Electric radio!! - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Mike Phelan · 22nd Jan 2006, 6:33 pm

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...ADME:B:SS:UK:1
Presumably the gas and steam powered ones were much more common!

Nickthedentist · 22nd Jan 2006, 6:44 pm

Didn't a well-known company use the slogan "all-electric radio" at one time

?

JoshWard · 22nd Jan 2006, 7:21 pm

They did indeed Nick. Unfortunately I cannot for the life of me remember who it was! That Pye looks a nice set. I will not get it as I already have a massive P76F and Fenman 2. No more room for woodies.

JoshWard · 22nd Jan 2006, 7:23 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Phelan

Presumably the gas and steam powered ones were much more common!

For some reason I always thought that some of the early 50's Regentones with the 'metal' speaker grill looked like 1970s/80s gas fireplaces so I always call them gas powered radios yet I ahve not yet connected one in to the hob. I should stop having these

s.

Paul_RK · 22nd Jan 2006, 8:48 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickthedentist

Didn't a well-known company use the slogan "all-electric radio" at one time

'Twas Ekco. I seem to have seen a reproduced advertisement featuring the slogan quite often, and suspect it appears in the book 'The Setmakers'.

Paul

Paul Stenning · 23rd Jan 2006, 6:47 pm

By saying "electric" the seller probably means mains, rather than batteries. We obviously know batteries are also electric, but non-technical people may not (they just know mains is electric because they get an electricity bill for it).

SPCh · 23rd Jan 2006, 7:01 pm

Don't knock it.

There was a GAS radio in the late 1920s/early 1930s - for homes without the dreaded electric. A gas burner heated a series of bi-metal strips to generate enough electric to trickle charge the batteries. I can't remember any more detail than that, but I repaired one in the fifties for a farmer in Devon (who still hadn't got the dreaded electric, and didn't want it).

Nickthedentist · 23rd Jan 2006, 7:04 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPCh

There was a GAS radio in the late 1920s/early 1930s

Are you serious? There must have been quite a few thermocouples to generate enough volts & current to charge batteries. Any more info for us?

Nick

JHGibson · 23rd Jan 2006, 7:08 pm

In 1931, Lotus brought out their "All Electric Band-pass Three AC Model". By All Electric they meant it did not require any batteries but was powered entirely from the mains. This was a significant advance as the majority of radios in those days required a 2 Volt accumulator and a 120 Volt HT battery which needed expensive replacements when worn out.
John.

SPCh · 23rd Jan 2006, 7:10 pm

Yes, I AM serious; but as I say, I can't remember more detail.

I seem to think there was also a gas/steam radio at one of the Radio Olympia exhibitions in the 1950s - presumably a mini turbine turning a small generator, again to charge batteries.

Paul Stenning · 23rd Jan 2006, 7:19 pm

It was featured in Radiophile a few years ago I think. It did indeed use masses of thermocouples for the HT, but I can't remember what was done for LT.

Dave Moll · 23rd Jan 2006, 7:30 pm

And now there is the alternative of the clockwork radio created by Trevor Baylis.

Yes, I know the clockwork mechanism drives a small dynamo, but it's the same degree of non-electricness as gas-powered thermopiles.

But it is fascinating to learn that there really was such a thing as a steam radio. I have previously only ever known the term used figuratively in the sense of "antiquated".

mickjjo · 23rd Jan 2006, 7:38 pm

Apparently there is a gas powered set here

:-

LONDON GAS MUSEUM, Twelvetrees Crescent, London, E3 (020 7987 2000 ext 3444). Open 09.30-16.00 weekdays, by appointment only. Huge collection of appliances from the past, includes a gas-powered radio.

Regards, Mick.

.

sparkie · 24th Jan 2006, 12:01 pm

Chaps - being incredibly sad I also collect ( and have for many years) anything to do with the British gas industry and gas lighting (mantles, burners, shades, fittings, text books etc) in particular, and have visited the London Gas Museum at Bromley-by-Bow a couple of times. And yes, there IS a gas-powered radio in the collection - pretty ghastly looking thing, early 30's battery console if I remember rightly with the burner and thermocouple in the bottom of the cabinet and all sorts of metalwork to keep the heat away from the radio chassis. A curiousity, but wouldn't have thought they were ever a real production item......Steve

Station X · 24th Jan 2006, 12:36 pm

I expect that most of us use steam powered radios everyday. After all power stations use steam generators to drive the generators.

Going back to primary sources we may be using coal, gas, oil, nuclear, wind or water powered radios.

Graham.

Paul_RK · 24th Jan 2006, 3:56 pm

As I recall the gas-powered HT source was known as the Milnes unit, so this recent eBay listing

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tem=6595054007

is presumably of the device's instruction booklet.

Paul

mickjjo · 24th Jan 2006, 4:07 pm

The Milnes unit was electric, not gas..

:-

http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/r...g=2&imagepos=7

I believe there was a switching arrangement to parallel connect the cells for charging, and series connect for HT supply.

.

Regards, Mick.

Paul_RK · 24th Jan 2006, 4:22 pm

Thanks, Mick, and apologies all round... my recollections are getting less reliable by the day

Paul

Trev757 · 24th Jan 2006, 4:51 pm

These P53's are nice radios. I've just had a customer pick one up today that I've restored (main fault was s/c tone correction cap that did the o/p transformer no good at all!) Sounds really nice (despite nightmare of a tone control circuit) and is very sensitive. Tempted to get one of the two or three that I've got in the loft down, and do one for myself.

Trev

(sorry, think I've gone off-topic)

Sam · 24th Jan 2006, 5:31 pm

Wow! A gas radio

. The gas-powered fridge my grandparents had in their caravan fascinated me (a flame is hot, but it made things cold - mind-bending for a kid!) but that radio sounds even more Heath-Robinson with its bank of thermocouples.

Oh no, I feel another silly idea coming on....

Sam

22nd Jan 2006, 6:33 pm	#1
Mike Phelan Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK Posts: 4,609	Electric radio!! http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...ADME:B:SS:UK:1 Presumably the gas and steam powered ones were much more common! __________________ Mike.

22nd Jan 2006, 6:44 pm	#2
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,846	Re: Electric radio!! Didn't a well-known company use the slogan "all-electric radio" at one time?

22nd Jan 2006, 7:21 pm	#3
JoshWard Octode Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Near Stowmarket, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 1,962	Re: Electric radio!! They did indeed Nick. Unfortunately I cannot for the life of me remember who it was! That Pye looks a nice set. I will not get it as I already have a massive P76F and Fenman 2. No more room for woodies.

23rd Jan 2006, 6:47 pm	#6
Paul Stenning Administrator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cardiff Posts: 9,071	Re: Electric radio!! By saying "electric" the seller probably means mains, rather than batteries. We obviously know batteries are also electric, but non-technical people may not (they just know mains is electric because they get an electricity bill for it). __________________ Paul Stenning Forum Admin/Owner and BVWS Webmaster

23rd Jan 2006, 7:01 pm	#7
SPCh Rest in Peace Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Antwerp, Belgium Posts: 345	Re: Electric radio!! Don't knock it. There was a GAS radio in the late 1920s/early 1930s - for homes without the dreaded electric. A gas burner heated a series of bi-metal strips to generate enough electric to trickle charge the batteries. I can't remember any more detail than that, but I repaired one in the fifties for a farmer in Devon (who still hadn't got the dreaded electric, and didn't want it).

23rd Jan 2006, 7:08 pm	#9
JHGibson Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada Posts: 368	Re: Electric radio!! In 1931, Lotus brought out their "All Electric Band-pass Three AC Model". By All Electric they meant it did not require any batteries but was powered entirely from the mains. This was a significant advance as the majority of radios in those days required a 2 Volt accumulator and a 120 Volt HT battery which needed expensive replacements when worn out. John.

23rd Jan 2006, 7:10 pm	#10
SPCh Rest in Peace Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Antwerp, Belgium Posts: 345	Re: Electric radio!! Yes, I AM serious; but as I say, I can't remember more detail. I seem to think there was also a gas/steam radio at one of the Radio Olympia exhibitions in the 1950s - presumably a mini turbine turning a small generator, again to charge batteries.

23rd Jan 2006, 7:19 pm	#11
Paul Stenning Administrator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cardiff Posts: 9,071	Re: Electric radio!! It was featured in Radiophile a few years ago I think. It did indeed use masses of thermocouples for the HT, but I can't remember what was done for LT. __________________ Paul Stenning Forum Admin/Owner and BVWS Webmaster

23rd Jan 2006, 7:30 pm	#12
Dave Moll Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK Posts: 6,127	Re: Electric radio!! And now there is the alternative of the clockwork radio created by Trevor Baylis. Yes, I know the clockwork mechanism drives a small dynamo, but it's the same degree of non-electricness as gas-powered thermopiles. But it is fascinating to learn that there really was such a thing as a steam radio. I have previously only ever known the term used figuratively in the sense of "antiquated".

23rd Jan 2006, 7:38 pm	#13
mickjjo Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dartford, Kent, UK. Posts: 1,661	Re: Electric radio!! Apparently there is a gas powered set here :- LONDON GAS MUSEUM, Twelvetrees Crescent, London, E3 (020 7987 2000 ext 3444). Open 09.30-16.00 weekdays, by appointment only. Huge collection of appliances from the past, includes a gas-powered radio. Regards, Mick. .

24th Jan 2006, 12:01 pm	#14
sparkie Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: West London Posts: 35	Re: Electric radio!! Chaps - being incredibly sad I also collect ( and have for many years) anything to do with the British gas industry and gas lighting (mantles, burners, shades, fittings, text books etc) in particular, and have visited the London Gas Museum at Bromley-by-Bow a couple of times. And yes, there IS a gas-powered radio in the collection - pretty ghastly looking thing, early 30's battery console if I remember rightly with the burner and thermocouple in the bottom of the cabinet and all sorts of metalwork to keep the heat away from the radio chassis. A curiousity, but wouldn't have thought they were ever a real production item......Steve

24th Jan 2006, 12:36 pm	#15
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: Electric radio!! I expect that most of us use steam powered radios everyday. After all power stations use steam generators to drive the generators. Going back to primary sources we may be using coal, gas, oil, nuclear, wind or water powered radios. Graham.

24th Jan 2006, 3:56 pm	#16
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,255	Re: Electric radio!! As I recall the gas-powered HT source was known as the Milnes unit, so this recent eBay listing http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tem=6595054007 is presumably of the device's instruction booklet. Paul

24th Jan 2006, 4:07 pm	#17
mickjjo Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dartford, Kent, UK. Posts: 1,661	Re: Electric radio!! The Milnes unit was electric, not gas.. :- http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/r...g=2&imagepos=7 I believe there was a switching arrangement to parallel connect the cells for charging, and series connect for HT supply. . Regards, Mick.

24th Jan 2006, 4:22 pm	#18
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,255	Re: Electric radio!! Thanks, Mick, and apologies all round... my recollections are getting less reliable by the day Paul

24th Jan 2006, 4:51 pm	#19
Trev757 Banned Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 218	Re: Electric radio!! These P53's are nice radios. I've just had a customer pick one up today that I've restored (main fault was s/c tone correction cap that did the o/p transformer no good at all!) Sounds really nice (despite nightmare of a tone control circuit) and is very sensitive. Tempted to get one of the two or three that I've got in the loft down, and do one for myself. Trev (sorry, think I've gone off-topic)

24th Jan 2006, 5:31 pm	#20
Sam Hexode Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Higham-on-the-Hill, Leicestershire, UK. Posts: 338	Re: Electric radio!! Wow! A gas radio . The gas-powered fridge my grandparents had in their caravan fascinated me (a flame is hot, but it made things cold - mind-bending for a kid!) but that radio sounds even more Heath-Robinson with its bank of thermocouples. Oh no, I feel another silly idea coming on.... Sam __________________ Can he lead a Normal life, Doctor? No, he will be ... an Engineer.