Crystal set identification. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Heatercathodeshort · 30th Dec 2016, 4:23 pm

I was presented with this crystal set from the local dustmen.
It appears to be quite well made with more than the usual coil and cat's whisker.
It is totally unmarked so presume it is home constructed. Someone has had a fiddle with it replacing the detector with an Ediswan transistor!
Fortunately he left the crystal and holder.
Can anyone identify it's innards or possible origin? Probably one of thousands for the home constructor. Thanks, John.

30th Dec 2016, 5:10 pm

What a thoughtful dustman, one bloke in the trade of keeping our environment lovey I know is a street cleaner. He is a radio amateur like me, so I doubt very much he would give me a set!

Handy hit about dustmen, they are always open to an 'encouragement' to remove extra junk. I had 15 rubble bags disappear for a tenner.

60 oldjohn · 30th Dec 2016, 6:18 pm

John, I think your set was a factory made set, It may have had some small mods over the years but the Variometer + coil may well be original. If it is a British set it would have had the PMG / BBC stamp this may have been rubbed off an re varnished over, or I wonder if it is American ? I have looked through Ian Sanders "Tickling The Crystal" series of books (all 6 of them) nothing identical, a few very similar.

John.

Heatercathodeshort · 31st Dec 2016, 10:59 am

Thanks very much for your interest. The 'works' look original and complete. The only addition is a 'top hat' Ediswan transistor to replace the Galenar crystal. I looked for signs of the PMG stamp but nothing is visible.
Solid oak case with Ebonite panel with I presume two sets of terminals for headphones.
Nice handle! John.

60 oldjohn · 31st Dec 2016, 12:23 pm

I wonder if you have "The Meepon" these were of American manufacture.
A couple of photos from the excellent books "Tickling the Crystal" by Ian Sanders, the sets have similarities. It may help if you ask on the American vintage radio forum.

John.

Heatercathodeshort · 31st Dec 2016, 9:52 pm

Thanks for taking the time to search those pages John. You are right, the control panel and terminals are almost identical. I will take some better pictures. Thanks again, John.

Gridiron · 2nd Jan 2017, 10:44 pm

There is a correction in "Tickling the Crystal " Vol 4 , Meepon sets were actually manufactured in Britain by Meek and Pond, 46 Upper Dean St, Birmingham.
Mike (Gridiron).

60 oldjohn · 3rd Jan 2017, 12:15 am

Well spotted Mike, Trust me to miss that line, after all the series of books take over 4.5 inches of shelf space! and I speed read them all. I wonder if the set had a long gone BBC stamp.

John.

30th Dec 2016, 4:23 pm	#1
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Crystal set identification. I was presented with this crystal set from the local dustmen. It appears to be quite well made with more than the usual coil and cat's whisker. It is totally unmarked so presume it is home constructed. Someone has had a fiddle with it replacing the detector with an Ediswan transistor! Fortunately he left the crystal and holder. Can anyone identify it's innards or possible origin? Probably one of thousands for the home constructor. Thanks, John. Attached Thumbnails

30th Dec 2016, 5:10 pm	#2
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Crystal set identification. What a thoughtful dustman, one bloke in the trade of keeping our environment lovey I know is a street cleaner. He is a radio amateur like me, so I doubt very much he would give me a set! Handy hit about dustmen, they are always open to an 'encouragement' to remove extra junk. I had 15 rubble bags disappear for a tenner.

30th Dec 2016, 6:18 pm	#3
60 oldjohn Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 3,987	Re: Crystal set identification. John, I think your set was a factory made set, It may have had some small mods over the years but the Variometer + coil may well be original. If it is a British set it would have had the PMG / BBC stamp this may have been rubbed off an re varnished over, or I wonder if it is American ? I have looked through Ian Sanders "Tickling The Crystal" series of books (all 6 of them) nothing identical, a few very similar. John.

31st Dec 2016, 10:59 am	#4
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: Crystal set identification. Thanks very much for your interest. The 'works' look original and complete. The only addition is a 'top hat' Ediswan transistor to replace the Galenar crystal. I looked for signs of the PMG stamp but nothing is visible. Solid oak case with Ebonite panel with I presume two sets of terminals for headphones. Nice handle! John.

31st Dec 2016, 12:23 pm	#5
60 oldjohn Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 3,987	Re: Crystal set identification. I wonder if you have "The Meepon" these were of American manufacture. A couple of photos from the excellent books "Tickling the Crystal" by Ian Sanders, the sets have similarities. It may help if you ask on the American vintage radio forum. John. Attached Thumbnails

31st Dec 2016, 9:52 pm	#6
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: Crystal set identification. Thanks for taking the time to search those pages John. You are right, the control panel and terminals are almost identical. I will take some better pictures. Thanks again, John.

2nd Jan 2017, 10:44 pm	#7
Gridiron Heptode Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: West Midlands, UK. Posts: 662	Re: Crystal set identification. There is a correction in "Tickling the Crystal " Vol 4 , Meepon sets were actually manufactured in Britain by Meek and Pond, 46 Upper Dean St, Birmingham. Mike (Gridiron).

3rd Jan 2017, 12:15 am	#8
60 oldjohn Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 3,987	Re: Crystal set identification. Well spotted Mike, Trust me to miss that line, after all the series of books take over 4.5 inches of shelf space! and I speed read them all. I wonder if the set had a long gone BBC stamp. John.