HMV Set mystery - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

rjmusto · 3rd Mar 2023, 10:27 pm

Have seen this set on a local auction site. No info provided and only this one photo. Looks like it is pretty good condition.

Anybody know what model it is?

Thanks a lot,
Ralph

HMV Set Mystery - jeez, must be late, can't spell.....

Cathovisor · 3rd Mar 2023, 11:00 pm

Hi Ralph, without looking at my EMI valve books I think it's a 2500, but it was an add-on receiver to work with the model 2000 and 3000 "Electrogram".

I can ask a friend as I know he has one - I got it for him from eBay years ago!

rjmusto · 4th Mar 2023, 9:36 am

Thanks, much appreciated.

It seems to have no speaker grills, so I guessed it was meant to be used with something else - or maybe some kind of commercial kit .....

The good condition of the case is appealing, but it would be nice to know what lives inside before spending money on it.

Ralph

Edward Huggins · 4th Mar 2023, 9:49 am

Inside is a half-decent AM Pre-set Tuner.

PYE 405 · 4th Mar 2023, 10:26 am

Obviously fair to assume it is an AM tuner with switched preset selection, but whether or not it contains a power amplifier or is self powered, I don't know.
Regardless of that, it must be worth saving as no doubt it is uncommon.

barrymagrec · 4th Mar 2023, 11:11 am

I think I used to have the push button unit off one of those - I used as a track select switch for an 8 track 1/2 inch tape head.

Some of those white knobs as well.

If so it dates from 1948 - 1953 because that was when my Dad worked at EMI Hayes.

Cobaltblue · 4th Mar 2023, 11:18 am

There were at least a few sets using that push button assembly just post war including a Gram.

The knobs are odd though.

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/hismasters_1119.html

Once Identified by Catho it would be nice to get it into the Radiomuseum.

Cheers

Mike T

rjmusto · 4th Mar 2023, 8:12 pm

Thanks for the replies.

I did win today at the auction, should be able to collect it next week, so I can pass on more once I've had a look inside. Hope it's not just an empty box....

Ralph

Cathovisor · 5th Mar 2023, 11:27 pm

Confirmed this evening as a model 2500. Apparently it has a low-impedance output to feed into an Electrogram.

Cathovisor · 6th Mar 2023, 7:23 pm

Just looking back through the adverts section, this post caught my eye:

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...64&postcount=5

I'd hope there's a picture of the 2500 in there which maybe @pmmunro would share?

rjmusto · 14th Mar 2023, 12:18 pm

I have finally managed to get along to the auction house and pick up this set.

Some photos attached.

It is, I'm happy to say, in very good condition; looks untouched in fact. Original screws and washers still there on the rear panel and even has the original cable and plugs for the audio connection.

Should have some fun with the restoration.....

Ralph

Cobaltblue · 14th Mar 2023, 12:24 pm

Be nice if we could get pictures of that rare set into Radiomuseum.

If you didn't want to do it yourself I am sure a member of RM would do it for you

Cheers

Mike T

steve102 · 14th Mar 2023, 3:23 pm

Here's the advert and price list from the HMV 1948 brochure.

Steve

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cathovisor

Just looking back through the adverts section, this post caught my eye:

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...64&postcount=5

I'd hope there's a picture of the 2500 in there which maybe @pmmunro would share?

Nickthedentist · 14th Mar 2023, 4:27 pm

Well done on finding the pamphlet, Steve.

I wonder whether they did an FM equivalent a few years down the line?

Anyone have an Electrogram system which it was designed to be connected to? £398.16.6 for a record player just after the war!

steve102 · 14th Mar 2023, 4:37 pm

The model 1250 FM receiver is listed in the same 1948 brochure.

Steve

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickthedentist

Well done on finding the pamphlet, Steve.

I wonder whether they did an FM equivalent a few years down the line?

Anyone have an Electrogram system which it was designed to be connected to? £398.16.6 for a record player just after the war!

Nickthedentist · 14th Mar 2023, 4:57 pm

Wow, that is early for FM! I wouldn't mind one of those.

stitch1 · 14th Mar 2023, 8:10 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickthedentist

Well done on finding the pamphlet, Steve.

I wonder whether they did an FM equivalent a few years down the line?

Anyone have an Electrogram system which it was designed to be connected to? £398.16.6 for a record player just after the war!

Not sure if it’s an equivalent but I have this HMV 1252 (1956 I think) connected to my HMV 1124.

John

Cathovisor · 14th Mar 2023, 8:49 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickthedentist

Wow, that is early for FM! I wouldn't mind one of those.

The BBC took a number of 1250s and modified them for two station reception with crystal control of frequency - it has an RC- code. This was done during the period when the BBC was experimenting with FM. I'm not sure, but I think Dulwich has one.

Other early FM contenders include the English Electric TV with the metal front that also had a receiver tuned to Wrotham, IIRC.

I do know of at least one collector with an Electro-gram 3000 - I think my friend passed his 2500 on to said collector.

rjmusto · 14th Mar 2023, 9:35 pm

Wow, great to see the original add, thanks Steve.

It might be a while before I get round to working on this set, but I will upload photos to RM when I get going.

Have had a quick search for schematics, but maybe not using the right search terms, as drew a blank - anybody done better than me at finding them?

Thanks
Ralph

3rd Mar 2023, 10:27 pm	#1
rjmusto Pentode Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Mountain Castle, Modeligo, County Waterford, Republic of Ireland. Posts: 193	HMV Set mystery Have seen this set on a local auction site. No info provided and only this one photo. Looks like it is pretty good condition. Anybody know what model it is? Thanks a lot, Ralph HMV Set Mystery - jeez, must be late, can't spell..... Attached Thumbnails Last edited by rjmusto; 3rd Mar 2023 at 10:44 pm.

3rd Mar 2023, 11:00 pm	#2
Cathovisor Banned Join Date: Dec 2022 Location: Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 418	Re: HMV Set mistery Hi Ralph, without looking at my EMI valve books I think it's a 2500, but it was an add-on receiver to work with the model 2000 and 3000 "Electrogram". I can ask a friend as I know he has one - I got it for him from eBay years ago!

4th Mar 2023, 9:36 am	#3
rjmusto Pentode Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Mountain Castle, Modeligo, County Waterford, Republic of Ireland. Posts: 193	Re: HMV Set mystery Thanks, much appreciated. It seems to have no speaker grills, so I guessed it was meant to be used with something else - or maybe some kind of commercial kit ..... The good condition of the case is appealing, but it would be nice to know what lives inside before spending money on it. Ralph

4th Mar 2023, 9:49 am	#4
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,339	Re: HMV Set mystery Inside is a half-decent AM Pre-set Tuner. __________________ Edward.

4th Mar 2023, 10:26 am	#5
PYE 405 Pentode Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 176	Re: HMV Set mystery Obviously fair to assume it is an AM tuner with switched preset selection, but whether or not it contains a power amplifier or is self powered, I don't know. Regardless of that, it must be worth saving as no doubt it is uncommon. __________________ Andrew Last edited by PYE 405; 4th Mar 2023 at 10:35 am.

4th Mar 2023, 11:11 am	#6
barrymagrec Octode Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Morden, Surrey, UK. Posts: 1,561	Re: HMV Set mystery I think I used to have the push button unit off one of those - I used as a track select switch for an 8 track 1/2 inch tape head. Some of those white knobs as well. If so it dates from 1948 - 1953 because that was when my Dad worked at EMI Hayes.

4th Mar 2023, 11:18 am	#7
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,878	Re: HMV Set mystery There were at least a few sets using that push button assembly just post war including a Gram. The knobs are odd though. https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/hismasters_1119.html Once Identified by Catho it would be nice to get it into the Radiomuseum. Cheers Mike T __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk

4th Mar 2023, 8:12 pm	#8
rjmusto Pentode Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Mountain Castle, Modeligo, County Waterford, Republic of Ireland. Posts: 193	Re: HMV Set mystery Thanks for the replies. I did win today at the auction, should be able to collect it next week, so I can pass on more once I've had a look inside. Hope it's not just an empty box.... Ralph

5th Mar 2023, 11:27 pm	#9
Cathovisor Banned Join Date: Dec 2022 Location: Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 418	Re: HMV Set mystery Confirmed this evening as a model 2500. Apparently it has a low-impedance output to feed into an Electrogram.

6th Mar 2023, 7:23 pm	#10
Cathovisor Banned Join Date: Dec 2022 Location: Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 418	Re: HMV Set mystery Just looking back through the adverts section, this post caught my eye: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...64&postcount=5 I'd hope there's a picture of the 2500 in there which maybe @pmmunro would share?

14th Mar 2023, 12:18 pm	#11
rjmusto Pentode Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Mountain Castle, Modeligo, County Waterford, Republic of Ireland. Posts: 193	Re: HMV Set mystery I have finally managed to get along to the auction house and pick up this set. Some photos attached. It is, I'm happy to say, in very good condition; looks untouched in fact. Original screws and washers still there on the rear panel and even has the original cable and plugs for the audio connection. Should have some fun with the restoration..... Ralph Attached Thumbnails

14th Mar 2023, 12:24 pm	#12
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,878	Re: HMV Set mystery Be nice if we could get pictures of that rare set into Radiomuseum. If you didn't want to do it yourself I am sure a member of RM would do it for you Cheers Mike T __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk

14th Mar 2023, 4:27 pm	#14
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,865	Re: HMV Set mystery Well done on finding the pamphlet, Steve. I wonder whether they did an FM equivalent a few years down the line? Anyone have an Electrogram system which it was designed to be connected to? £398.16.6 for a record player just after the war!

14th Mar 2023, 4:57 pm	#16
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,865	Re: HMV Set mystery Wow, that is early for FM! I wouldn't mind one of those.

14th Mar 2023, 9:35 pm	#19
rjmusto Pentode Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Mountain Castle, Modeligo, County Waterford, Republic of Ireland. Posts: 193	Re: HMV Set mystery Wow, great to see the original add, thanks Steve. It might be a while before I get round to working on this set, but I will upload photos to RM when I get going. Have had a quick search for schematics, but maybe not using the right search terms, as drew a blank - anybody done better than me at finding them? Thanks Ralph