No markings on the chassis at all except / 234. The tube compliment is
1 x UX-280
1 x 2A5 Ken Rad
2 X National Union NU-57r
1 X Cunningham Radiotron with a bottom marker J14. Looks very similar to the NU-57r

Any ideas? I can't seem to find anything on the NU-57r's at all.

The speaker is an AMPLion Q25 (2500 ohm) still working as well, the speaker that is.

Interesting dial in that it has no call signs, only 0 - 100

There is the Raycophone Peewee with 57, 57, 2A5, 80
http://www.hws.org.au/RadioHistory/manufacturers/Raycophone.htm but it is a mantle.

Looks like we need some photos to sort it out.

Yep, photos please. Meanwhile, is it a table model or a console?

This is a console. I've sent some pictures to the administrator to post.

The tube configuration may be a
57, 57, 57, 2A5, 80 or
57, 58, 57, 2A5, 80

Given the dial (0-100) it's got to be early 30s, probably not late 20s as the tube configuration looks too old for that period.

From looking at the Radio Museum, it may be a Kriesler but I'm sure there were many consoles that look similar.

A question though, what were the 3 knobs on the front for? One for tuning, one for volume, what's the third for, fine tuning?

The possibilities for 57, 58, 57, 2A5, 80 seem to be (searching http://www.hws.org.au/RadioHistory/manufacturers/ for 57, 58, 57, 2A5, 80 with Google)

1935 Croyden 524 524 AC BC Con.
1935 Univox 524 524 AC BC Con.
1934 Airmaster C25? AC BC Con.
1933 Seyon 25 AC BC Con.
1933 Huckell Eureka AC BC Con.

The three knobs probably were tuning, volume and tone, though the tone could be an on/off switch, or a wave switch if in the end it turns out to have shortwave as well.

On a radio that age it was possible that a power switch was never fitted.

Have a look at the EMMCO page 91 of August 2009 Silicon Chip and see if the chassis has similarities to it.

The dial pointer is unique on them. There is a Traxon Bros add showing several Chasses. The one shown is an AC5 Autodyne (Screen grid radio) despite seeing it incorrectly listed somewhere, advising them & getting no result.

Marc

This is a console. I've sent some pictures to the administrator to post.

Brad, have you received the pictures?

Yep. They will go up tonight.

I was looking through the forum and the cabinet is similar to this post.

http://vintage-radio.com.au/default.asp?f=1&th=197.

The octagonal dial is identical to mine as is the general shape and type of wood used. I'm pretty sure it's the same manufacturer, just wonder who?

I've got to get a hold of a new 57 pentode as the anode cap at the top has been broken off. What's the best place to purchase a working one?

Not sure if any of the usual dealers mentioned on here would stock 57s. One of them, or a forum member, might chime in.

Otherwise, as a member of the Historical Radio Society of Australia (HRSA) you would have access to the Society's Valve bank and also to other HRSA members who sell valves.

Alternatively, if you enter "57 vacuum tube" into eBay you'll find plenty of USA suppliers.

It is widely believed that Australia had a higher number of consoles as a proportion of total sales than other countries mainly due to higher home ownership and a desire here that the radio be a piece of furniture.

Because of this many consoles were 'no namers'. Some of these were made by backyard operations (by that I mean small, not necessarily dodgey) and others were made by the big companies and sold at a slightly lowered price through department stores, of which there were many in those days. Hordern's, Marcus Clark, Grace Bros. David Jones, Mark Foy's, Myers and Waltons to name a few. There were also dozens of smaller chains like Mick Simmons (the company that now sells sportswear) and Lawrence and Hanson (the company that is now an electrical wholesaler).

As for acquiring valves, I've always found buying cheap battered consoles and wrecking them the best way of obtaining a supply of spares including valves though this is probably not the most efficient way of getting a highly desirable valve. The 58 was not uncommon during the 1930s. It was often found in company with the 57, 80 and 42.

Whilst Resurrection Radio has changed hands a few times and changed address about a dozen times during its existance I understand that they keep a supply of many thousands of valves. They would be worth ringing up - (03) 9809 4850.

It's a single wave (broadcast band) receiver.

Chassis is in pretty good condition. Underneath looks pristine, and topside will brush up nicely with not too much effort. It doesn't appear to have been stored in a very moist environment so your IF coils and power tranny are probably free of corrosion.

Do you have the dial glass? If not, there are guys who supply same for a range of consoles, so you'll probably be okay for that.

It's a pretty simple looking set, so I'd go ahead and sketch the circuit with pencil and paper before doing any restoration work on it.

The capacitors -- save possibly for the for micas -- will be throwaways, bit the resistors may well be still within spec.

As for brand, I'm siding with Marcc and Brad. It's probably a generic chassis that was fitted to cabinets made for various resellers.

GTC,

You said...topside will brush up nicely with not too much effort.

Can you give me some pointers as to how to best "brush up" the metal work? Am I assuming a not too abrasive wire brush?

I'd start with various grades of steel wool -- coarse to fine -- then use a fine wire brush for the harder bits followed by fine steel wool to remove any scratches the brush may leave. Bunnings should have all of that.

Some would proceed to strip the chassis, clean it and then spray it silver to avoid rust in the future.