UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Powered By Google Custom Search Vintage Radio and TV Service Data

Go Back   UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum > Specific Vintage Equipment > Vintage Radio (domestic)

Notices

Vintage Radio (domestic) Domestic vintage radio (wireless) receivers only.

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 15th Jan 2021, 2:25 pm   #1
lightning
Heptode
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Stockport, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 710
Default Pre war Marconi radio

I've always wanted a pre-war set with the big valves and have just bought a 1937 Marconi radio.

The radio had to be posted and it survived the journey unscathed, the seller removed all the valves and packed them separately, so l put them all back in and l have to say the radio works very well.

He said l would need a good aerial plus an earth, but l just connected it to the TV aerial in my workshop as l had nothing else to hand, and it works fine.

It's obviously had some restoration in the past, as there are various components that have been replaced underneath.

A couple of things, the valve pins are an unusual layout I've not seen before, and the speaker seems to be connected directly to the mains!
l assume this is some kind of pre war technology.

The cabinet is very good, l assume that's had restoration at some time as it can't be that good after 83 years.

No idea why the photos came out sideways, they were straight when l uploaded them!
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	DE7BF5BA-9476-4CA2-9BCE-D2F8171D9DF0.jpg
Views:	269
Size:	92.7 KB
ID:	224663   Click image for larger version

Name:	758D8DD4-0B49-470D-A146-DB403D7498A6.jpg
Views:	266
Size:	87.8 KB
ID:	224664   Click image for larger version

Name:	B12D7E7E-79D8-43BF-BD96-CD8EE843038F.jpg
Views:	227
Size:	76.6 KB
ID:	224665  

Last edited by Cobaltblue; 15th Jan 2021 at 2:39 pm. Reason: don't use euphemisms
lightning is offline  
Old 15th Jan 2021, 2:44 pm   #2
Cobaltblue
Moderator
 
Cobaltblue's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK.
Posts: 6,823
Default Re: Pre war Marconi radio

Well done in getting you first pre war set

The speaker is what's known as "mains energised".

Its not actually connected to the mains but it will be in the HT circuit.

The valves are probably B4, B5 and B7 pretty common in UK sets up to the end of the 1930's

Your pictures are probably sideways due to using an Apple device sorry to say they are famous for not knowing which way is up!

I will see about rotating them.

Cheers

Mike T
__________________
Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to
Mike T BVWS member.
www.cossor.co.uk
Cobaltblue is online now  
Old 15th Jan 2021, 3:08 pm   #3
Gabe001
Octode
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 1,612
Default Re: Pre war Marconi radio

Also, if it has a gram or pickup at the back you can use it to play pretty much whatever you like. It's basically a mono audio-in socket.
Gabe001 is online now  
Old 15th Jan 2021, 3:12 pm   #4
mark pirate
Dekatron
 
mark pirate's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK
Posts: 5,185
Default Re: Pre war Marconi radio

Quote:
l've always wanted a pre-war set with the big valves and have just bought a 1937 Marconi radio.
These EMI sets were built like a tank, I have several HMV/Marconi pre-war sets, they are good sounding radios.

I would check to see what has been replaced, a set of this vintage should have any remaining original caps replaced, as leaky old caps can cause damage to transformers & valves.

A photo of the underneath of the chassis would show us what has been done & needs doing.


Mark
mark pirate is offline  
Old 15th Jan 2021, 3:28 pm   #5
ms660
Dekatron
 
ms660's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 13,454
Default Re: Pre war Marconi radio

From the photo's it looks like a Marconiphone 557, if it is then the loudspeaker field coil will be in the HT-ve circuit, the voltage developed across that is used for the valves bias supply.

https://www.service-data.com/section.php/4467/1/557

Lawrence.
ms660 is offline  
Old 15th Jan 2021, 3:46 pm   #6
Radio Tech
Nonode
 
Radio Tech's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Bocking, near Braintree, Essex, UK.
Posts: 2,068
Default Re: Pre war Marconi radio

Its nice to know that sets like this are being sort and restored, and the fact that lightning is venturing into this lovely hobby.

Ken
Radio Tech is offline  
Old 15th Jan 2021, 4:04 pm   #7
McMurdo
Dekatron
 
McMurdo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK.
Posts: 5,263
Default Re: Pre war Marconi radio

Looks lovely, I'm guessing it's been restored somewhat. And nice to know it survived the journey! I wish there were some way to let the designers know it's still working
__________________
Kevin
McMurdo is offline  
Old 15th Jan 2021, 4:48 pm   #8
Burnt wire
Tetrode
 
Burnt wire's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Plymouth, Devonshire, UK.
Posts: 56
Default Re: Pre war Marconi radio

The 1930's is my favorite period for lots of things from radios to furniture to cars to areoplanes.... such amazing designs, just awesome! This is one of my Marconi radios...
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	118785706_10158910769303856_7604783125869313429_n.jpg
Views:	138
Size:	76.7 KB
ID:	224671  

Last edited by Burnt wire; 15th Jan 2021 at 4:51 pm. Reason: Added a photo
Burnt wire is offline  
Old 15th Jan 2021, 8:30 pm   #9
dave walsh
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex.
Posts: 5,814
Default Re: Pre war Marconi radio

Very nice set Lightning! There was a recent thread re replacing a mains energised LS. If there is room the M Eng coil may sometimes be left in for convenience, even if a "modern" permanent magnet LS is fitted as a replacement!

The valves are only unusual to you as Mike suggested .... until you venture into pre-war heaven!
Do you know about side contact valves of the period at all?. See the recent interesting thread "Why was the CT8 [side contact valve] developed? 16/12/20. Some of these had 4v heaters at high current which can make restoration a bit tricky sometimes!

Dave W

Last edited by dave walsh; 15th Jan 2021 at 8:36 pm.
dave walsh is offline  
Old 15th Jan 2021, 9:06 pm   #10
Panrock
Nonode
 
Panrock's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Worcestershire, UK.
Posts: 2,525
Default Re: Pre war Marconi radio

Quote:
Originally Posted by Burnt wire View Post
The 1930's is my favorite period for lots of things from radios to furniture to cars to areoplanes.... such amazing designs, just awesome! This is one of my Marconi radios...
I too love this style of set! Here's one I restored some years ago waiting to go back to its owner...
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	7439.jpg
Views:	147
Size:	40.8 KB
ID:	224681  
__________________
https://www.radiocraft.co.uk
Panrock is offline  
Old 15th Jan 2021, 11:03 pm   #11
Richard_FM
Octode
 
Richard_FM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Stockport, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 1,999
Default Re: Pre war Marconi radio

It's a very nice looking set, with some subtle Art Deco styling.
__________________
Hello IT: Have you Tried Turning It Off & On Again?
Richard_FM is offline  
Old 15th Jan 2021, 11:16 pm   #12
MurphyNut
Heptode
 
MurphyNut's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Croxley Green, Hertfordshire, UK.
Posts: 979
Default Re: Pre war Marconi radio

Really nice set, I always think the "golden age of radio" is the 1930's, and there are so many fine pre-war sets still out there and not costing the earth.
__________________
Clive
MurphyNut is offline  
Old 16th Jan 2021, 10:54 am   #13
rontech
Heptode
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Southport, Merseyside, UK.
Posts: 646
Default Re: Pre war Marconi radio

Late 1930's sets from HMV, Marconi, Murphy, RGD, and Dynatron are my favourites.
__________________
Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana
rontech is offline  
Old 16th Jan 2021, 6:13 pm   #14
lightning
Heptode
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Stockport, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 710
Default Re: Pre war Marconi radio

Thank you for all the replies, we've put the radio in the lounge where it can be used from time to time, although it means my Bush TV24 is relegated to the spare room.

The TV 24 is in working order, l renovated it about 10 years ago with help fro a friend who used to repair them back in the day.

l would be happy to purchase another pre war radio if anybody is selling one, or knows of a good one!

Here's the TV24..... it's in remarkably good condition.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	B904D482-F97B-45DF-9B63-18B7C2574F07.jpg
Views:	103
Size:	62.4 KB
ID:	224720  
lightning is offline  
Old 18th Jan 2021, 10:40 pm   #15
PaulR
Dekatron
 
PaulR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Southport Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 3,221
Default Re: Pre war Marconi radio

I have the same model as yours and one of the ones shown in Panrock's post. They are basically the same except that Panrock's seems to have been the deluxe model with a slightly bigger case with more veneering and a tuning indicator. There were a couple of radiograms with the same chassis. As others have said they are great sets with an rf amplifier stage and were very well built. They have the infamous EMI pitch filled capacitor block but that is messy rather than a great problem to re-stuff.

I agree with rontech's choice of manufacturers of 1930s sets. I am also quite a fan of McMichael products.
__________________
Paul
PaulR is offline  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 5:30 pm.


All information and advice on this forum is subject to the WARNING AND DISCLAIMER located at https://www.vintage-radio.net/rules.html.
Failure to heed this warning may result in death or serious injury to yourself and/or others.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2002 - 2023, Paul Stenning.