OK, I have had a look at the photos.
The "matchstick" as you call it is in fact a trimming capacitor, in the front end of the receiver.
I notice that a lot of caps throughout the unit have been replaced, the ones around the trimmer and aerial coil also.
The whole unit is not what I first envisaged.
You really need the correct circuit, as I also notice it has induction tuning.
So we can locate the correct position of the external aerial connection.
And make sure all caps changed are of the correct value, particularly in the RF stage.
If these caps were changed by a radio serviceman, then we would assume maybe an alignment has been made?.
It may need adjustment in which case it would be very difficult with these type of trimmers and no test equipment,or experience for a novice to perform.
Maybe a external longwire aerial connected to the right position, would be enough to solve your immediate problem.
I'll do a search around for the correct circuit and try and steer you in the right direction.
Someone else within this forum may have this info. Or the previous owner may have all the answers.
JJ

OK, more research,
I believe the aerial wire should be connected to the middle tag of the 3 tag terminal strip next to your "matchstick".
Please check with a multimeter that there is no high volts on this terminal before connecting a wire to it.(in case I'm wrong!!!).
A blue styro cap also goes from this terminal to the variable inductive tuner coil/assembly.
The terminal should also measure 47K ohms to deck.(Earth/Chassis).
I can only assume you are aware of the dangers of working with this type of equipment, and know all the precautions.
JJ

JJ

do you think the circuits have been souped up, or just repaired.

I'll get back in a couple days about the above tips and let you know

Probably just repaired, and recapped.
But unfortunately some repairers either think they know more than the engineer designers or don't have the correct components
on hand and substitute.
JJ

It hasn't got an aerial of its own: That "match stick thingo" is a capacitor I would suggest that the brown wire exiting the top of the chassis next to the 6AN7A is the wire for the dial lights. Not an antenna connection.

Marc

Bingo

I fiddled where you said JJ, and whatdoyaknow, I have a working radio. Its been on 3 hours now, 3AW,with great sound and reception.

Here is what worked; I put a 2m wire at the base of the tuner, see this photo> https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipPZ5BQB7EIDWPl--kzA841baWXiX6Mjkt3Z6xF1

Works like a beauty. But it has 4v in it.

What do people think??

If that is right, the next thing I need is a four pin plug for the speaker plugin. Can anyone help me there.

(happy happy)

Ok

So I switched to the post opposite and where the square trimpot links in. There the reception is as good, and there is no voltage in the wire.

Id say this is the permanent home for the antenna wire.

I don't think that is correct.
Should go to the centre terminal of the 3 tag, tag strip with a blue styro cap which is the aerial coupling cap connected to it.
From what I can see, from the pictures you loaded, and from the hand drawn circuit, elsewhere on this forum.
It has to be correct to be SAFE.
JJ

Not able to view your photo

"One account. All of Google.
Sign in with your Google Account"

I don't have an account. You need to make it so anyone can view.

I was able to view the photos without a Google account. Perhaps the settings were changed following this.

Correction: That was the first lot of photos, the second does require a sign-in.

I would also be of the opinion that the tuning gang is not the right place for an antenna. The 4V is likely to be AGC and with it there it will not tune properly: It has to be on the primary of the coil.

I am not in favour of pulling things to bits, without cause, but if all else fails a photo of the pan of the other one mentioned, may be of benefit.

The price & where a set was aimed in the market often governs how it was built. One of the absolute best sets aimed for the very top, that I have worked on, was a three band AWA factory special (believed a one off "Golden Watch effort") from the 1930's. I have not seen much, even now, that can get near it for performance. It was based on an R301A. But things changed radically (no expense spared, designed to impress).

I actually had to reverse engineer it to get the circuit so I could fix it. R301A was back biased & had an optional PP amplifier. No back bias in this one.

They kept the valve line up, but added one, (and the parts list has the parts for both), kept the Local DX switching albeit that it had delayed AGC. They also kept the first IF which is a bandpass filter, but changed the frequency. Also kept was an electrodynamic speaker, but added was the choke used in the PP amp. The power transformer was also a bigger one. The OP transformer was changed to a PP driver & the original R301A tube changed to self bias.

The reason for that was an added, on chassis transformer coupled 6A6. 3SR is around 60Km plus from me and the DX switch had to be cut back to its middle setting to hold it back in daytime. This thing had a big WOW factor, would have loved to keep it. Full volume no signal not a whisper, you would not know it was on.

Well

Imagine a vertical rectangle. On the Lh side there are three connector points. on the Rh there are four connector points.
The top Lh has a square trimpot hooked to it. This is where the antenna wire has the most gain. If I connect to the middle (empty) connector, I get reception, but not like the above. The top Rh has good reception, but the wire is live. It is not live on the Lh side. The bottom Rh connector where the blue (cap) is, gives no reception.

Maybe someone can adapt my photos with some arrows and talking points.

I cant get in at the moment, seems the Net is slow often here.

Ads, as mentioned before someone else has submitted a hand drawn circuit from which in combination to your photos looks
Fairly right.
If you can recognise the symbol for an aerial, then it would be a good learning project to work out which components it connects to.
JJ

Thanks JJ

I cant see the symbol mentioned. From school I remember the 'earth' symbol being a series of reducing lines, not a triangle.

Anyway, I'm going to go with what I have found. You mention safety. The only problem I can think of is if some components fail, the antenna wire may become live, but should only be low voltage DC. I think. No more risk than the rest of it, and the chassis.

So, if there's no objections Ill move on to the turntable. Maybe more to discuss there.

Thanks people.

Can anyone help me with a four pin plug. Or is the net just as easy.

And also

does anyone have an idea of the year of this radio, Kingsley RKR??

Even a rough gestimate?