Hi All

I think that I have a 11-4 Kriesler Beehive radio. The only thing that makes me think it is an 11-4 is a vague Reference to 11-4 when you Google Kriesler Beehive.

The main question is.... How many models do people know of Kriesler Beehives. I know that the 11-4 has many different Variances (11-4a through to Z and beyond).

The second question is... Does anyone have any diagrams that are clear The one I have I cant make out any of the details.

Thanks
Dan

NOTE: new info on page 2

According to what's been posted on the Radiomuseum site, the two broad types are divided by the rectifier: 5Y3 or 6X5.

Which rectifier does yours have?

Might be an idea to let us know the full valve line-up.

I have the circuit and 3 pages of notes detailing the differences between the variants, but they are not very clear scans.

Hello Flakes

Can help with the 11-4. Open your email & will send.
The schematic I have is also not very clear, but usable; also have pages describing the differences for models A to Z

Sometimes the number was on the cabinet. From memory there were around 26 variants.

I did have paper work.

Marc

OK.. I was right. I have paperwork and it is clear that I was so happy with what I had, that I redrew the circuit exclusively for a set I repaired. my recollection is that it was a hybrid incorporating mod 23 and another. (6X5)

These things had more changes that a baby with dissentry.

They changed the rectifier & power transformer
Some had ECH35 not 6J8
They changed the speaker to a permag adding a choke.
They changed cap & resistor values.
Some had a tone control & that was modified
They changed the coil set and the gang
They changed the screen arrangement

I can scan, the mods page is a bit ordinary.. but.

Marc

Had a check in my Kriesler circuits, and found the modification lists for the model 11-4 to 11-4PZ which makes 37 variants if I haven't miscounted. The serial number of the radio will give some indication of which variant it might be. Low numbers will be an early version, high numbers a later one. The radio should have a cardboard label with its model and serial number details on it somewhere. Of course it may be missing after all these years.

I have a 300dpi scan of the circuit if you still need a higher quality scan.

Hello TV collector

The 11-4 schematic that I have is not very clear - the identity of some components is fuzzy and can't always be worked out by elimination and referral to the parts list or modification details. eg the second valve.

Had marked them with pencil on a copy I have and was considering marking up a scan of my 11-4 schematic in a photoshop type program to clearly identify each component or my best guess, as a service.

However if your 11-4 schematic is clear this would not be necessary.

So the bottom line is, how readable is your 11-4 schematic?

Mine is originally an AutoCad drawing, It may not be exactly the same as what you have, as I said it was the set I had fixing.

I have a typed list of the parts in this one. With all the info that has come to light we may be able to compile something decent and / or find out what you actually have?

What we can establish:__

Rectifier 6X5 or 5Y3 (Transformer will be different)
Converter 6J8 or Philips ECH35 or AK32
Det Audio (Reflexed) 6G8 (Not 6B8 they are different)
Output 6V6.

Any valve change results in resistor changes, any circuit proffered may not be what you have and must be considered a guide and ammended

Marc

Hello Marc

The paperwork I have is headed Kriesler Radio, has the schematic for the 11-4 with a list of parts. Below that is the description of changes making up models 11-4A though to model 11-4GZ. Pages are numbered 262 and 263. I don't have models up to 4PZ mentioned by TV Collector.

This I got twenty years ago, probably from Darryl Kasch.

"we may be able to compile something decent and / or find out what you actually have?"

Agree with the idea of a Wikepedia type of effort to sort this out as the Beehive is common, unique and iconic of bakelite radios.

I have some Kriesler adds (photocopies) for the beehive marketed with the timber 11-5 and also with the bakelite 11-7 if anyone is interested. Looks like a promotion to encourage households to have two radios (from Radio Electrical Weekly, 1947). Shades of the two car family.

I have the original Kriesler service sheets for the 11-4 radio which is 14 pages long. 11 of those pages are for the modifications. The clarity of the schematic is quite good and easily read considering the original diagrams small size.

It would be nice to have a definitive write up on these radios and I'm happy to supply a copy of the scans to anyone interested.

That would be ideal. Can you scan to a pdf file?

Brad, would it be in order to put the whole kit & kaboodle in the thread (14 pages!)? Or would it be possible for the Forum to host it as a pdf say.

What ever is easiest I reckon. If you want the files hosted then that is probably the way to go. I will host then linkto them in your post.

I've created a pdf file from the scans I had and sent it to Brad.

The file is around 9.8 Mb in size to preserve the original quality and hopefully it is good enough for everyone's needs.

If necessary, I can rescan the first page at a higher resolution but I feel that the current 300dpi resolution is clear enough.

Kriesler 11-4 Technical Service Instructions (9.8MB)

I wouldn't worry about rescanning - in Acrobat Reader you can shrink and enlarge as required.

There are articles on the radio in

July 1996 HRSA Radio Waves
Jan 1998 Electronics Australia