I am currently watching a documentary on Howard Florey's involvement in the invention of penicillin and there's at least four valve radios in the film.

1. Airzone Cub from 1934.
2. STC from the mid-1940s.
3. AGE Duette from about 1935.
4. A large console, maybe a Philips.

TV or internet Brad?

My apologies - I thought I'd put up the URL.

It's on the Fairfax site here.

Last weeks Doctor Who episode (hide) featured some vintage test equipment in the opening scene. I identified a Cro and a meter that I have on my bench.

I'm guessing that the producer of the film didn't think old valve radios were popular enough for me (or anyone else) to spot the anomaly - the film is set in labs at Oxford University, yet the radios are dinky di. One possibility with this is that Baron Florey could have taken a radio to England with him though I doubt film producers could be bothered with being so accurate with their set designs.

Can anyone identify the console? I'm guessing either Philips or HMV.

Probably the BBC will decline to run this documentary, because Brits have always been taught that it was Alexander Fleming who invented penicillin! Our version is that Fleming ran the later operation that developed penicillin into a practical antibiotic for mass use, but was a major self-promoter who stole the credit as "inventor".

By coincidence I was today researching the military records of a great-uncle who caught a dose of syphilis in France while serving in WW1. He was treated with "two full courses of mercury", declared fit, and sent back to the trenches with two months reduced pay to cover the costs of "self-inflicted injury". No penicillin for him, and no VC!

Maven

Red, I remember that episode! There were quite a few cool electronic gadgets used in it, especially the set-up in the main room. I remember there was a Doctor Who episode a while back (I think I posted a thread about it), which was full of vintage (1950's vintage!) television sets - pretty awesome!

Chris

On ANZAC day there was the first part of a documentary on the siege of Tobruk.

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/desertwar.htm

They showed the folk back home listening to the radio. The radios were a probably early thirties console with a keyhole tuning aperture and short turned legs, an AWA empire state Radiolette, a large Philips or Mullard table radio with rectangular dial and a radiogram with rectangular dial.

The first two definitely right for the period (1941 - 42), but the second two might possibly be a bit later.

Second episode is May 2nd.