Identity help please - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

iradcliffe · 21st Aug 2018, 9:10 pm

I bought three radios from a salvage yard the other day, an Ecko A104, Bush DAC1 and the mystery one in the photos. There was no back, and the tuning scale has a faint P at the bottom as if it could be Philips. The valve line up is U50, 6K7G, 6V6, X85 plus one that is too faint to read. Any ideas what make and model it is, please?

paulsherwin · 21st Aug 2018, 9:17 pm

I don't recognise it, but it won't be a Philips with that valve lineup. The unmarked valve may well be a 6Q7G (double diode and AF preamp). Not all the valves may be original.

Are you sure the X85 isn't actually an X65?

ms660 · 21st Aug 2018, 9:26 pm

X65?

Lawrence.

Restoration73 · 21st Aug 2018, 9:30 pm

I think the P is Philco
https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/philco_a535_mkia_53.html

G8UWM-MildMartin · 21st Aug 2018, 9:32 pm

Looks like a Philco A535.

Tractionist · 21st Aug 2018, 9:33 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Restoration73

I think the P is Philco
https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/philco_a535_mkia_53.html

Well done! I thought that it had that 'look' about it !!

Nuvistor · 21st Aug 2018, 9:49 pm

Service data
https://www.service-data.com/product...74/5548/m14274

iradcliffe · 21st Aug 2018, 9:50 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulsherwin

I don't recognise it, but it won't be a Philips with that valve lineup. The unmarked valve may well be a 6Q7G (double diode and AF preamp). Not all the valves may be original.

Are you sure the X85 isn't actually an X65?

It could well be X65, I thought it was X88 at first, and the unmarked valve certainly looks as if it has two or three parts to it.
It looks like it is a wooden case version of the Philco A535 although the valve lineup on the trader service sheet does not match, they may be equivalents. Thank you all for the prompt replies.
Ian.

paulsherwin · 21st Aug 2018, 10:08 pm

The X65 and U50 are Osram valves and the others are American types. The Osrams may be equivalents fitted as replacements by a local repairman who only stocked Osrams.

The X65 is the frequency changer and the U50 the mains rectifier.

turretslug · 21st Aug 2018, 10:21 pm

This seems like a classic case of a long-serving pre- or post-war International Octal set- after the war (WW2, that is), there were a lot of surplus British and US valves floating around on the market and many sets that started out with either all-British or all-US valve line-ups got mongrelised over time. Similar pin-outs and characteristics meant that simple swaps were easy, but, to paraphrase George Orwell, some alternatives were more equal than others...

21st Aug 2018, 9:10 pm	#1
iradcliffe Diode Join Date: May 2018 Location: Isle of Man Posts: 5	Identity help please I bought three radios from a salvage yard the other day, an Ecko A104, Bush DAC1 and the mystery one in the photos. There was no back, and the tuning scale has a faint P at the bottom as if it could be Philips. The valve line up is U50, 6K7G, 6V6, X85 plus one that is too faint to read. Any ideas what make and model it is, please? Attached Thumbnails

21st Aug 2018, 9:17 pm	#2
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,947	Re: Identity help please I don't recognise it, but it won't be a Philips with that valve lineup. The unmarked valve may well be a 6Q7G (double diode and AF preamp). Not all the valves may be original. Are you sure the X85 isn't actually an X65?

21st Aug 2018, 9:26 pm	#3
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Identity help please X65? Lawrence.

21st Aug 2018, 9:30 pm	#4
Restoration73 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Surbiton, SW London, UK. Posts: 2,801	Re: Identity help please I think the P is Philco https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/philco_a535_mkia_53.html

21st Aug 2018, 9:32 pm	#5
G8UWM-MildMartin Heptode Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 827	Re: Identity help please Looks like a Philco A535.

21st Aug 2018, 9:49 pm	#7
Nuvistor Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 9,433	Re: Identity help please Service data https://www.service-data.com/product...74/5548/m14274 __________________ Frank

21st Aug 2018, 10:08 pm	#9
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,947	Re: Identity help please The X65 and U50 are Osram valves and the others are American types. The Osrams may be equivalents fitted as replacements by a local repairman who only stocked Osrams. The X65 is the frequency changer and the U50 the mains rectifier.

21st Aug 2018, 10:21 pm	#10
turretslug Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Surrey, UK. Posts: 4,396	Re: Identity help please This seems like a classic case of a long-serving pre- or post-war International Octal set- after the war (WW2, that is), there were a lot of surplus British and US valves floating around on the market and many sets that started out with either all-British or all-US valve line-ups got mongrelised over time. Similar pin-outs and characteristics meant that simple swaps were easy, but, to paraphrase George Orwell, some alternatives were more equal than others...