Hi, I have a 1959 Mercedes 220S sedan with a metal radio blank that has an Australian radio installed. It has a rectangular window with a row for 6 states (WA, QLD, NSW, VIC, SA, TAS). There is a black tuning knob and on/off volume knob either side of the window. On the back it is stamped "AT Anodeon 1138" which could be the transistor or the model. The Radio Museum website suggests it might be a radio made by Electronic Industries in Melbourne (who made MW radios for local vehicles such as the Air Chief and Diamond Dot). It also has a curious ARTS & P licence label with number. There is also a serial number AJL002249. Any pointers on identifying this radio appreciated. You can view an image of the radio on the Mercedes Benz Ponton community website that I posted recently on their bulletin board.

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

The radio you have is indeed made by Electronics Industries Limited (EIL). Going by the serial number it should be a model AJL. EIL made car radios to suit various models including the Benz, so it could be an original. The Anodeon AT1138 is a power transistor for the audio output. I may have a service manual for this radio, but will have to wait until I get home to be sure.

Cheers.

Hi again.

Yes I do have a service manual for the EIL AJL. But firstly I have to acknowledge a fellow member of this forum who supplied me with this manual some time back.

Electronic Industries Limited (EIL) is better known as Astor of Grant Street, South Melbourne. The AJL dates from 1958. This radio is whats known as a hybrid, meaning that it has both valves & transistors.

I just saw the picture of your radio you had posted. It is most certainly the original radio for your car. There is even the distinctive Astor "Diamond Dot" bezel just above the right hand knob.

The valves used are as follows: 6ES6, 6DS8, 6DR8 & 6BA6. The transistors are CK874 & CTP1138. A later version valves are 6ES6, 12AD6, 6DR8 & 12BA6. Transistors are TS3-Z & CTP1138 (AT1138).

If you are needing this unit to be restored there is a place here in Melbourne who specialty is vintage car radios - http://nostalgicwireless.com.au/.

If you require the manual, click on to my profile and send me an email.

Cheers.

Hi,

Thank you for the valuable information.

I have sent you an email message.


Regards,

Bryce

Hi MonochromeTV,
I found Bryce's Post and photos together with your response while googling for information on my car radio. Actually mine is the same radio as Bryce posted since I bought the car from Bryce and exported it to Mauritius where I live. What a surprise...and what a small world! And the information you gave is valuable.
Anyway, I read that you have the service manual for this radio, and you even proposed to send a scanned copy to Bryce. Will you be kind enough to send me a copy of this manual. I am sending you an email in this connection.
Thanks in anticipation and kind regards
Cyril
(Tamarin Bay, Mauritius)

Hi Cyril.

Thats interesting as I saw an Australian Ford Falcon ( I think it was a XP or XM) near Tamarin Bay when I was in Mauritius some time back.

I think the 220S you got from Bryce was assembled in Australia and that is why it has a EIL/Astor/Diamond Dot radio instead of some exotic Blaupunkt. This particular Diamond Dot was one of the first Australian made car radios to use a transistor.

Just a word of warning. Do not attempt to operate the radio without the speaker connected otherwise you'll destroy the AT1138 output transistor. Early germanium transistors are getting harder to find these days.

I'll send a PDF copy of the manual to be uploaded here so that others who may need the same information can benefit.

Astor AJL Service Manual

Regards.

Hi,
Thanks a lot for posting the manual. I've downloaded it and it's very valuable to me as it's about the Merc's original radio. This Merc which I bought from Bryce is in very original condition and complete. This manual certainly adds to the originality.Thanks also for the advice against switching on the radio without speakers. This is something I could have done during the process of connecting the radio.
Regarding the Ford Falcon, you've been lucky because there's only one on the island and it's rarely on the road. I think it's an XP. I'm actually a classic car collector and I once approached the owner and asked whether he would sell. He would not, unfortunately for me.
Anyway, thanks again and kind regards
Cyril

Hi Cyril.

I'm happy to have been able to help. Its always good to have the original manual on hand.

As to the Falcon, I got my wires crossed. I remember now that I saw it in Port Louis. The car I saw near Tamarin was an HQ Holden Statesman. I had to have a closer look at it to make sure it wasn't a South African Chevrolet Constantia. You've probably seen that car around as well.

I explored the entire island on a motorbike and saw lots of well maintained older cars on the road.

Regards.

Holden sold more of the HQ series cars than any other with more than 450,000 made for local and export markets - not a bad run for under three years. I wouldn't be surprised if they made their way to every corner of the world at the time, through official and unofficial channels.

Whilst I was aware of Mercs being made locally I had no idea they sported Australian radios as well - a jolly good thing they did I reckon.