ULTRA radiogram: which model? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

HansNL1 · 11th Jan 2021, 5:14 pm

Hello,
I obtained an ULTRA radiogram and would like to renovate it. That's why I'm looking for some more documentation, schemes etc. of this model. I have browsed quite a few webpages but I can't find any specific information about it. It concerns this model:

https://www.1stdibs.co.uk/furniture/...t/id-f_817929/

(please scroll down to see the picture)

The record player is from the model Garrard RC60, the radio is from Ultra but I can't find this particular model of radiogram anywhere else. Who can help me?

Thanks!

Best regards
Hans

vinrads · 11th Jan 2021, 5:43 pm

Now that is very nice, a picture of the chassis would help someone may recognise it, Mick.

HansNL1 · 11th Jan 2021, 5:49 pm

Hi Mick,
I'm not specifically looking for the model radio itself but for the model furniture / radiogram cabinet of Ultra. When I find that out, I find out what type of radio is in it.
Ultra has built quite a few models of radiograms but I can't find this model anywhere (only on the page of the example picture).

yestertech · 11th Jan 2021, 6:54 pm

There's something not quite right with the layout of the motor board and the radio panel.
All those screws and screw cups on show ?
The case styling is very un-ULTRA as are the knobs.
I'm wondering if someone has re-purposed that gorgeous cabinet and fitted the turntable and radio chassis.
With an ULTRA chassis, its usual to have the model number stamped on a circular plate around the mains cable entry. This may yield a clue as to the origin of the chassis ?

Andy

Heatercathodeshort · 11th Jan 2021, 7:17 pm

Am I being stupid here but where does it say it is an ULTRA? I don't think it is but utterly magnificent at any rate. This is why I think service data has been impossible to obtain.

It is described as a Garrard but of course this is just the record changer.

It's my guess is that it has quite a simple radio chassis but I may well be very wrong.

I would very much like to see it with the back off. John.

buggies · 11th Jan 2021, 7:54 pm

Scrolling through the pictures, it does apparently say "Ultra" in the centre of the tuning dial.

vinrads · 11th Jan 2021, 8:03 pm

Like you John I failed to scroll through ,but have found it now , I was thinking of Ultra 22 but the station names make it later than that . Mick.

HansNL1 · 11th Jan 2021, 8:17 pm

Here are some pictures of my own version. This one is exactly the same as the one in the link above; also with the screws...
The tubes in the radio are not original anymore but that can be fixed.

HansNL1 · 11th Jan 2021, 8:17 pm

More pictures.

HansNL1 · 11th Jan 2021, 8:22 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by yestertech

With an ULTRA chassis, its usual to have the model number stamped on a circular plate around the mains cable entry. This may yield a clue as to the origin of the chassis ?

Andy

Hi Andy,
Can't find any circular plate around the mains cable entry. No plate at all in the back....

iantommo · 11th Jan 2021, 9:14 pm

It looks like a "homebrew" to me ,because the radio dial has the BBC regional stations on MW and the National station on LW and these were abandond at the beginning of WWII and the RC 60 wasn't introduced until 1946

Nickthedentist · 11th Jan 2021, 9:28 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by HansNL1

Here are some pictures of my own version. This one is exactly the same as the one in the link above; also with the screws...
The tubes in the radio are not original anymore but that can be fixed.

So the one pictured in the link in post one is NOT the actual machine you own?

But the one that you own is identical to the one pictured?

N.

Nickthedentist · 11th Jan 2021, 9:36 pm

The dial looks very like this one, an Ultra apparently from 1942: https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/ultra_et4061et_406.html

HansNL1 · 11th Jan 2021, 9:41 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickthedentist

So the one pictured in the link in post one is NOT the actual machine you own?

And the one that you own is identical to the one pictured in the link?

N.

Exactly!

Techman · 11th Jan 2021, 9:42 pm

I've got an Ultra radiogram in at the moment and it has the same deck fitted, well it's the 65 version rather than the 60. The radio chassis is based on one of their table radios with series valve heaters with dropper and a live chassis, but has push pull output. Ultra have fitted a dirty great isolating transformer in the bottom of the cabinet to run the whole thing. If you didn't know different you'd think it was 'homebrew', but it seems that this is the way Ultra did things back then.

The gram came with a service manual that basically covers the table radio but with the radiogram differences shown. So the OP needs to find what radio it's based on and go from there.

Nickthedentist · 11th Jan 2021, 9:49 pm

So maybe this is a radiogram version of the set I linked to in post 12. Note the absence of any roundel on the mains cable inlet on that one too, just a plain rubber grommet.

Maybe Ultra had an overseas subsiduary on the continent? I note that Hans is in the Netherlands, and the link to the auction says that their radiogram is in Belgium. Furthermore, the late owner of the table radio referred to in post 12 was also in Belgium.

HansNL1 · 11th Jan 2021, 9:53 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickthedentist

So maybe this is a radiogram version of the set I linked to in post 12.

Maybe they had an overseas subsiduary which cased-up chassis in continentally-made cabinets? I note that Hans is in the Netherlands, and the link to the auction says that their radiogram is in Belgium. Furthermore, the late owner of the table radio referred to in post 12 was also in Belgium.

Might be, but then still it should be possible to find this specific model of cabinet somewhere....isn't it?

Techman · 11th Jan 2021, 10:00 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by HansNL1

it should be possible to find this specific model of cabinet somewhere....isn't it?

I've just looked in my filing cabinet for a quick look at the manual copy that the chap passed to me with this radiogram and I notice that the basic manual is for the table radio and the radiogram part is a supplement addition to that manual, so that's what you're likely to be looking for in the case of your gram.

Station X · 11th Jan 2021, 10:54 pm

I've converted the linked images in posts #8 and #9 to thumbnails and tidied up the thread a bit.

Linked images to other websites are never a good idea. If the link breaks for some reason the thread is rendered useless for future readers.

Techman · 11th Jan 2021, 11:24 pm

Much better now we can see the pictures - thanks for that.

It looks to be the same as the table radio linked to by Nick.

It's not the same as the one I've got here in any way, although there's constructional similarities probably typical to Ultra.

There's no service information that I can find anywhere, but this may be because it was specially made for the overseas market and may not have been available in the UK, but that's just a guess and possibly why there's anomalies regarding the dial markings, again just guessing.

Without service information you'll have to download the valve data for the various stages you need to work on and work from that - it doesn't look a particularly complicated set.

11th Jan 2021, 5:14 pm	#1
HansNL1 Triode Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Sint Joost (Limburg) Netherlands Posts: 13	ULTRA radiogram: which model? Hello, I obtained an ULTRA radiogram and would like to renovate it. That's why I'm looking for some more documentation, schemes etc. of this model. I have browsed quite a few webpages but I can't find any specific information about it. It concerns this model: https://www.1stdibs.co.uk/furniture/...t/id-f_817929/ (please scroll down to see the picture) The record player is from the model Garrard RC60, the radio is from Ultra but I can't find this particular model of radiogram anywhere else. Who can help me? Thanks! Best regards Hans

11th Jan 2021, 5:43 pm	#2
vinrads Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 3,761	Re: ULTRA radiogram: which model? Now that is very nice, a picture of the chassis would help someone may recognise it, Mick.

11th Jan 2021, 5:49 pm	#3
HansNL1 Triode Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Sint Joost (Limburg) Netherlands Posts: 13	Re: ULTRA radiogram: which model? Hi Mick, I'm not specifically looking for the model radio itself but for the model furniture / radiogram cabinet of Ultra. When I find that out, I find out what type of radio is in it. Ultra has built quite a few models of radiograms but I can't find this model anywhere (only on the page of the example picture).

11th Jan 2021, 6:54 pm	#4
yestertech Nonode Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Coulsdon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 2,130	Re: ULTRA radiogram: which model? There's something not quite right with the layout of the motor board and the radio panel. All those screws and screw cups on show ? The case styling is very un-ULTRA as are the knobs. I'm wondering if someone has re-purposed that gorgeous cabinet and fitted the turntable and radio chassis. With an ULTRA chassis, its usual to have the model number stamped on a circular plate around the mains cable entry. This may yield a clue as to the origin of the chassis ? Andy

11th Jan 2021, 7:17 pm	#5
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: ULTRA radiogram: which model? Am I being stupid here but where does it say it is an ULTRA? I don't think it is but utterly magnificent at any rate. This is why I think service data has been impossible to obtain. It is described as a Garrard but of course this is just the record changer. It's my guess is that it has quite a simple radio chassis but I may well be very wrong. I would very much like to see it with the back off. John.

11th Jan 2021, 7:54 pm	#6
buggies Heptode Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: West Lothian, UK. Posts: 761	Re: ULTRA radiogram: which model? Scrolling through the pictures, it does apparently say "Ultra" in the centre of the tuning dial. __________________ George

11th Jan 2021, 8:03 pm	#7
vinrads Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 3,761	Re: ULTRA radiogram: which model? Like you John I failed to scroll through ,but have found it now , I was thinking of Ultra 22 but the station names make it later than that . Mick.

11th Jan 2021, 8:17 pm	#8
HansNL1 Triode Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Sint Joost (Limburg) Netherlands Posts: 13	Re: ULTRA radiogram: which model? Here are some pictures of my own version. This one is exactly the same as the one in the link above; also with the screws... The tubes in the radio are not original anymore but that can be fixed. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Station X; 11th Jan 2021 at 10:46 pm. Reason: Linked images converted to thumbnails.

11th Jan 2021, 8:17 pm	#9
HansNL1 Triode Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Sint Joost (Limburg) Netherlands Posts: 13	Re: ULTRA radiogram: which model? More pictures. Attached Thumbnails

11th Jan 2021, 9:14 pm	#11
iantommo Triode Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Rotherham, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 12	Re: ULTRA radiogram: which model? It looks like a "homebrew" to me ,because the radio dial has the BBC regional stations on MW and the National station on LW and these were abandond at the beginning of WWII and the RC 60 wasn't introduced until 1946

11th Jan 2021, 9:36 pm	#13
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,845	Re: ULTRA radiogram: which model? The dial looks very like this one, an Ultra apparently from 1942: https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/ultra_et4061et_406.html

11th Jan 2021, 9:42 pm	#15
Techman Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 5,000	Re: ULTRA radiogram: which model? I've got an Ultra radiogram in at the moment and it has the same deck fitted, well it's the 65 version rather than the 60. The radio chassis is based on one of their table radios with series valve heaters with dropper and a live chassis, but has push pull output. Ultra have fitted a dirty great isolating transformer in the bottom of the cabinet to run the whole thing. If you didn't know different you'd think it was 'homebrew', but it seems that this is the way Ultra did things back then. The gram came with a service manual that basically covers the table radio but with the radiogram differences shown. So the OP needs to find what radio it's based on and go from there.

11th Jan 2021, 9:49 pm	#16
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,845	Re: ULTRA radiogram: which model? So maybe this is a radiogram version of the set I linked to in post 12. Note the absence of any roundel on the mains cable inlet on that one too, just a plain rubber grommet. Maybe Ultra had an overseas subsiduary on the continent? I note that Hans is in the Netherlands, and the link to the auction says that their radiogram is in Belgium. Furthermore, the late owner of the table radio referred to in post 12 was also in Belgium. Last edited by Nickthedentist; 11th Jan 2021 at 9:55 pm.

11th Jan 2021, 10:54 pm	#19
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: ULTRA radiogram: which model? I've converted the linked images in posts #8 and #9 to thumbnails and tidied up the thread a bit. Linked images to other websites are never a good idea. If the link breaks for some reason the thread is rendered useless for future readers. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

11th Jan 2021, 11:24 pm	#20
Techman Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 5,000	Re: ULTRA radiogram: which model? Much better now we can see the pictures - thanks for that. It looks to be the same as the table radio linked to by Nick. It's not the same as the one I've got here in any way, although there's constructional similarities probably typical to Ultra. There's no service information that I can find anywhere, but this may be because it was specially made for the overseas market and may not have been available in the UK, but that's just a guess and possibly why there's anomalies regarding the dial markings, again just guessing. Without service information you'll have to download the valve data for the various stages you need to work on and work from that - it doesn't look a particularly complicated set.