Lissenola Radio.

[spaceelectronic]

Morning everybody.

I've just been given an old 1930's radio and asked, can you repair this please? 'Of course I can't but I bet I know somebody who can.' I said. I'll post some pictures later for anybody to comment on.

To give you my background I used to work at a company called MEM Switchgear in Birmingham before getting into the 'electronics game.' which I'm still involved in today.

So until later many thanks for reading this post.

[Cobaltblue]

Hi Spaceelectronic and welcome to the forum

Looking forward to seeing pics of the set

Cheers

Mike T

[spaceelectronic]

Hi Mike
Many thanks for the welcome message.
Please find a couple of pics!
Thanks
Dave

[60 oldjohn]

Are you sure its a radio? are there any controls on the side?


John.

[dave walsh]

Hi Dave-you're in the right place! Now that's a bit of a curiosity. Might have come from outer "Space". As John implies, there's no sign of an RF stage to receive anything [no dial or coils for example] so it might be a stand alone Triode Amplifier of some sort. Go easy with the valves until you get more advice. Is that an input socket on the front or perhaps an "on " indicator? Not seen anything similar before, especially a valve mounted inside the Chassis like that AF screening? Stereo valves? [only joking!] Interesting though. Not really a repair, more a restoration/reconstruction. Where was it found I wonder?

Dave W

[spaceelectronic]

Thanks John and Dave
I'm not sure its a radio either. The gentleman who asked me to take a look thought it was.
Next time I speak to him I'll ask where he found it and its history if he knows?
In the meantime I'll take a closer look at the front.
Again, many thanks both for your interest.
Dave

[Graham G3ZVT]

Look at that hole in the front, for a key perhaps? Is the top section a music box?

Vintage ice cream van equipment?

[Ed_Dinning]

Hi Dave, definitely a radio, transportable from early /mid 30's.
Hole in the front was normally to adjust the speaker cone.
It should be quite repairable and equivalents of those valves were produced until the 1950's.
It will probably run on 2 or 3 batteries and the circuitry is quite simple.

Ed

[TonyDuell]

Welcome to the group.

I can't help with your radio (it's older than the sort of things I deal with) but I notice you have already had some useful replies. The reason I cam commenting is that I know (of) MEM switchgear, etc (which I always considered to be very well made). In fact I bought an old MEM switch fuse at the local antiques fair some months back. Don't worry though, I have no intention of putting it into a mains installation.

[spaceelectronic]

Thanks Graham and Ed. I will take a closer look at that hole tomorrow. I had also noticed a very old battery inside which I'd forgot to mention.
Yes Tony MEM did make such high quality switchgear which I still see today mainly in factories and industrial applications. MEM also bought out another company whilst I was there called Bill Switchgear. Do you remember that one?
Dave

[dave walsh]

Well that's surprise . Looks like you get the Coconut Ed! Was it a particular make? Where are the controls and is the centre valve embedded just for space saving? Most "sets" are relatively familiar Dave so it will be very interesting to see you have a go at this unusual restoration. Ed is suggesting that it's a straightforward design so the prospects are good even if you aren't familiar with some of this older technology. Thanks for presenting us with the short lived mystery. You probably can't go wrong here as there will be lots of technical help available from the expert knowledge base!

Dave W

[spaceelectronic]

Thats great Dave
Pleased I could add something a little different today. Anyway I'll keep you all updated how I get on.
Dave C.

[Ed_Dinning]

Hi Dave, internal battery will probably be for grid bias and about 9volts with voltage tapping points.
They have a very long life, but the set MUST NOT be operated with it disconnected. Do not even change taps with the set powered.

There will probably also be a 2v accumulator that would be used to power the valve filaments and a bigger HT battery of about 90v or so for the HT supply.
Search the forum and you will find details of "eliminators" for these HT & LT batteries so the set can be run from the mains.

Ed

[AC/HL]

It looks to me that it already has a mains power supply in the base. There doesn't seem to be any controls, unless they're on the un-photographed side?

[Radio Wrangler]

Hello and welcome.

I'd expect that to be early thirties maybe late twenties. It could be a home-made job, perhaps to a design in a magazine. Those valves would have cost weeks of average wage at the time.

I remember MEM and BILL... wasn't there also MEM-DIX?

David

[spaceelectronic]

Hi David
Thats interesting. As said I'm going to take a closer look today and see if there are any markings etc..inside or on the outside.
MEM-DIX rings a bell but I' can't place it at the moment.
Dave

[spaceelectronic]

Good morning all.
Here we go with a few more pictures!
And yes I've found a name!
Thanks
Dave

[Station X]

Similar to this one perhaps?

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/lissen_5881.html

[dave walsh]

Seems close enough Graham and the Op has found the controls now As a general principle, the older the set the smaller the dial or non at all, just a larger control knob!
Interesting that the Museum's, otherwise comprehensive, photos don't show them either. Without those [metal?] panels it would all be so obvious. This could end up looking good enough to amaze the owner and enhance your CV Dave but you will need to start with a careful post mortem Much worse items have scrubbed up well but don't take that too literally! Oh and there are people on the Forum with a specialist interest in old batteries, some of whom produce amazing replicas!

Dave W

[HamishBoxer]

Yes,I spotted that grid bias battery.