Can anyone ID this radio? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Clydeuk · 28th May 2018, 8:08 pm

Hi.

This is a radio my brother has acquired. It's in a poor state - no back cover, wiring in poor condition, 2 missing valves, dial glass has slipped down inside, the dial is quite faded (sorry my photo of the dial may make it hard to read the station names)

Valves look like a mixture of 5 and 7 pin. I did remove the larger one but could see no markings.

No other markings I can see to identify the manufacturer, only the serial number C16839.

Any of you clever people know what this might be just from a glance?. I'm guessing mid 30's?

Sorry no more to go on, these were quick pictures I took when I was visiting today.

McMurdo · 28th May 2018, 8:54 pm

it has a look of the Defiant about it.

Clydeuk · 28th May 2018, 8:57 pm

Will have a look on Radiomuseum for Defiant, I browsed Philips and Mullard simply because the licence plate inside mentioned those, though I suspect this more related to the valves. The plate also mentions "Irish Free State" which if I'm right makes it no later than 1937?

McMurdo · 28th May 2018, 8:59 pm

..Defiant MSH921

Clydeuk · 28th May 2018, 9:06 pm

Excellent! Thank you.

When time allows I might have a go at bringing it back to life.

Silicon · 28th May 2018, 10:04 pm

There are photos on the internet of a Defiant MSH921 complete with a back cover marked 'MSH921'.

It has a large mains transformer which your radio does not have.

Your radio may be a version designed for DC mains voltage.

This would have implications for the type of valves fitted. They will probably have higher heater voltage ratings.

G8UWM-MildMartin · 29th May 2018, 12:11 am

The paxolin insulating sheet fitted to the rear of the chassis is also consistent with it being a DC or AC/DC set.
Probably AC/DC, and missing a barretter and rectifier. It looks like a short superhet; frequency changer, IF pentode or tetrode and an output pentode with diodes, all the important ones, present. A capacitive dropper and silicon rectifier(+ suitable series HT resistor) would be useable to get it up and running well enough to decide whether to acquire the missing ones.

FERNSEH · 29th May 2018, 12:25 am

Definitely a Defiant. Most likely to be a short superhet AC/DC mains receiver with a 0.2amp heater chain. The vacant valve sockets will accommodate a Mazda U4020 HT rectifier and a C1C barretter which is employed to maintain the correct heater chain current.
From the Radiomuseum, the C1C: https://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_c1c.html

DFWB.

Clydeuk · 29th May 2018, 12:53 am

Thanks for the information. I did notice the differences with the picture online i.e no mains transformer, extra valve socket. I can't see any data up top so does anyone know if this chassis is used in anything else?.

This might explain why it has a permanent magnet loudspeaker. Initially I wondered if this had been a replacement.

I can't see a dial pointer, it might be inside. The dial glass isn't broken but has slipped down inside.

Will probably be a while before I get to take a closer look at it so may need to start a thread at that stage.

28th May 2018, 8:08 pm	#1
Clydeuk Hexode Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Liverpool, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 453	Can anyone ID this radio? Hi. This is a radio my brother has acquired. It's in a poor state - no back cover, wiring in poor condition, 2 missing valves, dial glass has slipped down inside, the dial is quite faded (sorry my photo of the dial may make it hard to read the station names) Valves look like a mixture of 5 and 7 pin. I did remove the larger one but could see no markings. No other markings I can see to identify the manufacturer, only the serial number C16839. Any of you clever people know what this might be just from a glance?. I'm guessing mid 30's? Sorry no more to go on, these were quick pictures I took when I was visiting today. Attached Thumbnails

28th May 2018, 8:54 pm	#2
McMurdo Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 5,273	Re: Can anyone ID this radio? it has a look of the Defiant about it. __________________ Kevin

28th May 2018, 8:57 pm	#3
Clydeuk Hexode Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Liverpool, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 453	Re: Can anyone ID this radio? Will have a look on Radiomuseum for Defiant, I browsed Philips and Mullard simply because the licence plate inside mentioned those, though I suspect this more related to the valves. The plate also mentions "Irish Free State" which if I'm right makes it no later than 1937?

28th May 2018, 8:59 pm	#4
McMurdo Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 5,273	Re: Can anyone ID this radio? ..Defiant MSH921 __________________ Kevin

28th May 2018, 9:06 pm	#5
Clydeuk Hexode Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Liverpool, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 453	Re: Can anyone ID this radio? Excellent! Thank you. When time allows I might have a go at bringing it back to life.

28th May 2018, 10:04 pm	#6
Silicon Nonode Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Coulsdon, London, UK. Posts: 2,168	Re: Can anyone ID this radio? There are photos on the internet of a Defiant MSH921 complete with a back cover marked 'MSH921'. It has a large mains transformer which your radio does not have. Your radio may be a version designed for DC mains voltage. This would have implications for the type of valves fitted. They will probably have higher heater voltage ratings. Last edited by Silicon; 28th May 2018 at 10:08 pm. Reason: Addition information.

29th May 2018, 12:11 am	#7
G8UWM-MildMartin Heptode Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 827	Re: Can anyone ID this radio? The paxolin insulating sheet fitted to the rear of the chassis is also consistent with it being a DC or AC/DC set. Probably AC/DC, and missing a barretter and rectifier. It looks like a short superhet; frequency changer, IF pentode or tetrode and an output pentode with diodes, all the important ones, present. A capacitive dropper and silicon rectifier(+ suitable series HT resistor) would be useable to get it up and running well enough to decide whether to acquire the missing ones. Last edited by G8UWM-MildMartin; 29th May 2018 at 12:22 am.

29th May 2018, 12:25 am	#8
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: Can anyone ID this radio? Definitely a Defiant. Most likely to be a short superhet AC/DC mains receiver with a 0.2amp heater chain. The vacant valve sockets will accommodate a Mazda U4020 HT rectifier and a C1C barretter which is employed to maintain the correct heater chain current. From the Radiomuseum, the C1C: https://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_c1c.html DFWB.

29th May 2018, 12:53 am	#9
Clydeuk Hexode Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Liverpool, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 453	Re: Can anyone ID this radio? Thanks for the information. I did notice the differences with the picture online i.e no mains transformer, extra valve socket. I can't see any data up top so does anyone know if this chassis is used in anything else?. This might explain why it has a permanent magnet loudspeaker. Initially I wondered if this had been a replacement. I can't see a dial pointer, it might be inside. The dial glass isn't broken but has slipped down inside. Will probably be a while before I get to take a closer look at it so may need to start a thread at that stage.