Hello,
I'm new to all of this and have recently found an old "Robins Dual-Wave" 6-valve set, circa 1937.

Apart from some missing valves (1C6 & 1C4), it looks to be in amazingly good shape, but it's an old thing that requires A, B & C batteries.
There is a label, damaged, that describes the wire colours and voltages:

A 2 volts

Black .B
Green +B
Yellow +B 135V

Red +C
Brown -C 1 and 1/2V ?
Orange -C 4 and 1/4V?
Blue -C

I'd love to get this radio up and running and I'm wondering how I can identify the actual voltages needed and also if it's practical to consider building a 240V mains power supply for it (even solid-state).

Apologies if this is newbie nonsense, but any assistance is appreciated.
cheers, Bernie

Bernie, send me an email I'm in Moolap, I might be able to advise you.

Ron.

Photos uploaded.

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A valve a day keeps the transistor away...

A quick Trove search has found that the Robins Dual-Wave is a generic radio made especially for M. Campbell & Co. Ltd. of Scone & Muswellbrook, NSW.

The next step is to try and work out who actually made the radio. A complete valve line up + photos of the top & underneath the chassis may be helpful.

The two "C" voltages are -1½ & -4½. The green "B" voltage would most likely be 67½. The blue "C" tap looks like it has been marked off. If not, maybe -9 volts.

For those who are interested, the two Campbell's Corner buildings in these towns are still in use though have been divided up into smaller shops rather than the thriving department stores of the time.

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A valve a day keeps the transistor away...

One can get kits to run from mains, or battery, not withstanding that one of the suppliers of such items is quite ill. I have made them for the odd job, so that is not a major hassle. I have not heard much from Harold Sheeran but he does supply them ready made, if need be.

Given the valves we may be able to work it out voltage wise and if it has a "plate detector" some of them are not run at particularly high voltage.

Marc

Many thanks for your responses. I'm hopeful that I'll soon have this nice old radio back on line.

Hi Bernie

Know this is an old thread, but if you haven't made or sourced your power supply yet or sourced the missing valves, I might be able to help you. I designed a proper PCB some years back for power supplies for my collection and I still have some, with parts. This power supply can be used with radios with 2v or 1.5v valves and has C- voltages as well. It's in a plastic case and is small enough to fit inside most portables.

Get in touch if interested.

Ian

Ian, given his low postcount, it might be an idea to email Bernie directly.

Ian I might be interested. I will soon need a 135/2 volt suply

I note that Harold Sheeran's details have been changed in "Radio Waves" It looks like he has moved from Wodonga to Sydney

Marc