Hello all, hoping someone has heard of & seen this Aeolian Console. http://photobucket.com/aeolianradio/.
It has an excellent Magnavox 12” speaker so I am dying to hear what it sounds like!!
Licence sticker indicates origin probably from NZ, valves are from the mid 30’s
The paper caps are different to any I’ve seen...look more like cigars!!! & unfortunately the markings are unreadable except for voltage. So I am seeking a circuit diagram to help resurrect this beast!
Even model info etc would be nice to know or any info on the history of this company...Google doesn’t seem to find anything related!!. It’s valve line up is an interesting AK2, 6H6, 6F6, 6K7, 5Y3 & 3 of 6K7 valves...7 total. It’s intriguing to say the least!
Regards Paul

Hello Duconbuster

Aeolian doesn't feature in Stokes Golden Age of Radio or More Golden Age of Radio contents pages. Stokes was a Kiwi so if a Kiwi radio should be there.
Is there any sign of a circular transfer that would indicates it was made in The Dominion of New Zealand?

Aeolian was a Victorian brand, and I think fairly short-lived. In the 1920s and early 1930s it was fashionable to give radios brand names based on Greek or Latin words, or suffixed with the word "phone".

Licence sticker reads licenced in Aus for use in NZ??
There is also a label on the wood frame saying..For value buy this brand "PAYHAM" made in New Zealand. The 240v power plug is made in New zealand by PDL.
Could the chassis be made in Aus for export to NZ to be fitted into a local cabinet? Just not sure how it made it here!
Not listed in AORSM..possibly in RT annual?? I have no index or details on this publication...any help greatly appreciated!
I have added the Payham pic to the photobucket album
Regards Paul

Aeolus is the Greek god of the Wind - also a popular name for music-related brands as well as sailing. I've seen pedal pianolas and I think small church organs with that name, going way back.

From memory I also saw an Aeolian console radio like yours in Melbourne, mid-60s.

This link says the name Aeolian might also have a Sydney connection in 1935 with the brand Orchestrelle - no source given. Could be coincidence.

http://hrsa.asn.au/hrsa-files/radio-brands.pdf.

My guess is that Payham might have been the cabinet makers. In those days the cabinet was a prestige item.

When Google runs dry, I have sometimes tracked things down through searching the online indexes to the Public Libraries - they have a common search interface and one search can search all indexes including National Library, State Libraries and some university libraries.

Maven

Thanks for the tips,couldn't, find any info on the company however.
Have made some progress on the units resto, replaced all out of tolerance resistors,electros & paper caps. Tested IR on transformer etc,cleaned switches & sockets, serviced tuning mech & powered it up.......unfortunately no reception just a quiet hum in the speaker......time to test micas, would be nice to know it's IF as it appears to have been fiddled with at some stage...wax seals are broken on trimmers/padders. :'(

A little more on this from Stokes "More Golden Age of Radio": within the text there is a list of brand names used on overseas radios and Aeolian is listed as "distributed by Briton Trading Co." and "Made in Australia".

In "The Golden Age of Radio" Genrad and Briton are mentioned as brands of General Radio Ltd produced briefly in 1933. Evidently this firm pirated trade marks and slogans of other firms and so didn't last long.

There is no mention however of a connection between General Radio Ltd and Briton Trading Co.. The 1935 B ARTS & P would seem to preclude General Radio Ltd. if they only produced in 1933.

Looking at the picture of the Aeolian it looks very similar to a 1935 Fisk Radiola 241. The other interesting thing is that it uses octal valves. Octals valves were devoloped in 1934 by GE but were not released in the U.S. until mid 1935. If this is the original valve line up, the Aeolian must of been the first radio in NZ to use octal valves.