Help identify an old radio? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

RadioTom · 12th Jan 2021, 11:59 am

Hi,

First time posting but I've been reading for a while.

I recently picked up this old radio as my second restoration project and looking for any information/details about it?

Any help appreciated,

Thanks,

Tom

saddlestone-man · 12th Jan 2021, 12:13 pm

This looks like a Barton's radio, probably built from a kit.
See: https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/barton..._receiver.html

If you can post a photo of the insides, that will help with a positive ID.

best regards ... Stef

snowman_al · 12th Jan 2021, 12:13 pm

Welcome,
Looks like a 'kit' built wireless based on the wooden Pilot Little Maestro chassis. You need to show the inside and list the valve line up. There were 100s of different versions from various suppliers...
Alan

Steph, that's a good catch!

RadioTom · 13th Jan 2021, 12:45 pm

That's really helpful - thank you to you both. It was a purchase which hasn't been delivered yet but once it has I will post the inside and list the valves.

Thanks,

Tom

RadioTom · 15th Jan 2021, 11:58 am

Morning All,

The radio arrived yesterday and I had a quick look inside last night.

I've attached some pictures - from the outside it looks almost exactly like a Barton's kit, as you suggested Stef, but the inside seems very different (at least to the example from the link you shared).

It appears to have three valves but no IF transformers - does that make it a TRF setup?

The valves are:
C-6J7
6V6 GT
CKR-6K7

It doesn't look like it's been 'got at' but I'm not sure about those 2 blue and purple wires - they don't look original.

I've tried googling for similar radios (e.g. Pilot Little Maestro, Barton's Kit radios) but nothing seems to match.

You mention there were 100's of these kits so any ideas, tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated - where would you start with this restoration?

There is lots to do before even considering connecting this to mains and its a very different beast to the Bush VHF 61 that I'm just finishing re-capping, but I'm Looking forward to exploring and restoring this radio.

Kind regards,

Tom

mark pirate · 15th Jan 2021, 1:31 pm

It certainly looks like a TRF kit set, very odd to have what looks to be a heat sink on the output valve?

Should be a very simple circuit though.

Mark

Radio Tech · 15th Jan 2021, 3:41 pm

Welcome to the forum Tom, this will be a nice project for you and give you a lot of experience, I would suggest replacement of coupling capacitors and that electrolytic at the end which is the main smoothing cap, you can obtain all the capacitors you need from Jellyfish Audio. I have two of the valves the set takes if you get stuck.

Ken

snowman_al · 15th Jan 2021, 4:25 pm

Premier Radio 3 valve TRF kit perhaps? https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/premie...adio_kita.html

It will be simple to draw out the circuit. Remember this will be a 'Live Chassis' radio, please take the proper care.

snowman_al · 15th Jan 2021, 6:56 pm

A quick trawl through just one copy of Practical Wireless (March 1957) gives at least 3 different named kits from various suppliers.
Premier Radio: ''2-Band TRF''.
Norman H Field: ''Universal'' and ''Meteor III''.
Concord Electronics: ''Ocean Hopper''.
I expect they were all very much the same if they use the 6K7, 6J7, 6V6 (or similar) line up.

There are a few references to the Premier kit on this forum. There does not appear to be a definitive version or circuit. They just used what was available at the time and 'adjusted' the kit to suit.

G6Tanuki · 15th Jan 2021, 7:09 pm

Definitely one of the ubiquitous 1950s TRF kits; the valves are clearly WWII military-surplus. Even though there's a mains-transformer to supply 6.3V to the filaments [the red transformer next to the valve-with-the-hat], it is still 'live chassis' as far as the HT supply is concerned.

There will be a 'metal' rectifier somewhere.

The folded-metal 'hat' on the output valve is something I've not seen before!

Despite the simple circuit, these kind of radios can work rather well: as a kid I had one [EF39/6SK7/6V6] which reliably received Luxembourg and a bunch of American Forces Network stations broadcasting from Germany, using only a few feet of wire as a 'throw-out' antenna.

saddlestone-man · 11th Feb 2021, 1:07 pm

I think the metal 'hat' on the output valve helps spread around the heat it generates so as not to overheat a particular place in the cabinet. There's reasonable headroom on this radio so it probably isn't necessary, but I've seen others where the output valve (and/or the rectifier) have scorched and distorted the cabinet.

best regards ... Stef

Tim · 11th Feb 2021, 6:24 pm

Ooh, that’s cute!

12th Jan 2021, 11:59 am	#1
RadioTom Diode Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 3	Help identify an old radio? Hi, First time posting but I've been reading for a while. I recently picked up this old radio as my second restoration project and looking for any information/details about it? Any help appreciated, Thanks, Tom Attached Thumbnails

12th Jan 2021, 12:13 pm	#2
saddlestone-man Hexode Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cirencester, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 391	Re: Help identify an old radio? This looks like a Barton's radio, probably built from a kit. See: https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/barton..._receiver.html If you can post a photo of the insides, that will help with a positive ID. best regards ... Stef

12th Jan 2021, 12:13 pm	#3
snowman_al Octode Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Llandeilo, West Wales, UK. Posts: 1,092	Re: Help identify an old radio? Welcome, Looks like a 'kit' built wireless based on the wooden Pilot Little Maestro chassis. You need to show the inside and list the valve line up. There were 100s of different versions from various suppliers... Alan Steph, that's a good catch! __________________ Never Leave Well Enough Alone... Last edited by snowman_al; 12th Jan 2021 at 12:14 pm. Reason: good catch

13th Jan 2021, 12:45 pm	#4
RadioTom Diode Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 3	Re: Help identify an old radio? That's really helpful - thank you to you both. It was a purchase which hasn't been delivered yet but once it has I will post the inside and list the valves. Thanks, Tom

15th Jan 2021, 11:58 am	#5
RadioTom Diode Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 3	Re: Help identify an old radio? Morning All, The radio arrived yesterday and I had a quick look inside last night. I've attached some pictures - from the outside it looks almost exactly like a Barton's kit, as you suggested Stef, but the inside seems very different (at least to the example from the link you shared). It appears to have three valves but no IF transformers - does that make it a TRF setup? The valves are: C-6J7 6V6 GT CKR-6K7 It doesn't look like it's been 'got at' but I'm not sure about those 2 blue and purple wires - they don't look original. I've tried googling for similar radios (e.g. Pilot Little Maestro, Barton's Kit radios) but nothing seems to match. You mention there were 100's of these kits so any ideas, tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated - where would you start with this restoration? There is lots to do before even considering connecting this to mains and its a very different beast to the Bush VHF 61 that I'm just finishing re-capping, but I'm Looking forward to exploring and restoring this radio. Kind regards, Tom Attached Thumbnails

15th Jan 2021, 1:31 pm	#6
mark pirate Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK Posts: 5,185	Re: Help identify an old radio? It certainly looks like a TRF kit set, very odd to have what looks to be a heat sink on the output valve? Should be a very simple circuit though. Mark

15th Jan 2021, 3:41 pm	#7
Radio Tech Nonode Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Bocking, near Braintree, Essex, UK. Posts: 2,071	Re: Help identify an old radio? Welcome to the forum Tom, this will be a nice project for you and give you a lot of experience, I would suggest replacement of coupling capacitors and that electrolytic at the end which is the main smoothing cap, you can obtain all the capacitors you need from Jellyfish Audio. I have two of the valves the set takes if you get stuck. Ken

15th Jan 2021, 4:25 pm	#8
snowman_al Octode Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Llandeilo, West Wales, UK. Posts: 1,092	Re: Help identify an old radio? Premier Radio 3 valve TRF kit perhaps? https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/premie...adio_kita.html It will be simple to draw out the circuit. Remember this will be a 'Live Chassis' radio, please take the proper care. __________________ Never Leave Well Enough Alone...

15th Jan 2021, 6:56 pm	#9
snowman_al Octode Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Llandeilo, West Wales, UK. Posts: 1,092	Re: Help identify an old radio? A quick trawl through just one copy of Practical Wireless (March 1957) gives at least 3 different named kits from various suppliers. Premier Radio: ''2-Band TRF''. Norman H Field: ''Universal'' and ''Meteor III''. Concord Electronics: ''Ocean Hopper''. I expect they were all very much the same if they use the 6K7, 6J7, 6V6 (or similar) line up. There are a few references to the Premier kit on this forum. There does not appear to be a definitive version or circuit. They just used what was available at the time and 'adjusted' the kit to suit. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Never Leave Well Enough Alone...

15th Jan 2021, 7:09 pm	#10
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 13,998	Re: Help identify an old radio? Definitely one of the ubiquitous 1950s TRF kits; the valves are clearly WWII military-surplus. Even though there's a mains-transformer to supply 6.3V to the filaments [the red transformer next to the valve-with-the-hat], it is still 'live chassis' as far as the HT supply is concerned. There will be a 'metal' rectifier somewhere. The folded-metal 'hat' on the output valve is something I've not seen before! Despite the simple circuit, these kind of radios can work rather well: as a kid I had one [EF39/6SK7/6V6] which reliably received Luxembourg and a bunch of American Forces Network stations broadcasting from Germany, using only a few feet of wire as a 'throw-out' antenna.

11th Feb 2021, 1:07 pm	#11
saddlestone-man Hexode Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cirencester, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 391	Re: Help identify an old radio? I think the metal 'hat' on the output valve helps spread around the heat it generates so as not to overheat a particular place in the cabinet. There's reasonable headroom on this radio so it probably isn't necessary, but I've seen others where the output valve (and/or the rectifier) have scorched and distorted the cabinet. best regards ... Stef

11th Feb 2021, 6:24 pm	#12
Tim Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 3,310	Re: Help identify an old radio? Ooh, that’s cute! __________________ "Nothing is as dangerous as being too modern;one is apt to grow old fashioned quite suddenly."