G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S Last edited by HamishBoxer; 19th Nov 2019 at 8:05 pm.

19th Nov 2019, 7:59 pm	#13
n_highfield Pentode Join Date: May 2010 Location: West London, UK. Posts: 102	Re: Graves? I prefer to conserve rather than restore nowadays (got lazy!). EDIT; Woodworm originally treated by the esteemable Mr Reece and I'm sure I must have 'topped it up' some time during the last 30 odd years! __________________ B.Rgds Nick H. BVWS member Last edited by n_highfield; 19th Nov 2019 at 8:11 pm.

20th Nov 2019, 3:02 pm	#14
n_highfield Pentode Join Date: May 2010 Location: West London, UK. Posts: 102	Re: Graves? Internal construction. Mixed bag of component manufacturers and overall a slightly later appearance than the external styling might suggest. Looking at the baseboard, another top up of the woodworm treatment may well be in order! Attached Thumbnails __________________ B.Rgds Nick H. BVWS member

20th Nov 2019, 3:04 pm	#15
n_highfield Pentode Join Date: May 2010 Location: West London, UK. Posts: 102	Re: Graves? Licence tag - does that rule out a kit built set? Attached Thumbnails __________________ B.Rgds Nick H. BVWS member

20th Nov 2019, 7:05 pm	#16
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,935	Re: Graves? I am not convinced it is a kit build. __________________ G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S

20th Nov 2019, 7:32 pm	#18
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,935	Re: Graves? I believe it does.Plus the labels suggest commercial. __________________ G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S

20th Nov 2019, 7:56 pm	#19
n_highfield Pentode Join Date: May 2010 Location: West London, UK. Posts: 102	Re: Graves? As does the extensive use of soldering - I also have a Cossor melody maker kit set and it is all screwed connections __________________ B.Rgds Nick H. BVWS member

20th Nov 2019, 8:23 pm	#20
murphymad Heptode Join Date: May 2003 Location: Devizes, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 650	Re: Graves? I can confirm that it is a Graves 'Screen grid Three' from 1929. A very good friend on mine has had one for about 40 years in his collection and even has the Wireless World advertisement for the set tucked inside. Mike... __________________ Mike Barker.