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Old 27th Nov 2020, 4:49 pm   #1
Alitallis
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Default Information about a loft find Murphy A28C

Hey I found this vintage radio in my loft abit scared of trying it out and also don't know the work involved in restoring it or if it's worth anything as it is?

Based in Coventry any information would be great.

Thanks

Alastair
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Old 27th Nov 2020, 4:55 pm   #2
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Default Re: Information about a loft find

Don't plug it in to 'see if it works', whatever you do. This may cause damage and may actually reduce the value.

I don't recognise it, but it appears to be a high quality set from about 1935. It won't be worth a fortune, maybe £30-£50.
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Old 27th Nov 2020, 5:00 pm   #3
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Default Re: Information about a loft find

Very nice and fairly scarce, it's a Murphy A28C.

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/murphy_a_28_ca28.html

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Old 27th Nov 2020, 5:01 pm   #4
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Default Re: Information about a loft find

It's a Murphy looks like a A28C

Crossed with Paul

Very nice set

Cheers

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Last edited by Cobaltblue; 27th Nov 2020 at 5:02 pm. Reason: Crossed with Paul
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Old 27th Nov 2020, 6:08 pm   #5
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Default Re: Information about a loft find

Here's Frank Murphy's rather condescending, "For reasons too complicated to explain" marketing flyer.

http://www.murphy-radio.co.uk/murphy...28C_inside.jpg
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Old 27th Nov 2020, 7:08 pm   #6
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Default Re: Information about a loft find

Frank Murphy was clearly an instinctive marketeer.

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Old 27th Nov 2020, 8:30 pm   #7
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Default Re: Information about a loft find

Surprisingly heavy eh Alistair? It will need expert restoration. Trying to power up old sets can be a disaster but even more so in this case. Frank does sound condescending in the ad perhaps but he was a person of exacting standards back then and probably felt that the workmanship should have been more appreciated. Given the prevailing attitudes in the 30's he was seen as a pipe smoking uncle/ authority figure who could be trusted and that helped to build his business but I suspect he was too naive/principled in the end, perhaps like J L Baird. Both of them were forced out of their own businesses. He went to Canada in later life and tried to launch a new Radiogram design but ended up teaching at a local College. He was apparently very well thought of by his students but died there, aged only 65.


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His biography "A First Class Job", written by his daughter Joan Long, is a good read.

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Old 27th Nov 2020, 8:33 pm   #8
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Default Re: Information about a loft find

Looks like it had "Interstation Muting", the KB 888 had that as well but it didn't seem to do very much.

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Old 27th Nov 2020, 9:02 pm   #9
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Default Re: Information about a loft find

Well worth restoring I'd say. Looking at the mains plug, it has not seen the mains voltage for many a year.
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Old 27th Nov 2020, 11:18 pm   #10
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Default Re: Information about a loft find

They produce a rather good sound, and plenty of it. I grew up with one.

It, with a Columbia 'pick up' (turntable and arm) was the family entertainment before mum and dad got their first TV. I couldn't see the tuning scale on the top! I must have been 3 or 4 at the time.

Good memories of a good set. Well worth restoration.

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Old 28th Nov 2020, 10:47 am   #11
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Default Re: Information about a loft find

Quote:
Originally Posted by Radio Wrangler View Post
They produce a rather good sound, and plenty of it. I grew up with one.

It, with a Columbia 'pick up' (turntable and arm) was the family entertainment before mum and dad got their first TV. I couldn't see the tuning scale on the top! I must have been 3 or 4 at the time.

Good memories of a good set. Well worth restoration.

David

That took me back! At the same age I used to kneel on a dining chair to watch the Garrard RC4 autochanging a stack of eight records in the radiogram.
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Old 28th Nov 2020, 11:28 am   #12
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Default Re: Information about a loft find Murphy A28C

I'd missed the interstation muting feature that Mike points out p8*. That's on my Marconiphone 292 Radiogram of the same period and is an electro-mechanical control that relates to bias on a valve [as far as I can work it out]. Interestingly this sort of "gimmick?" or sales feature was only tried once more, in the 70's when one or two Hi Fi Tuner/Tuner Amp units had "silent tuning" but electronic of course. Like Quadrophonic vinyl it didn't catch on, probably because there was no real demand in the first place.

You can use the search box on the front page to find other threads that indicate what can be achieved Alastair. The first one to come up on the list for me was "Murphy A28 Console Looking Good 2/8/20". This is by Clive, a well know Frank M, 1930's enthusiast and short film maker. He's done a great job and the cabinet looks really good as usual.

Dave W

Without going too OT [I hope] I'm still wondering if anyone else has or had a 292. I've never seen another one since I got mine circa 1985. The Owners Instruction Leaflet emphasises the mute feature. It also recommends 150' of wire at a "good height" as an aerial but don't panic Alastair your A28 will work with rather less than that

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Old 28th Nov 2020, 5:03 pm   #13
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Default Re: Information about a loft find Murphy A28C

Thanks Dave.
I used to think these were quite rare but quite few have turned up recently, so I think perhaps not as rare as I previously thought.
I did some work on mine this year and got it working nicely, but I didn't visited the capacitor block. A job that I must get around to doing.

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=169646

They're nice radios to work on, everything nicely laid out and remarkably well made.
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Old 28th Nov 2020, 5:06 pm   #14
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Default Re: Information about a loft find Murphy A28C

Thank you all so much for your responses. Wow I had so many family members and friends who thought they knew exactly what it was so I'm glad I came here for the exact match. Does anyone know anywhere decent around the west midlands who could look at restoring this?

Thank you all; I'm a complete novice but the workings of this radio look fascinating!!
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Old 28th Nov 2020, 5:23 pm   #15
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Default Re: Information about a loft find Murphy A28C

It will certain be worth putting a request in Repair and Restoration Services Wanted Section.

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...play.php?f=145

It's is a lovely thing.

You may want to get the restorer to add a Bluetooth module as there's not much on the long and medium wave these days.

Cheers

Mike T
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Old 28th Nov 2020, 6:01 pm   #16
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Default Re: Information about a loft find Murphy A28C

It has input sockets so it can be used as the amplifier and speaker for a record player.

This makes it very easy to use with a bluetooth player or iPod if you don't find anything to your taste on long or medium wave.

David
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Old 28th Nov 2020, 7:29 pm   #17
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Default Re: Information about a loft find Murphy A28C

Quote:
Originally Posted by Radio Wrangler View Post
It has input sockets so it can be used as the amplifier and speaker for a record player.

This makes it very easy to use with a bluetooth player or iPod if you don't find anything to your taste on long or medium wave.

David
Sorry, but I mine doesn't have input sockets, I know from looking at the service info it could be added as an extra. I don't think it ever had this facility as standard on the set.
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Old 28th Nov 2020, 7:34 pm   #18
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Default Re: Information about a loft find Murphy A28C

Sorry, I was going by what ours had. So they were an optional addition...

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