Merry Xmas everyone. Just received, and it needed only a little electrical restoration to get it working. It's now playing Xmas music.

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The electronic restoration was really easy, as a previous owner had done most of the recap. Though I decided to take the old electroytic caps out of the circuit. and use new caps under the chassis. And the 6V6 tube was broken, and its vacuum leaked out.
This set uses a 6A8G, 6U7G, 6B6G, 6V6GT and 5Y3GT. Though the only 6V6 I have on hand is a metal can version, but the set seems quite happy with it. Don't think the can is grounded, but its pin apperas to not have been used as a tie point either. (I'd pull the chassis to look, but that's a bit of a PITA). B+ inside is about 260V, which IIRC isn't too much for the metal can version of the 6V6. THis set has a power transformer, 230V50Hz, and it's quite happy with American 60Hz (it undoubtly runs a little cooler, as higher frequencies require smaller transformers for the same power handling.

You can see the yellow Healing bird just below the dial.

Nice radio. It's very rare to find one of this model with an intact grille as the plastic is quite dry and brittle. About two years ago I built a set of shelves, in the same fashion as a bookcase but designed to fit a collection of Healing radios though only ever managed to get two of the sixteen I really wanted before I took a long break from acquisitions.

Seeing this has made me ponder on getting that collection of Healings that I've wanted for a long time.

One book I recommend getting is Radio Days by Dr Peter Sheridan. It is a large hardback pictorial of several hundred coloured Australian Bakelite radios and many coloured Healings make an appearance. Look for an Ebay seller, Rollerboy76, who is selling them on behalf of Dr Sheridan. I have many books on vintage radios but I've never seen anything like this one - the photos are perfect.

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A valve a day keeps the transistor away...

QUOTE: It's very rare to find one of this model with an intact grille as the plastic is quite dry and brittle.

The grill survived shipping, but the bakelite cabinet got broken. You really need to pack things so you feel comfortable tossing and rolling it down a flight of stairs. But I was able to reassemble it, some hot melt glue inside, some epoxy, and even some brown shoe polish. Not a perfect job, but I think not too bad. I did have to fill in about 10 square centermeters of missing bakelite on the lower right side. If you play with my picture in photoshop you may see some of the cracks.

But the radio does work nicely on American AM radio stations. No, this radio doesn't change the American accents to Australian accents...

QUOTE: No, this radio doesn't change the American accents to Australian accents...

This reminds me of a yarn I spin at work sometimes. I have a 1947 AWA Radiolette in my office and when other staff or visitors enquire as to where I source the old music from I reply with, "Well... it is an old radio. Old radios play old music!"

Some of them actually believe it too. The truth is that the radio is tuned to 2CH, a station that caters for people who prefer Renee Geyer, Lionel Ritchie and Dragon to AC-DC, Bon Jovi and Metalica.

On the subject of the cabinet: do you want me to keep an eye out for an intact one and get a price for getting it to you? I can't guarantee this will be a quick exercise, in fact it'll probably take a few months but it'd give you the chance to have a complete set. Let me know what you think.

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A valve a day keeps the transistor away...

QUOTE: On the subject of the cabinet: do you want me to keep an eye out for an intact one and get a price for getting it to you? I can't guarantee this will be a quick exercise, in fact it'll probably take a few months but it'd give you the chance to have a complete set.

That would be great if you can do that. Let me know when you do find one, thanks.

No worries. I'll keep my eye open.

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A valve a day keeps the transistor away...

Just bought another copy of this radio, hopefully it will be better packed (I mentioned to the seller that we have gorillas working in our post office, so pack it so it can survive being rolled down a flight of stairs). Aussie ebay item 150596715166

So hopefully I'll have a good one, and a 2nd passable one.