Hi, I wondering if anyone has worked on a Classic 5 valve radiogram, going by the ARTS&P sticker, light blue no prefex, 1955 - 1960 but thats all I can find out.

The valve line up is 5Y3G, 6V6GT, 6BD7, 6SK7GT and the last valve has no markings. Has anyone came across that valve combination?

It works great and sounds fine, and as far as I can see has been restored, caps resistors and cord. There doesn't seem to be a lot of information around, and thought maybe someone here it may ring a bell.

Thanks.

Hey send us some pics.

Not sure if that valve line up is completely original.

Is the set dual wave, or broadcast band only?

Closest candidates that I can find:

Model TM5 amended (1950) Dual Wave 5Y3GT, 6AN7, 6SK7GT, 6SQ7GT, 6V6GT.

Model BTM (1954) All Wave 5Y3GT, 6AN7,6N8, 6BD7, 6V6GT.

How many pins does the unknown valve have? If 7-pin probably a 6BE6; if 9-pin probably a 6AN7. Otherwise does it have a top connection? What does it look like?

Classic Radio specialised in beautifully crafted home entertainment units. Their deluxe units were the elaborate cocktail cabinet radiograms.

Between 1946 & 1951 the Classic Radio factory was situated at 10A Claremont Ave., Malvern. The premises is a single fronted 2 storey shop & dwelling. This building still stands and is now a pattiserie/cafe not far from the Malvern railway station. In 1952 Classic Radio moved to larger factory premises in 80-90 Waverley Rd., East Malvern.

In late 1955 Classic commenced manufacting television sets. By mid 1956 Classic was taken over by the Reid/Murray group of companies. Television production ceased by about 1960. Classic did however maintain a service & spare parts division at 85 Waverley Rd., East Malvern until about 1964.

Contrary to information on other vintage radio sites, there is no connection between Classic Radio (& TV) Pty., Ltd. of Melbourne and Classic Radio Service of 245 Parramatta Rd., Haberfield, Sydney. Classic Radio (& TV) Pty., Ltd. did have a Sydney branch at 125 Botany Rd., Waterloo between 1949 & 1960.

Being a fairly small operation, Classic often chopped and changed their valve line-up in their models. For instance, the pentode section of a 6N8 can easily be used in place of a 6SK7GT.

All the known circuit diagrams for Classic radios were drawn up by the AORSM. The AORSM drawings often had mistakes and missed production changes. Classic often stamped their model designations on the chassis.

Is the unknown valve in this unit a 7 pin miniature, 9 pin miniature noval type or an octal? Identifying this valve could help in nailing the model of this unit.

There was a tendency early in the fifties to use valves like 6N8 & 6BD7 in places where least expected and these plus 6SQ7 all had diode plates.

The most common Minature Pentagrids have been listed, but it would be useful to know if the set is BC/SW and if the valve is a minature type or octal like 6SQ7

So far we are missing the Pentagrid. (call V1)

6V6 is the Audio output (call V4)

5Y3 is the rectifier (call V5)

6BD7 is a dual diode but AF amplifier (Call V3)

6SK7 Is a remote cutoff RF Pentode (Call V2)

In some sets, if changed, I would expect V2 as 6N8 or perhaps with the common 6BA6 in that position?

I have a Classic TM5 ..... 5Y3GT, 6J8GA, 6U7G, 6SQ7GT, 6V6GT ..... chassis only ..... refurbed several years ago ..... has separate AVC as described by Wa2ise in another Thread a few days ago. Good circuit to 'cut your teeth' on .... provided the usual precautions are taken. Lots of similarities between these circuits.

Cheers,
Ian

Thanks for all the info on the classic, there isnt a lot of info considering I see a lot around.
The valve Lineup is:-

6AN7
5Y3G
6V6 GT
6BD7
6Sk7 GT

I managed to look up 6AN7 and also found I had same Valve in an Astor Model GQR, So that has solve that problem, Thanks for all the help.

This radio was working fine when I brought it from a elderly neighbour,30 years ago,I thought I take to RR in Melbourne Just to get checked over.They told me a rebuild was the way to go,and went on about a whole lot of stuff I didnt understand,So $450.00 later,and 2 returns due to the on / off switch not working, ,I decided to learn a bit about refurbishing a valve radio. And the end result I think I was a taken advantage of because of my lack of knowledge.I know the basics now, and this web site is invaluable with the help thats there,Thanks Guys

$450 charged from RR they must have used gold plated parts and other people complain if they get charged $80 to $100 for the same job
Makes you think sometimes.

I wonder if someone had binoculars on the counter? Unless there is wiring to be done a straight out cap & the odd resistor & a cable, is probably about $30 worth of parts so I would love to know what they did.

I have a radio out of a MKII Zephyr that I have a receipt for, also a Melbourne job $300 & I have estimated at least 3hrs to actually do the job, which they did not do properly: Obviously Caveat Emptor is still applicable.

6AN7 was fairly common in sets with SW, replacing the octal 6J8 & its Philips equivalent ECH35. The Triode exciter (oscillator) they did maintain oscillation into the SW bands and made things a bit more compact. Many of the older sets did actually use a separate Triode valve as a dedicated oscillator.

Melbourne job $300 & I have estimated at least 3hrs to actually do the job

What hourly rate would you expect?

I was told up front it would be $ 450.00 so I guess nobody bended my arm.The radio had 1 owner and was well looked after, The Filter Caps and others were replaced, a few resistors, a new cord.No valves were changed,No rewiring need.The only problem was the on/off switch would not turn off, which is why I originally took it in ,But the issue which bug me the most is when I got it back the On / Switch was still the same,took it back again, returned , another faulty switch , back again,so far switch OK.No receipt with what was done to the radio ?, So I guess the bulk of the fee was for RR upkeep, replenish stock etc, But More importantly it got me Interested in these old valve radios, and how they are put togeather, and work.

Now we know the valve line-up have we established what model it is yet?

Is it Broadcast only (AM), BC/SW or BC/SW/SW (All Wave)?

It's only AM broadcast with phono.
I've searched but nothing on the net so far, but with the rego sticker 1955 1960 maybe combination.

I have found a set with the previous models RF section & the new models audio. At a transition point all sorts of weird things happen. So having substituted, chopped & changed valves would not be unusual, but was more common during the War.

Marc