Which is your favourite radio cabinet design? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

osx86apple · 5th Mar 2018, 3:05 pm

I would have to say for me it would be the Philips 930a, no idea why, just love the look of it!

ThePillenwerfer · 5th Mar 2018, 3:21 pm

Bush VHF90.

Boater Sam · 5th Mar 2018, 3:37 pm

VHF90 surprises me, its not one of my chosen few but now I think, I have 2 of them, one of each colour!

I have a soft spot for Barker 88s in any of the 3 guises.

Paul_RK · 5th Mar 2018, 4:32 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by osx86apple

I would have to say for me it would be the Philips 930a, no idea why...

Are you particularly fond of tinned ham, by any chance?

Just kidding, and it's quite a favourite with me too. Singling one out is difficult, and I'm pulled in several directions. Tomorrow I might say the Murphy A26, but today it's the Ultra Panther IV.

Paul

Boom · 5th Mar 2018, 5:44 pm

My Philips 634A sums up everything nice to look at about the 1930s.

osx86apple · 5th Mar 2018, 7:04 pm

Beautiful designs there. The RD Russell designs for Murphy are a good favorite of mine too!

osx86apple · 5th Mar 2018, 7:05 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boater Sam

I have a soft spot for Barker 88s in any of the 3 guises.

I remember buying a Barker 88 as a kid and working on it, little did my parents know that started the collecting habit of anything vintage!!

5th Mar 2018, 7:21 pm

Mine are the simple "dial on the front knobs at the top" early transistor ones, function over style. Easy to use sitting down, unlike top dial types. And (of course?) the DAC90(A) simple and easy to use both sitting and standing.

electrogram · 5th Mar 2018, 9:30 pm

Just a personal opinion of course, but of all prewar Murphy sets I have to say i always thought the a26 table set the worst looking of all, not quite sure why, just looks a bit ungainly and not much thought put into it somehow. Repaired one of the console versions once, very impressed how well it worked. I think the a24 much better looking.

Paul_RK · 5th Mar 2018, 9:58 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by electrogram

i always thought the a26 table set the worst looking of all, not quite sure why, just looks a bit ungainly and not much thought put into it somehow...

I think that's what I love about it: well, not ungainliness, but the simplicity of the thought involved. Just a box with rounded corners, the Murphy knobs and small dial in their usual places, plain square loudspeaker aperture and a panel around the controls whose grain is at right angles to that of the rest of the cabinet. Not much to look at aside from the beauty of the wood, as with another favourite of mine, the first Hacker Mayflower. Come to think of it, I've even a soft spot for the Wartime Civilian set on similar grounds. Of course the finish (or lack of it, with the wartime set) needs to be in pretty good order for such designs to look at all appealing.

Paul

Cobaltblue · 5th Mar 2018, 10:00 pm

Murphy A8 no idea why I love this set so much

Cheers Mike T

ThePillenwerfer · 5th Mar 2018, 10:26 pm

The WCR would be on my short-list too. I've never seen one but going on pictures I REALLY like the battery version.

I have seen pictures of quite a few radios that I like the look of and then found I don't when I see them in the flesh — or in the wood/Bakelite. Round Echos come into this group for instance.

music-centre · 5th Mar 2018, 10:33 pm

A very ordinary radio inside but I always liked my McMichael 481 - could have done without the cracked dial though.

osx86apple · 5th Mar 2018, 10:41 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobaltblue

Murphy A8 no idea why I love this set so much

The Murphy A8 with the stand, absolutely would be one of my favourites to find!

electrogram · 5th Mar 2018, 10:59 pm

re. the a26, perhaps ungainly isnt the right term. some people think all Murphys odd, maybe they reached the pinnacle of what they were trying to achieve with the a26! A terrible looking set is the Ekco AC76, the single horizontal bar ruins it, although if someone wanted to donate one to my hoard i suppose i would accept it graciously.. i dont seem to be entering into the spirit of the thread title

Duke_Nukem · 5th Mar 2018, 11:33 pm

Easy. Addison A2B, cabinet style is available in colours, pure bakelite and - my preference - black marble. Plus honorable mentions for the Tesla 308 and the humble Bush VHF61.

TTFN,
Jon

Tractionist · 6th Mar 2018, 12:27 am

I love 'em all .... Tombstones, Mayan Temples, Car Fronts, Machine Age ....... but - the circular Ekco series - particularly the A22 shouts "I'm a radio [O.K. "Wireless"] - look at me and listen!"

ThePillenwerfer · 6th Mar 2018, 12:34 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThePillenwerfer

Round Echos...

I can't believe I made that mistake!

rontech · 19th Mar 2018, 3:40 pm

My favourites are the Beau Deccas from the early - 50's

Possibly even better, the RGD Model Model 1015 of 1939.

It cost 110 guineas then, only affordable by the wealthy.

With outbreak of WW2 I doubt if many or any were sold.

It is described in my brochure as 14 valve superhet with pre HF stage on all wavebands
( 6 of them ). Audio output is quoted as 18 watts. Motor cruising (of tuning presumably). Push button tuning and waveband selection, Also manual tuning, 3 point selectivity, combined with gram changeover switch, tone, volume controls, Internal speaker switch. Armchair remote control unit.
( The latter on a long cable ).

Record changer plays eight 10 or 12 ich records mixed.

The brochure photo shows a beautifully veneered cabinet in figured walnut.

vinrads · 19th Mar 2018, 5:36 pm

As you didn't specify country , sorry but mine is the USA Midwest eighteen valve chassis I just love it, Mick.

5th Mar 2018, 3:05 pm	#1
osx86apple Pentode Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Torquay, Devon, UK. Posts: 148	Which is your favourite radio cabinet design? I would have to say for me it would be the Philips 930a, no idea why, just love the look of it!

5th Mar 2018, 3:21 pm	#2
ThePillenwerfer Octode Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,453	Re: Which is your favourite radio cabinet design? Bush VHF90. __________________ "Experts are only good at one thing: explaining why something will not work!"

5th Mar 2018, 3:37 pm	#3
Boater Sam Banned Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Middlewich, Cheshire, UK. & Winter in the Philippines. Posts: 3,897	Re: Which is your favourite radio cabinet design? VHF90 surprises me, its not one of my chosen few but now I think, I have 2 of them, one of each colour! I have a soft spot for Barker 88s in any of the 3 guises.

5th Mar 2018, 5:44 pm	#5
Boom Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Westbury, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 2,451	Re: Which is your favourite radio cabinet design? My Philips 634A sums up everything nice to look at about the 1930s. Attached Thumbnails

5th Mar 2018, 7:04 pm	#6
osx86apple Pentode Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Torquay, Devon, UK. Posts: 148	Re: Which is your favourite radio cabinet design? Beautiful designs there. The RD Russell designs for Murphy are a good favorite of mine too!

5th Mar 2018, 7:21 pm	#8
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Which is your favourite radio cabinet design? Mine are the simple "dial on the front knobs at the top" early transistor ones, function over style. Easy to use sitting down, unlike top dial types. And (of course?) the DAC90(A) simple and easy to use both sitting and standing.

5th Mar 2018, 9:30 pm	#9
electrogram Heptode Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Hereford, UK. Posts: 719	Re: Which is your favourite radio cabinet design? Just a personal opinion of course, but of all prewar Murphy sets I have to say i always thought the a26 table set the worst looking of all, not quite sure why, just looks a bit ungainly and not much thought put into it somehow. Repaired one of the console versions once, very impressed how well it worked. I think the a24 much better looking.

5th Mar 2018, 10:00 pm	#11
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,865	Re: Which is your favourite radio cabinet design? Murphy A8 no idea why I love this set so much Cheers Mike T __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk

5th Mar 2018, 10:26 pm	#12
ThePillenwerfer Octode Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,453	Re: Which is your favourite radio cabinet design? The WCR would be on my short-list too. I've never seen one but going on pictures I REALLY like the battery version. I have seen pictures of quite a few radios that I like the look of and then found I don't when I see them in the flesh — or in the wood/Bakelite. Round Echos come into this group for instance. __________________ "Experts are only good at one thing: explaining why something will not work!"

5th Mar 2018, 10:33 pm	#13
music-centre Heptode Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK. Posts: 687	Re: Which is your favourite radio cabinet design? A very ordinary radio inside but I always liked my McMichael 481 - could have done without the cracked dial though. Attached Thumbnails

5th Mar 2018, 10:59 pm	#15
electrogram Heptode Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Hereford, UK. Posts: 719	Re: Which is your favourite radio cabinet design? re. the a26, perhaps ungainly isnt the right term. some people think all Murphys odd, maybe they reached the pinnacle of what they were trying to achieve with the a26! A terrible looking set is the Ekco AC76, the single horizontal bar ruins it, although if someone wanted to donate one to my hoard i suppose i would accept it graciously.. i dont seem to be entering into the spirit of the thread title

5th Mar 2018, 11:33 pm	#16
Duke_Nukem Octode Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 1,268	Re: Which is your favourite radio cabinet design? Easy. Addison A2B, cabinet style is available in colours, pure bakelite and - my preference - black marble. Plus honorable mentions for the Tesla 308 and the humble Bush VHF61. TTFN, Jon

6th Mar 2018, 12:27 am	#17
Tractionist Heptode Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 875	Re: Which is your favourite radio cabinet design? I love 'em all .... Tombstones, Mayan Temples, Car Fronts, Machine Age ....... but - the circular Ekco series - particularly the A22 shouts "I'm a radio [O.K. "Wireless"] - look at me and listen!" __________________ Red to red, black to black. Throw the switch and stand well back!

19th Mar 2018, 3:40 pm	#19
rontech Heptode Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Southport, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 646	Re: Which is your favourite radio cabinet design? My favourites are the Beau Deccas from the early - 50's Possibly even better, the RGD Model Model 1015 of 1939. It cost 110 guineas then, only affordable by the wealthy. With outbreak of WW2 I doubt if many or any were sold. It is described in my brochure as 14 valve superhet with pre HF stage on all wavebands ( 6 of them ). Audio output is quoted as 18 watts. Motor cruising (of tuning presumably). Push button tuning and waveband selection, Also manual tuning, 3 point selectivity, combined with gram changeover switch, tone, volume controls, Internal speaker switch. Armchair remote control unit. ( The latter on a long cable ). Record changer plays eight 10 or 12 ich records mixed. The brochure photo shows a beautifully veneered cabinet in figured walnut.

19th Mar 2018, 5:36 pm	#20
vinrads Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 3,762	Re: Which is your favourite radio cabinet design? As you didn't specify country , sorry but mine is the USA Midwest eighteen valve chassis I just love it, Mick. Attached Thumbnails