Hi all, it's great to be a new member of this forum. I have recently caught the radio restoration bug and am looking for information on restoring my grandfather's Mullard MBS 1050. I have heard that it is very similar (maybe identical) to the Philips model 111.

Any help would be much appreciated, I am trying to restore the radio in time for his 80th birthday. He used to take the radio on picnics with my grandmother when they first knew each other and I would love to be able to present him with the restored radio.

Thanks!
Sam

Welcome to the forum.

MBS 1050 schematic and notes sent to your email address.

Thanks mate! I will post some pictures when it's finished

You're welcome. Please do.

Hi Sam.

I'm sure you are aware that the batteries used for this set have not been available for over 50 years. Battery powered valve radios became redundant overnight with the advent of transistor portables in around 1960.

You can make a power source by using a few 1.5 volt "D" cells in parallel for the filament supply ("A") and 10 X 9 volt batteries in series for the HT supply ("B"). The original "B" supply consisted of 2 X 45 volt batteries. There also have been some voltage step up units available from time to time that make up the "B" supply using a couple of AA cells.

And yes you are right, the MBS 1050 is actually a rebadged Philips 111. The manufacturers service information for both sets, apart from the branding, is also identical.

There is some additional service information for the Philips 111, including mods here:-

http://www.kevinchant.com/uploads/7/1/0/8/7108231/111abcdef.pdf.

Battery powered valve portable radios have for too long been neglected in the vintage radio collecting world and a lot have been trashed as a result. I am glad that there is more of a interest in them nowadays as they played an important part of our radio history. I'm sure your grandfather will be rapt!!

... and if you're interested in a battery eliminator (for powering the set from the mains), let us know.

There are some subtle differences between the Philips and Mullard versions. Some had different dials and generally the Philips had maroon bakelite while Mullards are black. I have quite a few of the different models of this series, the later ones having mains as a power option. I even have a RCA victor 110v set.
Fleetwood also have put their badge on them too.