I am a complete novice, who has just purchased his first radio, and I have been trying to identify exactly what it is?

It is an Australian made STC, which I believe from reading about the labels on this site was made in 1939, as it has an F prefix on the licence label?

Is the model number the one which says 'CODE - 1030' on the other label, and can anyone tell me about this particular model, including an estimate of value in working condition, with a tidy cabinet, so that I can satisfy myself that I wasn't ripped off?

Also, at the moment, it has coat hangers as aerials. What was normally fitted, and where can I get some?

STC had a model 1030 in their 1939 range, a 10 valve, 3 band set, with magic eye tuning.
It was a console radio, shortish legs I think, but I don't have a picture. Does this sound like your radio?

Harold

I think it would be referred to as a Tombstone type, from reading this site. The legs are the bottom of the sides which look like square columns, and they just continue to the ground. It sits a couple of inches off the ground.

The dial has a picture of a transmitter aerial on it, like the one on your blog picture. Then there is a large white needle coming from the top of that.

What is magic eye tuning?

Adrian

Could you send a photo to Brad, the site administrator, as in note 6 of the instructions on the page bottom.

Magic Eye tuning is the use of a special valve that indicates correct tuning by varying the angle of a green glow when viewed end on. It would normally be mounted with the end (about 1 inch diameter) showing through a window in the dial, or with a Bakelite escutcheon.

I would not suggest turning the radio on until it has been checked even though you may be tempted! Having looked at the circuit, I think it could be a good performer and it would be a shame to possibly damage it by powering up prior to a check up.

Harold

With the introduction of automatic gain control it was difficult to tune a radio accurately just from listening to the sound alone. This led to the introduction of visual tuning indicators of which the magic eye tube is one.
The magic eye tube visually indicates the state of tune by a varying green glow from the tube.
The original indicator tube for the 1030 is the 6T5 which is now as rare as hens' teeth. So if you have a working example in your radio it will increase its value substantially.

This STC "code" 1030, with its RF stage and push-pull 6A3 output, was the top of the range, ultra deluxe STC model for 1939. It would of been a very expensive radio in its day. From memory I think the STC's had a multi-layered dial glass with a hole for the magic-eye. You did not mention if this radio has been restored electrically or not. If it hasn't been restored, it would be a major project to get it up & running again, but would be worth it. And as per prior post, please don't be tempted to fire it up, if unrestored, as you could damage hard to find components.

Cheers.

QUOTE: STC's had a multi-layered dial glass

They do, with the added advantage that you can if necessary repaint it yourself, as the dial markings are etched into the glass. So to repaint, clean off the old markings (after noting carefully the colours), repaint, dry and scrape off the excess with a razor.

I was able to do this to my 830 (made in 1938); however the feature may not be general to all examples. It is not for the 632, another 1939 radio as is the 1030. So make sure the glass is etched for the markings before scraping off them off!

I will email a photo. Too late for not turning it on though. I already did and it works great! I will have a look if it glows.

It seems in great original condition and I even have the warranty card and Australian tuning chart originally supplied with it. So has anybody got an idea of the value? I'm still a bit worried I got ripped off, because I knew nothing about it when I bought it. I just thought it was a handsome object.

So has anybody got an idea of the value? I'm still a bit worried I got ripped off, because I knew nothing about it when I bought it. I just thought it was a handsome object.

Although some radios are considered "classics", and thus there's a sizeable market for them and based on published prices paid you can guess that they will sell for $X or above, generally speaking there's no recognised and updated pricing guide to these things.

Ultimately, a radio is worth what somebody is willing to pay for it the day the owner wants to sell it. On that day, maybe nobody wants to buy it. On another day, for whatever reason, there may be two or more who are willing to bid for it in an auction.

People buy old radios for numerous reasons, including sentimentality and aesthetics. Some are collectors who just display them on shelves; others want to get them working and to use them.

Unless you're a trader, whose motive is profit on a quick resale, don't worry about what you paid -- just enjoy the set for those things that attracted you to it.

As GTC says, the value of this radio today is subjective and depends on many factors.

The STC 1030 came in cabinet style "J" and was sold in 1939 for 48 guineas (48 pounds, 48 shillings or 50 pounds, 8 shillings).

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/52308312.

The average male weekly wage in 1939 was about 4 pounds, 10 shillings.

It is not a very good picture, but it'll give you some kind of idea of what it looks like

Cheers.

Regarding the 6T5, I have noticed in the past new old stock examples of this valve selling on eBay for over $100.

However there are presently on US eBay (www.ebay.com) a couple of examples with apparently good displays where the bidding is currently quite a bit less.

The 6T5 is characterised by an expanding and contracting concentric display, which differs from the expanding and contracting arc of other contemporary magic eye tubes.

Thanks to Monochrome 625 for the link.

That is definitely my radio, a STC 1030J.

With regards to one of my earlier questions which has been overlooked so far, what sort of aerial would have been fitted originally, and how can I get some. My radio has coat hangers at the moment.

There will probably be a terminal on the chassis or a wire coming out a hole at the rear of the chassis, marked "Aerial" or simply "A". In a metropolitan area, a metre or two of wire connected to the radio terminal or chassis wire will be enough to bring in your local stations.
On my STC radios, the aerial connection is a single wire coming out, and only identified on one as aerial, so just look for a single wire at the rear of the chassis.

Harold

Looking at the circuit diagrams, the 1030 earth arrangement is the same as the 830.

There are separate aerial and earth terminals as is usual with many radios. However the earth terminal is isolated from the chassis but can be connected to the chassis with a short flexible wire provided for the purpose, if desired. In this case the signal earth is provided by the earth through the mains plug. This arrangement would be OK for local strong stations, but might introduce too much static for weak stations and short wave.

Otherwise the signal earth is isolated from the chassis, and a separate signal earth can be connected with its own ground, and isolated from the mains earth. This type of earth will introduce less noise as it will not pick up as much static from household appliances.

Looking at the photo of the chassis, the 1030 differs from the 830 in that the 1030 has a third (right hand) spring terminal connected to the chassis (the other two have insulating washers under them).

On the 830 the left hand terminals are denoted A1 and A2 on the paper label at the back. Which leads to the question, how were these meant to be used? For a loop aerial? For a dipole suitable for short-wave reception? I wonder if the documents in the back answer this question.

Finding such documentation is rare. Could you photograph or scan?

Presently the radio is not safe to operate as the power cord is not anchored, and is twin only which means no mains earth. The usual three core power cord should be fitted by an electrician.