Help with value of Ferguson 385RG radiogram - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Valvepower · 7th Apr 2018, 10:15 pm

Hi All,

Hope I’ve the right section on the forum and if you feel it belongs in the offered section your welcome to move it there, anyway, I suppose, I’m after a bit of advice with this radiogram. I’ve read the sticky “Value of, disposal of and obtaining of radiograms”...

I’ve been asked by a friend of a friend to find the value of a Ferguson 385RG radiogram the pictures of which are attached and being helpful I did say I’ll ask the forum, anyway, I said it could be worth ‘say £20’ to someone who really wants this model otherwise it has no real value.

Sadly, it has all the usual restrictions size etc., as to the sale and value of a 50’s radiogram......, but if someone is interested in this Radiogram it’s in the Southend area and I can put you in touch with the person who I figure wants to sell it.

Regards
Terry

Edward Huggins · 7th Apr 2018, 10:27 pm

You are basically correct. This is a mono only unit which will need a new stereo-compatible cartridge which will cost over the value of it. BUT if a buyer only wants to play old Mono LPs/78s, and if it's still working, then worth £20-30 max.

RojDW48 · 7th Apr 2018, 11:17 pm

It's the right place to ask the question. The value will. of course, be very low but it might well find an appreciative home (too far for me....but I do like those old Garrard RC120 decks and I am not alone). I expect you have already advised the owner not to fire it up if it hasn't been used for years and years?

electrogram · 8th Apr 2018, 1:46 am

i had one years ago, a bit nostalgic about them, thought it sounded a bit 'thin', probably needed a service. could be tempted if a bit nearer, just as well im not as i would have trouble fitting it in as i have,ahem, one or two other RGs around me. hope it finds a good home

Valvepower · 8th Apr 2018, 12:06 pm

Hi,

Thanks for the replies, which is appreciated.

I’ve been advised by the owner they necessarily don’t want anything for it and its FOC as they don’t want to see it thrown away.

Regards
Terry

nicam49 · 8th Apr 2018, 9:03 pm

Hi, if no takers here, try offering it locally on freecycle or gumtree.

Studio263 · 9th Apr 2018, 9:41 am

Were they the ones with the plastic gears behind the wavechange switch which always seem to be broken? I had the table model / AC/DC version of that chassis, complete with a big hole where the mains transformer would have been bridged with a couple of pieces of tagstrip an a few burned looking dogbone resistors. It was a good performer though, better (dare I say) than the Bush VHF61 that used to stand next to it.

The gear problem was worked around by bonding the (broken) white plastic gear to the shaft of the wavechange switch with really strong glue ('Hyperbond', I don't think they make it any more) and turning the knob through half a turn so the broken teeth were on the side where it didn't matter. This of course left the pointer on the wrong side as well, so I filed it off and cut a slot on the other side. Filled with white paint, this solution looked OK despite the obvious bodgery behind it. Lots of oil on the switch too.

Valvepower · 10th Apr 2018, 6:33 pm

Hi,

Firstly, thanks to all the people who replied to this post.

I’ve placed a post in the offered section:

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=145578

If the moderators feel it right they can close this thread.

Regards
Terry

7th Apr 2018, 10:15 pm	#1
Valvepower Octode Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Rayleigh near Southend-On-Sea, Essex, UK. Posts: 1,883	Help with value of Ferguson 385RG radiogram Hi All, Hope I’ve the right section on the forum and if you feel it belongs in the offered section your welcome to move it there, anyway, I suppose, I’m after a bit of advice with this radiogram. I’ve read the sticky “Value of, disposal of and obtaining of radiograms”... I’ve been asked by a friend of a friend to find the value of a Ferguson 385RG radiogram the pictures of which are attached and being helpful I did say I’ll ask the forum, anyway, I said it could be worth ‘say £20’ to someone who really wants this model otherwise it has no real value. Sadly, it has all the usual restrictions size etc., as to the sale and value of a 50’s radiogram......, but if someone is interested in this Radiogram it’s in the Southend area and I can put you in touch with the person who I figure wants to sell it. Regards Terry Attached Thumbnails

7th Apr 2018, 10:27 pm	#2
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,338	Re: Help with value of Ferguson 385RG radiogram You are basically correct. This is a mono only unit which will need a new stereo-compatible cartridge which will cost over the value of it. BUT if a buyer only wants to play old Mono LPs/78s, and if it's still working, then worth £20-30 max. __________________ Edward.

7th Apr 2018, 11:17 pm	#3
RojDW48 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 2,074	Re: Help with value of Ferguson 385RG radiogram It's the right place to ask the question. The value will. of course, be very low but it might well find an appreciative home (too far for me....but I do like those old Garrard RC120 decks and I am not alone). I expect you have already advised the owner not to fire it up if it hasn't been used for years and years? __________________ '....don't go mistaking Paradise for that home across the road!' (Bob Dylan)

8th Apr 2018, 1:46 am	#4
electrogram Heptode Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Hereford, UK. Posts: 719	Re: Help with value of Ferguson 385RG radiogram i had one years ago, a bit nostalgic about them, thought it sounded a bit 'thin', probably needed a service. could be tempted if a bit nearer, just as well im not as i would have trouble fitting it in as i have,ahem, one or two other RGs around me. hope it finds a good home

8th Apr 2018, 12:06 pm	#5
Valvepower Octode Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Rayleigh near Southend-On-Sea, Essex, UK. Posts: 1,883	Re: Help with value of Ferguson 385RG radiogram Hi, Thanks for the replies, which is appreciated. I’ve been advised by the owner they necessarily don’t want anything for it and its FOC as they don’t want to see it thrown away. Regards Terry

8th Apr 2018, 9:03 pm	#6
nicam49 Hexode Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Wigston, Leicester, UK. Posts: 351	Re: Help with value of Ferguson 385RG radiogram Hi, if no takers here, try offering it locally on freecycle or gumtree.

9th Apr 2018, 9:41 am	#7
Studio263 Octode Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hampshire, UK. Posts: 1,578	Re: Help with value of Ferguson 385RG radiogram Were they the ones with the plastic gears behind the wavechange switch which always seem to be broken? I had the table model / AC/DC version of that chassis, complete with a big hole where the mains transformer would have been bridged with a couple of pieces of tagstrip an a few burned looking dogbone resistors. It was a good performer though, better (dare I say) than the Bush VHF61 that used to stand next to it. The gear problem was worked around by bonding the (broken) white plastic gear to the shaft of the wavechange switch with really strong glue ('Hyperbond', I don't think they make it any more) and turning the knob through half a turn so the broken teeth were on the side where it didn't matter. This of course left the pointer on the wrong side as well, so I filed it off and cut a slot on the other side. Filled with white paint, this solution looked OK despite the obvious bodgery behind it. Lots of oil on the switch too.

10th Apr 2018, 6:33 pm	#8
Valvepower Octode Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Rayleigh near Southend-On-Sea, Essex, UK. Posts: 1,883	Re: Help with value of Ferguson 385RG radiogram Hi, Firstly, thanks to all the people who replied to this post. I’ve placed a post in the offered section: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=145578 If the moderators feel it right they can close this thread. Regards Terry