Page two of wooden radios

Stella MK404

Donated by our local celebrity Julian Rathbone the famous author. I believe this set started out life coloured silver but nicotine changed all that. The set's survived, the owner hasn't. This effect can also be seen on the lens of a CD player's laser. I always ask whether the owner of a recalcitrant CD Player, brought in for repair, smokes or has a coal fire (still common in this area)...it can save a lot of time fault finding! A lens is easy to clean but lungs not so!

McMichael 1153

from a local car boot sale

Champion Model 854

This must be early as it only tunes 88-95 Mc/s. Like many other sets in my possession it came from a car boot sale.

"Midget Radio Superhet"

My friend Derek brought me a little radio today. We both used to work at the local Plessey factory and over the years he brings me stuff to mend. Customers can't fail to notice when they arrive with dead TVs that the space for setting down their set is getting smaller and smaller as the Radio Museum takes over the workshop.

The case of this radio has been the subject of a light meal for some of the local smaller fauna and the rear cover looks as if it was replaced 40 or 50 years ago but inside is a nice 6K7G type of chassis.

At first I thought it might be AC/DC but by its weight a transformer must be present although mounted out of sight under the chassis. On the dial remains the word "MINOR" but for some odd reason the bit above it which may have said "MELODY" has been scratched off. Maybe the pointer has been bent and wiped it away over the years? No I don't think so... each letter in the missing word has been carefully erased and come to think of it, because the back has been replaced all evidence of the makers name has vanished. Very odd.

The set is a puzzle however in the April 1958 copy of Practical Television I found described a set just like this one. In the Duke & Co of Romford advert a "Midget Radio Superhet" is described. The dimensions (14"x 7.5"x 9") are exactly as mine and the valve lineup is the same even to the metal rectifier rather than a rectifier valve. It cost the princely sum of 79/6d plus 3/6d carriage. Who made it? I don't know yet but it may not be a coincidence that the Plessey factory is just up the road from Romford and that factory built radios and TVs for major retail outlets and other radio and TV manufacturing companies. The scratched out name on the dial may have shown the name of the supplier who did not in the end take delivery of these radios. Why was this? Well the build quality of the case is awful and maybe was not good enough to carry a big brand name?

Investigations continue....

Ekco Radiogram chassis

This was picked up at the local tip for its components, a set of valves and a mains transformer etc.

It's cabinet was long gone and judging by the holes in what remains here it had been made a feast by local woodworm.

Marconiphone T19A

This apology for a radio was proffered to me in part exchange for a VCR repair.

It's missing its loudspeaker and the metal plate that fixes behind the dial and its back panel. It looks as if its been outside for years on a rubbish dump. It's in such poor condition a woodworm, whose attempt at eating the case is evidenced by a single hole in the side, must have found it as unpalatable as it looks. Veneer is peeling off, all the glue holding the woodwork together has dissolved away and the parts are merely held together by friction, the chassis is red with rust, the dial cord has rotted away and a lot of the scale lettering has gone. There may be one or two salvageable parts inside... I won't know until I've examined it. As far as restoration is concerned.... it's only redeeming feature is that it's so bad it might make an interesting challenge.

Pilot Model 53 from the late 30s

Return to vintage and classic radios>>