Visited a friend today, he has acquired an unknown Lekmek radio.

It is a large wooden mantel model, been left in the weather and the case is in very poor condition, but he will attempt to repair it.

The chassis is much better but has a noticeable covering of rust.

The original valve line-up is 6U7G (RF amp), 6A8G (mixer), 6U7G (IF amp), 6Q7G (det, AF amp), 6V6G (output), 80 (rectifier).

The 6V6G and 6Q7G have been replaced with small versions (GT).

The speaker has the speaker transformer and electromagnetic field coil mounted upon it, on the side of the case.

It has short wave, a tone control, and a switch for the PU.

The components are mounted on a large tagstrip which covers most of the wiring. There are 3 large (wet?) can capacitors mounted on the chassis, and all have been disconnected or bypassed.

Any ideas what it is? Anyone have a schematic that they'd like to share?

This friend passed on to me a Mullard MAS1110 in a nice case, and an unknown (so far) Kriesler. The Mullard has wrong valves fitted (2x 6V4 is never going to work!), while the Kriesler's case is cracked open at one end. In theory they should be repairable.

Can't find anything with that line-up. May pre-date AORSM.

Kriesler had a habit of moulding model numbers into the Bakelite bases of their radios in the 1940s and the model number for their radios usually started with "11-".

This Kriesler is a 11-60, a model with a plastic case.

I'll make a new thread on the repairs of this and the Mullard, next week.

As for the Lekmek, it seems it isn't documented?

I've asked the owner to sign up here and take some photos.

Lekmek:6V6 was about the last of those valves to be released in1936. So that should date it as should any ARTS&P label patent info etc.

Not an uncommon valve lineup.

6J8 was introduced around 38 & superseded 6A8 in SW sets.

Marc

As for the Lekmek, it seems it isn't documented?

Somebody with access to Radio Trade Annual, etc, might find it.

Lekmek are listed in the AORSM for 37 & 38 only. No radios with a 6V6.

6V6 might have originally been a 6F6G....

Hi There,

I'm the friend Robbbert is referring to. This Lekmek is an interesting unit. I'll get some pictures of it shortly. The back of the chassis has all the valve types stencilled on so I would assume the 6V6 is in the original lineup. I've not been able to locate any info on a Lekmek with a 6V6. It's definately a Lekmek as it's written all over it. It is old and I would say it has been worked on more than once in its lifetime.

Welcome to the forum

I look forward to the photos. I'd suggest one of the cabinet (front), one of the speaker in the cabinet, one of the radio (front), one of the back, one of inside, and one or more of the top - if possible.

What Lekmek didn't have was the knack for including model numbers and other details with its sets. What they did have was the knack for making some unusual cabinet designs and this is one of them, looking a bit like a cut-off console. The set was built in 1939 according to the ARTS&P label.

The speaker is mounted on the inside right-hand side of the cabinet. There's no photo of it unfortunately. The last photo shows the cord and plug from the speaker.

I wasn't sure about the plug that is in view so I had to refer back to the OP and it looks like I edited my post as you were writing.

Hi Brad,
I've sent you some shots of the speaker inside the cabinet but it's on the right hand side and the coil is used as the filter choke. I'm unsure what the numbers on the glass front represent 849/876. There's also a number on rear of chassis 11728.

The speaker looks to be in good condition. Not sure about the coil. I'll check it at some stage. If I can get a circuit diagram for a set with same or similar valve lineup it might help me trace the connections and at least determine what needs to be connected in order to get it to function. All the caps will be replaced. I'll check the resistors when the time comes. I might gut the can caps and stick the new electros inside those

There's also a band selector switch at the top of the cabinet, cable is cut.

Peter.

The number on the chassis would be a serial number. I doubt Lekmek would have made that many of this model, as they were a small manufacturer, though they would have certainly made more than 12,000 radios all-up.

A lot of manufacturers put weird numbers on the corners of their dial glasses. Some also have sight lines and crosses which seem to aid correct location during manufacture though I've never managed to get any of these markings to line up with anything significant.

The speaker cone does appear in good nick. The mice in your area must be well fed.