Is this a CN429 or not?

[PJC58-Hythe]

I have what appears to be a Vidor CN429 (labels inside say it is) but I have never seen one with a middle switch or speaker grille like this. Maybe someone can enlighten me as to if this is is or is not a CN429?

Thanks in advance!

Regards

[Mike. Watterson]

I've seen one of those before.
Perhaps it was short run to see if it sold better?
It's a mystery. They did later do a different Lady Margaret (Deluxe) which also only differed in panel, but they changed the model number.
Lots of Vidor models were essentially the same chassis.
https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/vidor_...t_de_luxe.html
https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/vidor_...ret_cn429.html
That's mine in the 2nd link.
When I saw it before, I wondered because it looks factory made.

Could it be early production or prototype quantity?

[PJC58-Hythe]

Thanks Mike,

At least I now have confirmation that someone else has seen one like this, as I was starting to wonder...

Regards

[Geoff 555]

Hello, well sorry but of no help but I do rather like the look. Clean ,smart and tidy.
Cheers.
Geoff.

[Mike. Watterson]

I've been collecting Vidor for years. The 1934 to 1948 ones are rarer, especially any before 1945.

[PJC58-Hythe]

I think this unit may have been a prototype and I base this on;

1. The holes in the speaker grill have been drilled not punched - in fact all the holes have been drilled.

2. The fixing studs on the front panel are bolts that have been soldered in place.

3. All the valve holders are screwed in place not riveted.

4. The metal bracket for the trimmers is bolted in place.

4. The hinges are bolted to the speaker grille not spot welded.

5. There are holes in the chassis that clearly are not used.

6. No Vidor logo on the case.

7. No serial number (although I don't know if there was on the production units)

Now I might be completely wrong about my assumptions but all the above seem strange for a mass produced unit.

Regards

[Mike. Watterson]

Most of the points are not significant! However it obviously is not a regular mass produced CN429.

3.valve holders are screwed in place not riveted: Actually you'll bizarrely see a mix of bolted and riveted. One of the CN429 sets here has one socket bolted. The other set is in the attic.
6. No Vidor logo: is common. They also varied the stuck on label design on the same model. Some show label fell off, others don't look like they had a label. Some have just a V logo. Though it usually has Vidor printed in regular text on the wavechange.
7: No Serial Number: Often none! The number on the Royalty plate is not a serial number for a model. The Royalty plates often fall off sets.

4: The lack of spot welding and rivets is odd as this is easy. I've done both.

I wondered before when I saw one of these if it was home made replacement panel, but the industrial plating on the underside looks factory produced. The folds are tricky without a jig, though I know one person with a sheet metal folder in his garage.

I wonder is it the SAME one I saw once before.

It's very clean. I leave most of the paper caps in place, except the DAF96 to DL96 cap, as it's easy to fit the miniature replacements, esp under chassis for the two visible on top. I leave them attached by the 0V connection. Some of the caps can be ceramic replacements and the 150V metallised plastic types are very small. The HT electrolytic tends to dry out on these, i.e. no capacitance and thus instability when volume turned up.

2. The studs more likely brazed or "silver soldered", not regular soldering. Not uncommon.

But significant
1. been drilled not punched: This alone suggests prototype, pre-production, early production etc.

[PJC58-Hythe]

Thanks Mike,

The studs are definitely not brazed, they are countersunk bolts through the front panel and the countersink filled with standard solder. I only know this as I'm having to re-enamel the front as the paint has started to come away.

Anyway it's a mystery.... Which I quite like.

Regards