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Old 9th Aug 2020, 10:03 pm   #1
WessexWill
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Default Identifying radiogram. Value?

Good Evening,

I’m in the process of clearing my house. My Dad bought this ‘radiogram’ (I’m not sure if that is a proper noun or the correct term...) about 30 years ago from an Oxfam furniture store in Shirley, Southampton. The only electric parts left were the courtesy light inside the lid, though what looks like a frame that something would rest in at the top is present. There are also no other identifying features, eg. manufacturers plates etc. I thought if I used a few terms in Google it would eventually bring up one but after a lot of scrolling through Google Images I drew a blank. Anything mildly close seemed to be far more decorative and also have speakers facing out from the front (there are some vents at the back which I assume could be for speakers). No luck on a reverse image search of the below photo either.

To not be accused of lacking full candour, I am looking to dispose of the item likely by eBay and so my query is to help the description there as well as for my own curiosity.

Many thanks,

Will
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Old 9th Aug 2020, 10:31 pm   #2
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Default Re: Identifying radiogram. Value?

Not immediately recognisable. Are there any identifying marks under the lid or inside the cabinet.

As to value, it's an empty cabinet so it's only value will be as a piece of furniture.
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Old 9th Aug 2020, 10:39 pm   #3
WessexWill
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Default Re: Identifying radiogram. Value?

Thanks PJL. Absolutely no marks at all. I assumed it would have very limited value - it’s essentially a nice walnut box that isn’t particularly space efficient!

I don’t know if the further photo gives any further clues...
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Old 9th Aug 2020, 10:45 pm   #4
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Default Re: Identifying radiogram. Value?

The only company that springs to mind making sets with unequal height like that is RAP (Radio Acoustic Products)

https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_hers...ompany_id=6390

There is no Gram in RM like that but that doesn't mean there wasn't one

Cheers

Mike T
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Old 9th Aug 2020, 10:46 pm   #5
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Default Re: Identifying radiogram. Value?

I think it is home made looking at the back.
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Old 9th Aug 2020, 11:03 pm   #6
WessexWill
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Default Re: Identifying radiogram. Value?

Thanks. The lower section just appears to be for storage. I think the shelves are original.
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Old 10th Aug 2020, 12:13 am   #7
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Question Re: Identifying radiogram. Value?

It's curious that it appears to lack a speaker. Is there any sort of dial in that circular aperture, Will? Anything worth photographing if you take the back off (or is is just an empty box)?

Last edited by Wellington; 10th Aug 2020 at 12:13 am. Reason: typo
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Old 10th Aug 2020, 1:32 am   #8
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Default Re: Identifying radiogram. Value?

It's a very interesting cabinet.

Some early and high end stuff had back covers like that.

It looks to be a bit too tall to have originally been a radiogram.

There's a lot of control knobs on the front.

The biggest clue of all to it NOT starting out as a radiogram is the fact that it doesn't have either a speaker aperture big enough for one suitable for a gram and also no sign of a bespoke speaker output socket/s - TVs tended to have a small speaker in a large cabinet.

It looks to me like it started out as a pre-war mirror lid TV and the round front aperture that looks like a radio dial was probably the speaker - show some pictures of the inside of the lid and the rear of that round front aperture.

The deck board has been cut for at least two different decks and could have originally accommodated the upward facing TV tube. The marks and hole where a control has been removed on the right hand side could be where an early line standard switch was fitted. There's black paint on a small section of the edge of the wood cutout at the bottom, indicating the first incarnation of a record deck before subsequent cutting and enlargement - that board may not be original to the cabinet, but we're just guessing on all counts and making observations on what's there.

If it's the original deck board and it was originally a TV, then it's possible that there was a basic radio control panel in the oblong cutout to the left hand side. However, it looks like even this cutout shows evidence of modification, possibly for a later amplifier head unit.

It may have had the original TV guts removed in the 50s or early 60s and scrapped, then a basic amplifier and record changer fitted. Later in its life it may have been altered to accommodate a better single play deck and a better amplifier. It's possible that this last incarnation of deck and amplifier were found to be 'desirable' and of value, so they were removed and sold, the cabinet then being given away to the charity shop.

These are just my observations, and I have to admit that I don't recognise the particular model of mirror lid TV - if that's what it started out as.

Edit to say - when it was converted to a gram (or 'hi-fi' cabinet), the speaker wires would likely have been brought out through one of the ventilation holes in the back - but it's all just personal observation and guesswork.

Last edited by Techman; 10th Aug 2020 at 1:48 am.
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Old 10th Aug 2020, 6:52 am   #9
WessexWill
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Default Re: Identifying radiogram. Value?

Thank you again for your thoughts. Yes, it is very much an empty box. The side cabinet is very much a separate compartment from the main section - no holes between the two etc. Which makes me think someone would have had best use for it as a record player with the side housing a small collection of records. Techman’s observations make it very plausible it has more than one life as a audio/visual device before going into retirement. I didn’t think of it being some sort of tv. The inside of the lid is felted. The window has no detail of a dial/frequency range etc - just yellowy orange, just about translucent.

Hopefully it’ll make a nice hifi/drinks cabinet/objet d’art to someone!
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Old 10th Aug 2020, 7:10 am   #10
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Default Re: Identifying radiogram. Value?

There's too many knobs on the front for a radiogram. Could it originally been an early television or televisor. Maybe a small CRT was once behind the circular aperture?

Regards
David
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Old 10th Aug 2020, 8:03 am   #11
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Default Re: Identifying radiogram. Value?

If the measurement between the shelves on the side cabinet would take the old 12" discs then possibly was an old radiogram. The two cabinets look to have been made at the same time. I thought those old projection TV's were in one box and much larger than the one pictured ?
I quite like it !! I can picture it being altered for a valve Quad set-up.
Mike.
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Old 10th Aug 2020, 8:05 am   #12
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Default Re: Identifying radiogram. Value?

Can we have a picture with the back cover removed?
Mike.
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Old 10th Aug 2020, 8:06 am   #13
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Default Re: Identifying radiogram. Value?

If it had been a TV with a CRT in the round hole, I don't see why it would need an opening lid on the top. That lid is furniture grade and had to be a major feature.

The number of knobs suggests TV, I'd go for a mirror lid model.

In the early days there would only be one staton in reach of whoever had it, it would be fixed-tuned and have no need of a tuning scale.

But if a record player deck was grafted in, what did it play through? Was a radio chassis put in? were knob holes moved around for it?

David
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Old 10th Aug 2020, 8:25 am   #14
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Default Re: Identifying radiogram. Value?

Those knobs must be attached to something. It looks like the missing knob is on the shelf in the RH cabinet.
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Old 10th Aug 2020, 8:47 am   #15
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Default Re: Identifying radiogram. Value?

Quote:
Originally Posted by HamishBoxer View Post
I think it is home made looking at the back.
No NOT a home made cabinet, you need some serious tools to form those rounded corners, if they are laminated ply.

Mike
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Old 10th Aug 2020, 9:04 am   #16
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Default Re: Identifying radiogram. Value?

There were some exotic radios with more 'tubes' and controls than a TV from McMurdo Silver or Scott. It could have housed a homemade radio or even an amateur band radio.
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Old 10th Aug 2020, 9:36 am   #17
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Default Re: Identifying radiogram. Value?

When I thought home made, I should have said a re hashed side board or similar.
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Old 10th Aug 2020, 10:09 am   #18
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Default Re: Identifying radiogram. Value?

Bits of that design reminds me of Dynatron.

Lawrence.
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Old 10th Aug 2020, 10:15 am   #19
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Default Re: Identifying radiogram. Value?

Isn't the ' tuning scale' on the front actually a crt ? Maybe this is a prewar (dynatron ?) TV/ radiogram that maybe had a separate speaker ? Crossed with above
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Old 10th Aug 2020, 10:31 am   #20
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Default Re: Identifying radiogram. Value?

Must admit the back panel does not look commercial.
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