Do not believe the valve line up in the set featured.

It has two Pentagrids one did not exist here in 1933 and they would have used 7pin then. That combo will not function.

We did not see this lot until close to the 40's. 6J7 or 6U7 perhaps: 1933, 6D6.

Marc

Sounds like some antiques dealer just stuffed random tubes that would physically fit the sockets, so the set would look complete. "And it works, the dial light lights up!"...

Quite feasable.

Mate in the radio business had one of them recently.

I have an Astor in work where (Owner) "Its lights lit and there was a pop!" No wonder, I have to replace pretty much,every resistor & cap in it.

The date of that radio appears to be inconsistent with the valves. In '33 I would expect 80 and six & seven pin tubes. 6A8 & 6J8 did not appear en masse here until the late thirties.

Even then I have a Midwest 34-16 passing through. 1934 16 valve It has UX, 5 pin, 6 Pin, & Octals. That limits scrambling valves, rebuilt ( 65 caps on list)

Marc

G'day all,

Marc, you are quite right about the valve line up. This is why I always publish what is in a set when I find it rather than what should be there. I should make this more clear on the front page.

In my collection there are a number of receivers, including this one, which are yet to be restored and until they are I just pull the chassis out, clean everything up - evict reddies, remove mouse poo, etc - so the receiver can still go on display.

Your comment on valve substitution reminds me of something I did about two years ago. My attention was taken away from the receiver I was working on because the phone rang and when I returned I slotted in the rectifier and output valves as planned and then hit the juice. Of course the innards of the output valve was showered in lightning! I put the two valves in each other's sockets. Fortunately I was able to get the power off again quickly and permanent damage to the valves and the receiver was avoided and after 63 years my little AWA Radiolette is still in service in my office at work. I guess it was luck that played the big part on that day.

Brad,

It never ceases to amaze me as to what happens to, and what people do with and to, old radio’s. I tend to specialise in the restoration of the electric’s, however I will resort at times to making or repairing some of the mechanical parts, cabinet & woodwork. By that I mean making such things as the missing driver coupling on the base of a Horn Speaker

When the through put recently has often hit hundreds per annum. You see some incredible things and often I wonder how some of the perpetrators do not feature in the Darwin awards.

I still think that the dismantling of an Electrodynamic speaker, then welding it back together with a “stick” welder is one of the best I have seen. There are witnesses who have actually seen the speaker. Naturally it’s a “write off”.

Ok! With a dead set you start with the power, then the Speaker & Amp, but not with an angle grinder ????

Marc

You'll love this one...

I don't remember what issue it was in but I think it was back in the early 1990s. Electronics Australia reported that a bloke, who came to the conclusion that he was unable to even give away several dozen radios including classic gothics and coffins, decided that the best thing to do with them was dig a big hole, about the size of the average backyard pool, and drop the lot in before covering them over with the soil and grass. He even took photos as if he was proud of what he had done.

With radio collecting taking off at least five years before this bloke committed this deed I find it hard to believe that even without the benefits of the Internet he couldn't offload those radios to a safe home. Next to the demise of Sydney's original tramways I don't think I've ever known of a greater case of wanton vandalism.

Despite this bloke burying those radios, literally dozens of them, all those years ago I must admit I never really got over it and every time I recall it I feel a sense of disappointment at an obvious lost opportunity to preserve more of our broadcasting history. Whilst we collectors own the sets, the fact that they've survived is an asset belonging to the nation. For me to dispose of a radio or wreck one for useful parts it would have to be truly beyond repair.

Unfortunately that sort of "Heritage" Vandalism is all too common.

Not so long ago the towers of 2CO (The first country ABC radio station) were dismanled & scrapped.

This radiator was historically significant, not only for when it was put there but for the fact that is was probably one of the last "Alexanserson Antenna's " left in the World.

Many of us would understand the acheivments, significance & importance of Alexanderson In the development of radio.

Marc