Can anyone identify this radio? 1925ish - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Bagman1 · 28th Feb 2020, 3:08 pm

This was my grandfather's. I think it's from 1925 and it may be Fellows but it doesn't look like any of the models I've seen. It's got two variable capacitors and three variable resistors, one next to each valve. The valves are Fellows Louden F2, Marconi R5V and Ediswan AR (possibly; no markings). Bits missing and I don't know if the loose variable capacitor shown is part of it. Any info welcome.

kestrelmusic · 28th Feb 2020, 11:46 pm

I wonder if it may be a home made set. The fact that there is no maker's name stamped into the Ebonite and - to be honest - the untidy wiring suggest that this may not have been a professionally produced model. The missing component above the centre valve was presumably a dual coil holder.

FIXITNOW · 29th Feb 2020, 7:51 am

Does look like home made, possibly from one of the mags of the time. Not one I have noticed but there are a lot off mags-blueprints out there.

Ed_Dinning · 29th Feb 2020, 8:36 pm

Probably quite restorable, the parts are not too difficult to find but could be expensive if you wanted a full coil set. It will work on cheaper valves from the 50's.

I've seen several sets with this layout over the years so it was probably copied from a popular design.

Ed

Bagman1 · 2nd Mar 2020, 10:48 pm

Thanks guys, My Mum did describe it as a 'kit' so I guess he built it himself. I wouldn't have a clue how to restore it and I have no testing gear. Maybe I could start by finding a circuit diagram? Can anyone point me to a circuit diagram for this kind of set? I guess the other components are resistors and capacitors; what did they look like in those days? There's a transformer (at least it looks like a transformer); how do I find out what the supply voltage is supposed to be mains?

Thinking about it, I've just realised where my Grandad would have learnt his (dodgy!) wiring skills; he was a military 'engineer'. I think he wired explosives; I guess he got into radio when peace broke out.

TonyDuell · 3rd Mar 2020, 5:59 am

The transformer is almost certainly to couple the (audio) signal between valves and not part of a power supply.

A set like that would run on batteries. A 'low tension' one for the valve filaments, probably a lead-acid accumulator. And a 'high tension' one for the valve anode circuits, this was probably 'tapped' to provided several different voltages for different parts of the circuit.

FIXITNOW · 3rd Mar 2020, 8:24 am

the 6 terminals on the right would be for the various battery voltages, those on the left aerial and earth and bottom ones for head phones

bileaflet_valve · 3rd Mar 2020, 12:44 pm

Possibly three batteries in total: low tension (filaments), high tension (anode circuits) and a Grid Bias battery too?

Do you have a case that the set fits into?

Restored, it would be a nice set!

Les.

Bagman1 · 8th Mar 2020, 5:32 pm

I don't have a case Les, all I've got is what's in the pics. I guess the case got used for something else during the last century. It bears quite a resemblance to the Fellows Fellowphone Little Giant Three (except for the variable resistors in my Grandad's version) and I know that some of the components were ordered from Fellows. Fellowphone 3:

28th Feb 2020, 3:08 pm	#1
Bagman1 Diode Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: London, UK. Posts: 3	Can anyone identify this radio? 1925ish This was my grandfather's. I think it's from 1925 and it may be Fellows but it doesn't look like any of the models I've seen. It's got two variable capacitors and three variable resistors, one next to each valve. The valves are Fellows Louden F2, Marconi R5V and Ediswan AR (possibly; no markings). Bits missing and I don't know if the loose variable capacitor shown is part of it. Any info welcome. Attached Thumbnails

28th Feb 2020, 11:46 pm	#2
kestrelmusic Hexode Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK. Posts: 466	Re: Can anyone identify this radio? 1925ish I wonder if it may be a home made set. The fact that there is no maker's name stamped into the Ebonite and - to be honest - the untidy wiring suggest that this may not have been a professionally produced model. The missing component above the centre valve was presumably a dual coil holder.

29th Feb 2020, 7:51 am	#3
FIXITNOW Octode Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ely, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 1,976	Re: Can anyone identify this radio? 1925ish Does look like home made, possibly from one of the mags of the time. Not one I have noticed but there are a lot off mags-blueprints out there.

29th Feb 2020, 8:36 pm	#4
Ed_Dinning Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK. Posts: 8,195	Re: Can anyone identify this radio? 1925ish Probably quite restorable, the parts are not too difficult to find but could be expensive if you wanted a full coil set. It will work on cheaper valves from the 50's. I've seen several sets with this layout over the years so it was probably copied from a popular design. Ed

3rd Mar 2020, 5:59 am	#6
TonyDuell Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Biggin Hill, London, UK. Posts: 5,214	Re: Can anyone identify this radio? 1925ish The transformer is almost certainly to couple the (audio) signal between valves and not part of a power supply. A set like that would run on batteries. A 'low tension' one for the valve filaments, probably a lead-acid accumulator. And a 'high tension' one for the valve anode circuits, this was probably 'tapped' to provided several different voltages for different parts of the circuit.

2nd Mar 2020, 10:48 pm	#5
Bagman1 Diode Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: London, UK. Posts: 3	Thanks guys, My Mum did describe it as a 'kit' so I guess he built it himself. I wouldn't have a clue how to restore it and I have no testing gear. Maybe I could start by finding a circuit diagram? Can anyone point me to a circuit diagram for this kind of set? I guess the other components are resistors and capacitors; what did they look like in those days? There's a transformer (at least it looks like a transformer); how do I find out what the supply voltage is supposed to be mains? Thinking about it, I've just realised where my Grandad would have learnt his (dodgy!) wiring skills; he was a military 'engineer'. I think he wired explosives; I guess he got into radio when peace broke out.

3rd Mar 2020, 8:24 am	#7
FIXITNOW Octode Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ely, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 1,976	Re: Can anyone identify this radio? 1925ish the 6 terminals on the right would be for the various battery voltages, those on the left aerial and earth and bottom ones for head phones

3rd Mar 2020, 12:44 pm	#8
bileaflet_valve Tetrode Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, UK. Posts: 88	Re: Can anyone identify this radio? 1925ish Possibly three batteries in total: low tension (filaments), high tension (anode circuits) and a Grid Bias battery too? Do you have a case that the set fits into? Restored, it would be a nice set! Les.

8th Mar 2020, 5:32 pm	#9
Bagman1 Diode Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: London, UK. Posts: 3	Re: Can anyone identify this radio? 1925ish I don't have a case Les, all I've got is what's in the pics. I guess the case got used for something else during the last century. It bears quite a resemblance to the Fellows Fellowphone Little Giant Three (except for the variable resistors in my Grandad's version) and I know that some of the components were ordered from Fellows. Fellowphone 3: Attached Thumbnails