Hi,

A friend showed me a small, brown, bakelite, battery operated radio. The circuit diagram heading was Radiola 22445. Looks pristine and untouched inside.

I cannot find any info/photos etc about this radio except for a reference at a HRSA Auction. Is this the correct model number??? And can some-one point me in the direction of more info about it??

Valve line-up is 1R5, 1T4, 1S4, 3S4 Requires a 67.5volt and 2 x 1.5 volt batteries. Where does one get suitable batteries??

Thanks,

Two AWA sets with that particular line-up were models 450P of 1948 and 450PZ of 1953.

If you want it to remain portable then you can assemble such batteries from those available today, otherwise use a battery eliminator.

You can clip 8 x 216 9 volt batteries together to make the B battery. The A batteries are ordinary D cells. Use alkaline ones.

Hi guys,

Yep, that’s it .... thanks GTC. I cannot distinguish between the P and PZ models ... but that doesn’t really matter at this stage.

I will suggest the battery pack vs battery eliminator options to the owner.

Many thanks,
Ian

I cannot distinguish between the P and PZ models

The Z suffix usually denoted some manufacturing change, probably minor.

I have two of those in my collection and I have a spare speaker and output transformer if you need them. Both of these were common victims of leaking D cells in these radios.

My white one has never been recapped except for a S/C electro and continues to work well.

Thank you for the offer, Ian.

At this stage, the owner is undecided re leaving it in its original pristine condition, inside and out, and selling as is ..... or leave on the mantle piece as a conversation starter ..... or take on the risk and cost of getting it working properly.

I have explained some of the risks of getting it running again .... but I have no idea as to its value. Can anyone advise as to what it maybe worth???

Radio looks in excellent condition, no cracks, scratches or dents in bakelite, latch and hinges work like new, original leather handle/strap in place, but aged, all valves in place (couldn't see ID on two valves, but AWA red paint in place), alignment slugs on IF's etc untouched, surface corrosion of A battery contacts will wipe off, inside is very clean.

There's quite a number of these radios around, they are not that rare. I have two.

Value depends on the number of chips around the case join. My white one has only two chips, that's pretty good.

My brown one has most of the lip chipped away and a crack in the front lid. When I got it, it looked like it had been used at a coal mine or by a steam engine driver!! It had certainly done a lot of work and needed a total rebuild..

Unchipped examples are extremely rare, I've never seen one.

If it's really that clean, there's every chance it will spring into life when you put batteries in it.

Thanks Ian. I must admit to not looking at the chips around the case edge that closely .... I am not a 'bakelite man' .....

If the Owner wishes to start it up, I will swap out the Electro cap at a minimum ....

Those sets, and similar portables of the era, have appeared reasonably frequently at Sydney HRSA auctions and either don't sell or go for little money.