1955 Luxor "Tripp" WB-21: The Numpty Restoration.... - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

batterymaker1 · 26th Aug 2008, 7:23 pm

In 1994, I bought this set at an Dayton, Ohio antique shop. One look at the dial told me this was a radio uncommon to these shores--everything is listed in Swedish. I suspect it was brought over here by a traveler than the result of importation. It's the first and last one I've ever seen here in the States.

This particular set was called the "Tripp", and it was designed for the female persuasion. From the outside, it looks like a cross between a handbag and a hatbox. Lifting the lid reveals the hammertone-finished control panel. A mirror is set in the lid--more for show than for real use.

This is what I'd call a Numpty restoration....and I was the Numpty. First thing I did was attempt to replace all the 'lytics in the power supply. In doing so (without making a detailed diagram), I miswired something, and I turned the radio into a doorstop. Deciding to wait until I could find a schematic, I put it in storage.

A few years go by, and I found someone else had the same set--in, of all places, Brazil. I asked him if he had a schematic. Yes he did, and that it was on its way to him by a fellow collector in Sweden. As soon as he received it, he'd strike a copy for me and send it on its way. So, imagine--a schematic for a Swedish radio coming from the mother country, to Brazil, to here. That's the power of the 'net for you.....

This year, I figured fourteen years was long enough, and so I decided I'd tackle the Luxor. Still don't have the AC power supply functioning, but I did fix my miswire and it runs beautifully on battery. It's running on one of Tony Maher's 67.5 B battery converters and a Wetecom 3-AA flat battery. I aim to make authentic covers for it soon, as I have Hellesens battery graphics. There's a good chance someone will be sending me Tudor Pertrix graphics, and if I receive those, then they'll be put to use instead.

Whoever designed the power supply must've been mad at the world and wanted to get even with all of us. While it's a marvel of compact design, it's also the most tedious, aggravating thing to take apart and troubleshoot. Plan on spending a day just on it if you ever purchase one of these sets.

The hole in the rear is where the power plug is stored. It's an enourmous two-pin affair, and if I wind up getting a replacement, I'll gird my loins and make another attempt at restoring the power supply. Until then, I'm happy with it being battery only.

Robert Darwent · 26th Aug 2008, 7:43 pm

Hello Bill,

You've done a great restoration job there, much patience needed, well done!

I confess that I'm not a great fan of the attache case portables, and this model doesn't initially change that opinion. It looks very much like a cross between a vanity case and several of the Vidor offerings from this side of the Atlantic. However its redeeming feature is that lovely 'crackle' finish! I really like that. Closest thing I've seen to it is the finish on the Amplion ADP1/2 portable. Most unusual!

Regards

mark pirate · 26th Aug 2008, 8:29 pm

Nice little set bill, i have several similar british sets from the 50s, seem to find
quite a few over here, are there many US sets in that style?

Mark

batterymaker1 · 26th Aug 2008, 10:55 pm

Not at all. Most portables were along the lines of a lunchbox. Only sets that had lids were "personal" portables, and with the advent of the ferrite rod antenna, lids on small sets fell by the wayside.

Mike Phelan · 27th Aug 2008, 8:33 am

Very nice indeed, Bill - gives "kitsch" a whole new meaning.

I've never come across Luxor radios at all - I did have a rather cheap Luxor reel-to-reel and serviced many (excellent) Luxor colour TVs when I did it for a living.

Dave Moll · 27th Aug 2008, 11:43 am

A mirror-lid radio, eh? At least it's a little less unwieldy (more wieldy?) than the average mirror-lid television.

As others have said - love that crackle finish!

batterymaker1 · 27th Aug 2008, 1:49 pm

Yeah, the mirror's more of a stunt than practical. Can't see a lady trying to fix her makeup by peering through that postage-stamp opening.

Luxor also made a battery-only version of this set. Batteries were the standard B126/AD35 combination.

26th Aug 2008, 7:23 pm	#1
batterymaker1 Heptode Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Posts: 674	1955 Luxor "Tripp" WB-21: The Numpty Restoration.... In 1994, I bought this set at an Dayton, Ohio antique shop. One look at the dial told me this was a radio uncommon to these shores--everything is listed in Swedish. I suspect it was brought over here by a traveler than the result of importation. It's the first and last one I've ever seen here in the States. This particular set was called the "Tripp", and it was designed for the female persuasion. From the outside, it looks like a cross between a handbag and a hatbox. Lifting the lid reveals the hammertone-finished control panel. A mirror is set in the lid--more for show than for real use. This is what I'd call a Numpty restoration....and I was the Numpty. First thing I did was attempt to replace all the 'lytics in the power supply. In doing so (without making a detailed diagram), I miswired something, and I turned the radio into a doorstop. Deciding to wait until I could find a schematic, I put it in storage. A few years go by, and I found someone else had the same set--in, of all places, Brazil. I asked him if he had a schematic. Yes he did, and that it was on its way to him by a fellow collector in Sweden. As soon as he received it, he'd strike a copy for me and send it on its way. So, imagine--a schematic for a Swedish radio coming from the mother country, to Brazil, to here. That's the power of the 'net for you..... This year, I figured fourteen years was long enough, and so I decided I'd tackle the Luxor. Still don't have the AC power supply functioning, but I did fix my miswire and it runs beautifully on battery. It's running on one of Tony Maher's 67.5 B battery converters and a Wetecom 3-AA flat battery. I aim to make authentic covers for it soon, as I have Hellesens battery graphics. There's a good chance someone will be sending me Tudor Pertrix graphics, and if I receive those, then they'll be put to use instead. Whoever designed the power supply must've been mad at the world and wanted to get even with all of us. While it's a marvel of compact design, it's also the most tedious, aggravating thing to take apart and troubleshoot. Plan on spending a day just on it if you ever purchase one of these sets. The hole in the rear is where the power plug is stored. It's an enourmous two-pin affair, and if I wind up getting a replacement, I'll gird my loins and make another attempt at restoring the power supply. Until then, I'm happy with it being battery only. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Just playing with high voltage....

26th Aug 2008, 7:43 pm	#2
Robert Darwent Heptode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK Posts: 990	Re: 1955 Luxor "Tripp" WB-21: The Numpty Restoration.... Hello Bill, You've done a great restoration job there, much patience needed, well done! I confess that I'm not a great fan of the attache case portables, and this model doesn't initially change that opinion. It looks very much like a cross between a vanity case and several of the Vidor offerings from this side of the Atlantic. However its redeeming feature is that lovely 'crackle' finish! I really like that. Closest thing I've seen to it is the finish on the Amplion ADP1/2 portable. Most unusual! Regards __________________ Robert G0UHF www.wavesintheair.co.uk

26th Aug 2008, 8:29 pm	#3
mark pirate Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK Posts: 5,185	Re: 1955 Luxor "Tripp" WB-21: The Numpty Restoration.... Nice little set bill, i have several similar british sets from the 50s, seem to find quite a few over here, are there many US sets in that style? Mark

26th Aug 2008, 10:55 pm	#4
batterymaker1 Heptode Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Posts: 674	Re: 1955 Luxor "Tripp" WB-21: The Numpty Restoration.... Not at all. Most portables were along the lines of a lunchbox. Only sets that had lids were "personal" portables, and with the advent of the ferrite rod antenna, lids on small sets fell by the wayside. __________________ Just playing with high voltage....

27th Aug 2008, 8:33 am	#5
Mike Phelan Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK Posts: 4,609	Re: 1955 Luxor "Tripp" WB-21: The Numpty Restoration.... Very nice indeed, Bill - gives "kitsch" a whole new meaning. I've never come across Luxor radios at all - I did have a rather cheap Luxor reel-to-reel and serviced many (excellent) Luxor colour TVs when I did it for a living. __________________ Mike.

27th Aug 2008, 11:43 am	#6
Dave Moll Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK Posts: 6,130	Re: 1955 Luxor "Tripp" WB-21: The Numpty Restoration.... A mirror-lid radio, eh? At least it's a little less unwieldy (more wieldy?) than the average mirror-lid television. As others have said - love that crackle finish! __________________ Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

27th Aug 2008, 1:49 pm	#7
batterymaker1 Heptode Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Posts: 674	Re: 1955 Luxor "Tripp" WB-21: The Numpty Restoration.... Yeah, the mirror's more of a stunt than practical. Can't see a lady trying to fix her makeup by peering through that postage-stamp opening. Luxor also made a battery-only version of this set. Batteries were the standard B126/AD35 combination. __________________ Just playing with high voltage....