Hello everyone

A few weeks ago I found an old radio in a friends shed, which I believe is a GE Bandmaster 954E from 1934, according to the HRSA Aust Radio list pdf. It has a shortwave band, as well as a local / DX switch at the back.

The valve line up is a 6A7, 6B7, 6D6, 42, & 80.

There has been some component changes done, possibly in the 1970s, by someone with an average soldering skill.

Are there any restorers in Sydney I could take it to, or alternatively, is there anyone who would like to buy it for their collection?

The veneer on the wooden case has cracked, but still looks good.

I have repaired a few radios from the 50s/60s, but nothing over 80 years old, I wouldn't want to damage such a historical radio.

Mark

Looks like a standard pre-octal superhet set for the time. The big heavy box will probably deter some people.

EDIT: Now that I can see the photos, I see the shortwave markings on the dial.

The rest of the chassis looks similar (including blue cans) to a radio in my collection that uses the same valves.

I suspect that it might even work if the electros were given a chance to reform.

Lowboy console model 457DE, from 1937 with the same valve line-up, is dual band.

"Local distance sensitivity switch on the rear. Chassis also used in the AWA Radiolette 38 and 41"

Also to be taken into account is that Hotpoint & Bandmaster and GE sets were either made under licence, or badge engineered and the circuit of many were the same, irrespective of what the badge was.

This badge engineering was common to the era albeit it has never gone away. I had two early Thorn colour TV's and the works in that also materialised in sets with different badges.

That tube compliment is as common as dishwater & while the tube #58, became 6D6 with a heater change, it then became 6U7 with a base change. It maintained its cantankerous behaviour in all manifestations and all that changed in many cases were the sockets and the circuit persisted.

That sort of, not re-inventing the wheel was quite common with many other tubes.

Always something to keep in mind when circuit hunting.

Actually, the 58 first became the 78, when the 55, 56, 57 and 58 had their heaters changed to 6.3 Volts 300mA, to simplify both car radio and 110V series heater transformerless operation.
So they originally became the UX6 -based 75, 76, 77 and 78.
It was a very strange time. There was originally the 59, which was a 2.5V UX7 power pentode with a separate suppressor grid, but that was quickly replaced by the 2A5, which used a standard UX6 base.
But when the type numbers changed to the "6D6" type format, the preferred output pentode seemed to be the 42!
Meanwhile there was no pentagrid mixer in the "50" range, so that position was filled by the 2A7, and which became the 6A7.
Very "bleeding edge" stuff!

Photos uploaded.

Look at the back of the chassis, Mark. It should have the model number stamped on it in black ink - a five or six character set of letters and numbers. This is the less common, wider version of the AGE Bandmaster which is fitted with AWA's 'fret and foot' chassis. The more common model is the 656ME, which I have one of, and it is narrower and fitted with AWA's 'empire state' chassis and only has two control knobs. Yours has a larger loudspeaker too and should sound great once it is restored.

All AGE Bandmasters were made by AWA at their Ashfield, NSW factory but have different model numbers and badging to their AWA brethren.

The 400V caps are an early polyester and unless the jacket has cracked; the only reason for tampering with them, is if its a wrong part.

That type of Mica cap tends to be indestructible and I may have replaced two in fifty years, due to breakage from poor fitment.

The two filter caps may be OK however, that red Ducon with the paper jacket is unlikely to be viable.

Being where it was, it may, have broken down, however, personally I would go through a set like that with a tooth pick & comb, as I do not have positive vibes as to its abandonment, especially after being "refurbished".

I would, on that basis not power it, as I am not inspired by the mains cable for starters.

It looks like a Hotpoint Bandmaster 557DE in a No. 5 cabinet. (Same chassis as AWA Model 38)

Note the power transformer is for 40Hz (Western Australia).