Sobell Bakelite radio enquiry. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Phil177 · 22nd Jul 2017, 1:14 pm

Hi everyone I'm new to this so some advice please. I've just bought a very nice Sobell bakelite radio but I have no idea of age, model number or if it's rare. I can't see anything online about it. I'm trying to upload a picture but I have no idea how to lower the resolution to send. Any advice would be much appreciated. . Thanks Phil.

Station X · 22nd Jul 2017, 1:16 pm

Hello and welcome to the forums. A model name or number for your radio will help.

So long as you don't mind waiting while they upload, you can upload oversized images. The forum software will resize them for you.

Phil177 · 22nd Jul 2017, 1:31 pm

Thanks for that can't seem to find a model number anywhere. I'll try to upload a picture.

Paul_RK · 22nd Jul 2017, 2:58 pm

It looks very like this one, said to be a 599U.

http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/11083/lot/41/

Paul

Paul_RK · 22nd Jul 2017, 4:23 pm

It does seem to be quite an unusual beast - no obvious sources of data, but there are also photos around of a Sobell 599 which appears to be the same thing in a wooden cabinet.

Its appearance says 1948 to me, give or take a year or two. Perhaps the chassis is shared with other models. Does it resemble the 516 internally?

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/sobell_516.html

Phil177 · 22nd Jul 2017, 7:01 pm

Thanks Paul it does look very similar internally. Do they keep their value, because I was thinking about replacing the internals with a modern Bluetooth system, or is this sacrilege? Thanks again Phil

bobskie · 22nd Jul 2017, 11:03 pm

At the end of the day it is your choice but I would say definitely don't do that. Get the radio working first, there are lots of guides for starting out on here and other websites and if you get stuck the people here are more than happy to help you out. You will enjoy it I'm sure. Then if you still want a Bluetooth speaker you need to find a way to input into the radio, again asking here would probably yield results. Finally buy a Bluetooth receiver and plug it in. The radio will be original and the process will be reversible in the future. It will probably sound a lot better too! The sense of achievement after fixing a radio is well worth the time

Phil177 · 25th Jul 2017, 12:38 am

Thanks for your advice. I think I'll have a go at getting it working. Where do I start I presume the valves will need to be replaced. From there I haven't a Scooby

? Any advice will be very much appreciated. Phil.

Station X · 25th Jul 2017, 8:23 am

This is a good place to start:-

https://www.vintage-radio.com/repair...ion/index.html

Boater Sam · 25th Jul 2017, 9:55 am

Unlikely that you will need to replace all the valves, usually they will be fine.
The output valve is the hardest worked one.
A few capacitors is probably all it needs and a bit of TLC.

bobskie · 25th Jul 2017, 12:55 pm

Valves are usually ok like Sam says, it's capacitors which are the problem. The link provided by Station X is where I started a few months ago, that and this forum have helped me greatly. It may seem daunting at first but it's really not too bad. Cut out the old capacitor and put in a new one of the same value, just read up on the ones you should replace. Good luck

See_Mos · 28th Jul 2017, 12:29 pm

I had an AC only 516 chassis in the bakelite case. The valve type numbers are a big clue.

If it is AC-DC you will have to be very careful not to touch anything unless the mains plug is out!

See_Mos · 28th Jul 2017, 3:22 pm

Two other variations of the 516 AC only model. The transformer can be seen in the back right hand corner. If yours doesn't have this then it is a different AC-DC model such as the 599U mentioned above.

The one with the semicircle dial was still in it's box when I got it about 37 years ago and has only been powered up a couple of times since. Unfortunately it had been somewhere damp and the box just disintegrated.

I think all had a Pick Up input and you can feed your MP3 player or DAB radio into that, once you have the radio working of course.

Phil177 · 30th Jul 2017, 9:21 am

Thanks all I'll have a look sometime today. If you see a big mushroom cloud over the West Midlands area then you'll know... It didn't work. Phil.

bobskie · 30th Jul 2017, 9:40 pm

Did you get a chance to take a look? I didn't hear about any mushroom clouds.

22nd Jul 2017, 1:14 pm	#1
Phil177 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Coventry, Warwickshire, UK. Posts: 23	Sobell Bakelite radio enquiry. Hi everyone I'm new to this so some advice please. I've just bought a very nice Sobell bakelite radio but I have no idea of age, model number or if it's rare. I can't see anything online about it. I'm trying to upload a picture but I have no idea how to lower the resolution to send. Any advice would be much appreciated. . Thanks Phil.

22nd Jul 2017, 1:16 pm	#2
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: Bakelite radio enquiry Hello and welcome to the forums. A model name or number for your radio will help. So long as you don't mind waiting while they upload, you can upload oversized images. The forum software will resize them for you. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

22nd Jul 2017, 1:31 pm	#3
Phil177 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Coventry, Warwickshire, UK. Posts: 23	Re: Sobell Bakelite radio enquiry. Thanks for that can't seem to find a model number anywhere. I'll try to upload a picture. Attached Thumbnails

22nd Jul 2017, 2:58 pm	#4
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,255	Re: Sobell Bakelite radio enquiry. It looks very like this one, said to be a 599U. http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/11083/lot/41/ Paul

22nd Jul 2017, 4:23 pm	#5
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,255	Re: Sobell Bakelite radio enquiry. It does seem to be quite an unusual beast - no obvious sources of data, but there are also photos around of a Sobell 599 which appears to be the same thing in a wooden cabinet. Its appearance says 1948 to me, give or take a year or two. Perhaps the chassis is shared with other models. Does it resemble the 516 internally? http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/sobell_516.html

22nd Jul 2017, 7:01 pm	#6
Phil177 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Coventry, Warwickshire, UK. Posts: 23	Re: Sobell Bakelite radio enquiry. Thanks Paul it does look very similar internally. Do they keep their value, because I was thinking about replacing the internals with a modern Bluetooth system, or is this sacrilege? Thanks again Phil

22nd Jul 2017, 11:03 pm	#7
bobskie Hexode Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Falkirk, Stirling, UK. Posts: 336	Re: Sobell Bakelite radio enquiry. At the end of the day it is your choice but I would say definitely don't do that. Get the radio working first, there are lots of guides for starting out on here and other websites and if you get stuck the people here are more than happy to help you out. You will enjoy it I'm sure. Then if you still want a Bluetooth speaker you need to find a way to input into the radio, again asking here would probably yield results. Finally buy a Bluetooth receiver and plug it in. The radio will be original and the process will be reversible in the future. It will probably sound a lot better too! The sense of achievement after fixing a radio is well worth the time

25th Jul 2017, 12:38 am	#8
Phil177 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Coventry, Warwickshire, UK. Posts: 23	Re: Sobell Bakelite radio enquiry. Thanks for your advice. I think I'll have a go at getting it working. Where do I start I presume the valves will need to be replaced. From there I haven't a Scooby? Any advice will be very much appreciated. Phil.

25th Jul 2017, 8:23 am	#9
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: Sobell Bakelite radio enquiry. This is a good place to start:- https://www.vintage-radio.com/repair...ion/index.html __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

25th Jul 2017, 9:55 am	#10
Boater Sam Banned Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Middlewich, Cheshire, UK. & Winter in the Philippines. Posts: 3,897	Re: Sobell Bakelite radio enquiry. Unlikely that you will need to replace all the valves, usually they will be fine. The output valve is the hardest worked one. A few capacitors is probably all it needs and a bit of TLC.

25th Jul 2017, 12:55 pm	#11
bobskie Hexode Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Falkirk, Stirling, UK. Posts: 336	Re: Sobell Bakelite radio enquiry. Valves are usually ok like Sam says, it's capacitors which are the problem. The link provided by Station X is where I started a few months ago, that and this forum have helped me greatly. It may seem daunting at first but it's really not too bad. Cut out the old capacitor and put in a new one of the same value, just read up on the ones you should replace. Good luck

28th Jul 2017, 12:29 pm	#12
See_Mos Hexode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Ossett, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 482	Re: Sobell Bakelite radio enquiry. I had an AC only 516 chassis in the bakelite case. The valve type numbers are a big clue. If it is AC-DC you will have to be very careful not to touch anything unless the mains plug is out!

28th Jul 2017, 3:22 pm	#13
See_Mos Hexode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Ossett, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 482	Re: Sobell Bakelite radio enquiry. Two other variations of the 516 AC only model. The transformer can be seen in the back right hand corner. If yours doesn't have this then it is a different AC-DC model such as the 599U mentioned above. The one with the semicircle dial was still in it's box when I got it about 37 years ago and has only been powered up a couple of times since. Unfortunately it had been somewhere damp and the box just disintegrated. I think all had a Pick Up input and you can feed your MP3 player or DAB radio into that, once you have the radio working of course. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by See_Mos; 28th Jul 2017 at 3:38 pm.

30th Jul 2017, 9:21 am	#14
Phil177 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Coventry, Warwickshire, UK. Posts: 23	Re: Sobell Bakelite radio enquiry. Thanks all I'll have a look sometime today. If you see a big mushroom cloud over the West Midlands area then you'll know... It didn't work. Phil.

30th Jul 2017, 9:40 pm	#15
bobskie Hexode Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Falkirk, Stirling, UK. Posts: 336	Re: Sobell Bakelite radio enquiry. Did you get a chance to take a look? I didn't hear about any mushroom clouds.