Hi everyone, I need help identifying the radio I picked up yesterday.

It is a 5 valve from what looks like the 1930's based on the valves and construction.

Valve lineup is V30, TH21c, TDD13c, PEN3520 and an unknown metal frosted valve.

The name in the dial is Benson.

It uses a voltage divider and the beautifully constructed but simple case has a leather carrying handle on top and a built-in aerial in a square cardboard case inside.

It is dual band and has only 3 knobs - wave changer, tuning and volume.

I have taken some pictures which are you can find in the link below.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1y5UiZ02Yf9Di_YgFU8eKVvQJoibgNSHo

OK! TDD13C has a 13V heater, so that is a likely treacherous AC/ DC set as that is what that valve (double diode /Triode) is built for.

That also explains why the transformer is conspicuous by it's absence. "Franks electron tube pages" will have reference to some of those valves.

Do not attempt to power it: Touching the chassis may be the last thing you do.

It is possibly British by the valves but is as far as I can see European, especially if the dial is in Metres. It looks like it may have country of origin on the dial, but its too blurry to read. Perhaps a re-appraisal of what you used to take the photos & the method.

Oh nice! I'm jealous. Such a lot of unusual valves. Let's hope they all still work.

I'd also say European, because before they had the Philips numbering scheme, the valve numbers were all over the place as you can see.

It would be great to see this working again one day.

There was a Benson Engineering Company, Chicago, Illinois which manufactured radios from 1920s to 1930s, however the valve line-up is roughly consistent with British AC/DC radios of the 1930s such as Bush, Ekco, etc.

A good front on photo of the entire case would be useful.

Thanks everyone for your comments. I have added lots more photos as requested.

It seems that the name on the bottom edge of the dial is the manufacturer of the dial only - see this thread.

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?t=73954

I also sneakily added some photos of the other two radios I picked up last night with this one, and a couple of videos of the first one as repaired (it is currently only awaiting dial re-stringing.

I won't be powering up the old one, as it uses rubber insulation on the wiring and that will need to be replaced after I trace out the circuit.

Cheers, Scott D.

Money Hicks Ltd was a signwriting and printing firm in London.

It looks Bush-like to me, but it may be a kit radio.

Thanks GTC, I'm coming to the same conclusion.

Answer.

https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_hersteller_detail.cfm?company_id=11248

Marcc: Not sure where you came across that model reference, but the Benson Cameo is listed as USA made by Benson Engineering Company, Chicago, Illinois, with lineup:

202STH (20v), 13VPA (13v), 202DDT (20v), 402OT (40v), 40SUA (40v) ... filament string = 133 volts

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/benson_all_wave_cameo.html

Here's the article with photo and schematic in Wireless Retailer and Broadcaster, July 16, 1938 :

https://elektrotanya.com/benson_all_wave_cameo.pdf/download.html

I think that article should be enough to help you out with what you have Scott D.

There are two ways to search: One is for the make & model; The other is to search for the manufacturer.

I chose Manufacturer. If you download the circuit there may be clues? It could be a different model, or made for a specific voltage. If it is to cover US & Europe I would expect perhaps a Barretter (or Ballast tube in USA).

Alternate is that the heater / filaments add up to 115V in USA & 230V in Europe.

There are two ways to search: One is for the make & model; The other is to search for the manufacturer.

Yes, I did both and only came up with the USA model, and posted the link to it.

If you download the circuit there may be clues?

There is no schematic, nor line-up, on the RM site, in fact there is only a reference to the article which I posted a link to above.

Thanks Marcc & GTC,

It seems that Benson did try a foray into England for a bit - either that or someone imported some chassis and fitted them with British valves.

My chassis is identical to the drawings, but with the different valves of course.

I will be doing a photo based resto on this one, and hopefully I can dig up some records from the British register of businesses and the local wireless magazines of the day.

Probably a reverse engineer job. I do resort to that at times.

Normally I endeavour to get the pinouts of the valves and then using AutoCAD draw the layout & then play join the dots.

Colour is your friend Eg Red for the B+, but not before the choke, blue screens etc. It may have the same layout as the other one?

Probably a reverse engineer job.

Did you miss this? "My chassis is identical to the drawings"

LOL stop arguing guys! The metal chassis is the same, but I haven't traced the circuit yet, so I'll let you know as the restoration progresses.