Radio Chassis Identification required - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

AndiiT · 27th Nov 2022, 8:57 pm

Hi, Please can anyone identify the "real" manufacturer of the chassis shown in the picture?
It comes from a Westminster radiogram, which, as I'm sure many of you will already be aware, were sold by Curry's in the late 50s/early 60s.

I'm trying to find out if the chassis is one made by a well known manufacturer or a "special" manufactured exclusively for Curry's.

Regards and thanks in advance

Andrew

PYE 405 · 27th Nov 2022, 10:08 pm

The pink wirewound resistor in centre right of middle picture is the kind often used by Philips, but that does not mean the chassis is made by them of course.
I would say Plessey for the maker, but it is a guess.
What is the valve line up?

David G4EBT · 28th Nov 2022, 6:24 am

I could be wrong - I often am, but the appearance of the dial is evocative of a mid 1950s pre VHF radiogram rather than a table radio.

peter_sol · 28th Nov 2022, 7:48 am

Most likely the chassis is made by Plessey. Simple but reliable circuitry.

vinrads · 28th Nov 2022, 9:11 am

I agree with David note the white twin wire from the on off switch ,this would be mains to the deck. Mick.

kestrelmusic · 28th Nov 2022, 9:47 am

It certainly looks Plessey-ish. Is it possible to have a better pic of the dial?

Sideband · 28th Nov 2022, 10:19 am

Yes another from Plessey here. I think Westminster was a Currys brand and a lot of their radio's were made by Plessey. Fairly basic circuit but should work well enough.

Actually the first post by Andy does state it's from a radiogram.

vidjoman · 28th Nov 2022, 11:46 am

It looks a bit crude - even for a Plessey chassis. I'm inclined to think it was from the 'Falcon' stable (John Street) who made many 'cheap' products under their own name or store names. They were a bit rough and ready, although sold well and worked surprisingly well for such a low parts set.

Edward Huggins · 28th Nov 2022, 1:17 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by David G4EBT

I could be wrong - I often am, but the appearance of the dial is evocative of a mid 1950s pre VHF radiogram rather than a table radio.

Well observed David. When I worked as a designer with Pye we always took a different approach to dial design on a Radiogram. But in most cases we were always asked to design the dial in such a way as to accentuate the apparent travel of the tuning pointer, which was usually only about half the length of the dial itself.

ms660 · 28th Nov 2022, 1:31 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Huggins

Quote:

Originally Posted by David G4EBT

I could be wrong - I often am, but the appearance of the dial is evocative of a mid 1950s pre VHF radiogram rather than a table radio.

Well observed David. When I worked as a designer with Pye we always took a different approach to dial design on a Radiogram. But in most cases we were always asked to design the dial in such a way as to accentuate the apparent travel of the tuning pointer, which was usually only about half the length of the dial itself.

The OP said it was from a Westminster radiogram in Post#1.

Lawrence.

Nickthedentist · 28th Nov 2022, 1:48 pm

Yes, as Sideband reminded us! But nice that we're all in agreement

Pic of it "at home" here: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...7&d=1316535275

Philips210 · 28th Nov 2022, 4:45 pm

I think Regentone produced a similar AM only radio chassis with the fairly standard B9A valve line up. The flat mounted mains transformer was one notable feature in some of their designs.

Regards,
Symon

David G4EBT · 28th Nov 2022, 5:09 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ms660

The OP said it was from a Westminster radiogram in Post#1.

Lawrence.

So he did Lawrence.

Asleep at the wheel again.

AndiiT · 28th Nov 2022, 7:49 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickthedentist

....Pic of it "at home" here: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...7&d=1316535275

How strange that you should post this picture, which is actually of my original 'gram and taken in my own kitchen.
This one befell the fate of a Labrador puppy and I have recently obtained an identical model with a near pristine cabinet so after a bit of "transplant surgery" I now have a fully working 'gram and spare chassis, which is shown in my original post.

Andrew

Nickthedentist · 28th Nov 2022, 10:27 pm

Ha ha, I see the doggy bowl and mat now!

Not strange... I did a forum search for Westminster radiogram, then saw your name, found your old thread, and there it was

Of course, I assumed it was the very same one and you'd maybe scrapped it and just kept the chassis...

AndiiT · 29th Nov 2022, 5:37 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by PYE 405

....
What is the valve line up?...

Valve line up is ECH81, EF89, EBC81, EL84, EZ80

It's an AM only chassis. Other comments suggest a Plessey design, which I seem to have been told many years ago, long before the invention of the internet and the volume of knowledge available on forums such as this. I was looking for positive confirmation of the manufacturer so guess that it is a Plessey chassis after all

Thanks for all your comments.

Andrew

Restoration73 · 29th Nov 2022, 5:46 pm

I have seen an earlier non-ferrite rod chassis, unusually it used 12AH8, and a 6BW6, so I
assume it was an earlier design.

27th Nov 2022, 10:08 pm	#2
PYE 405 Pentode Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 160	Re: Radio Chassis Identification required The pink wirewound resistor in centre right of middle picture is the kind often used by Philips, but that does not mean the chassis is made by them of course. I would say Plessey for the maker, but it is a guess. What is the valve line up? __________________ Andrew

28th Nov 2022, 6:24 am	#3
David G4EBT Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 5,208	Re: Radio Chassis Identification required I could be wrong - I often am, but the appearance of the dial is evocative of a mid 1950s pre VHF radiogram rather than a table radio. __________________ David. BVWS Member. G-QRP Club member 1339.

28th Nov 2022, 7:48 am	#4
peter_sol Octode Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Welwyn Garden City, Herts. UK. Posts: 1,828	Re: Radio Chassis Identification required Most likely the chassis is made by Plessey. Simple but reliable circuitry.

28th Nov 2022, 9:11 am	#5
vinrads Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 3,377	Re: Radio Chassis Identification required I agree with David note the white twin wire from the on off switch ,this would be mains to the deck. Mick.

28th Nov 2022, 9:47 am	#6
kestrelmusic Hexode Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK. Posts: 404	Re: Radio Chassis Identification required It certainly looks Plessey-ish. Is it possible to have a better pic of the dial?

27th Nov 2022, 8:57 pm	#1
AndiiT Octode Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Saltburn-East, Cleveland, UK. Posts: 1,773	Radio Chassis Identification required Hi, Please can anyone identify the "real" manufacturer of the chassis shown in the picture? It comes from a Westminster radiogram, which, as I'm sure many of you will already be aware, were sold by Curry's in the late 50s/early 60s. I'm trying to find out if the chassis is one made by a well known manufacturer or a "special" manufactured exclusively for Curry's. Regards and thanks in advance Andrew Attached Thumbnails

28th Nov 2022, 10:19 am	#7
Sideband Dekatron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 7,093	Re: Radio Chassis Identification required Yes another from Plessey here. I think Westminster was a Currys brand and a lot of their radio's were made by Plessey. Fairly basic circuit but should work well enough. Actually the first post by Andy does state it's from a radiogram. __________________ There are lots of brilliant keyboard players and then there is Rick Wakeman.....

28th Nov 2022, 11:46 am	#8
vidjoman Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: East Sussex, UK. Posts: 3,023	Re: Radio Chassis Identification required It looks a bit crude - even for a Plessey chassis. I'm inclined to think it was from the 'Falcon' stable (John Street) who made many 'cheap' products under their own name or store names. They were a bit rough and ready, although sold well and worked surprisingly well for such a low parts set.

28th Nov 2022, 1:48 pm	#11
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,057	Re: Radio Chassis Identification required Yes, as Sideband reminded us! But nice that we're all in agreement Pic of it "at home" here: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...7&d=1316535275

28th Nov 2022, 4:45 pm	#12
Philips210 Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Redruth, Cornwall, UK. Posts: 2,260	Re: Radio Chassis Identification required I think Regentone produced a similar AM only radio chassis with the fairly standard B9A valve line up. The flat mounted mains transformer was one notable feature in some of their designs. Regards, Symon

28th Nov 2022, 10:27 pm	#15
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,057	Re: Radio Chassis Identification required Ha ha, I see the doggy bowl and mat now! Not strange... I did a forum search for Westminster radiogram, then saw your name, found your old thread, and there it was Of course, I assumed it was the very same one and you'd maybe scrapped it and just kept the chassis...

29th Nov 2022, 5:46 pm	#17
Restoration73 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Surbiton, SW London, UK. Posts: 2,758	Re: Radio Chassis Identification required I have seen an earlier non-ferrite rod chassis, unusually it used 12AH8, and a 6BW6, so I assume it was an earlier design.