Hi everyone

I've recently acquired an old Australian console radio here in Canberra and would love to find out more about. It's my first foray into vintage radios. The brand, 'Rheola', doesn't show up on any of the lists I've found (i.e. this site's list of Australian brands, HRSA, Radiomuseum) and I'm a bit baffled by the little I've found.

What I know:

- The ARTS&P licence number A 6[3?]883 suggests it's from 1934. Interestingly it has 2CR on the dial, though, which only began broadcasting in 1937, but I found references to plans for 2CR in newspapers from 1935 so I assume its future frequency was known at the time. There's also a what I think is a New Zealand station on the dial, 1YA.

- It has a small circular dial about 90mm across, covered with possibly a nitrocellulose lens, again, implying early to mid-1930s, perhaps?

- The only other Rheola receiver I can find is in the National Museum of Australia's collection and is an older 1920s model (object number 1985.0050.0303) https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/252000054

- A similar receiver to the one in the National Museum of Australia (possibly the same one?) was used in the 2008 Baz Luhrmann movie 'Australia' https://www.tuberadio.com/robinson/Information/CCFD08/CCFD08_Rheola.jpg

- Searching Trove turns up that Rheola wireless sets were advertised by Wizard Electrical House, Forbes (1928-1929), Charles Tripp at the Silver Star Garage in Campbelltown (1928-1930) and W G Harris Garage in Shellharbour (1928-1951). A 'TW' in Shellharbour also referred to owning one in The Wireless Weekly, Vol. 13 No. 14 (29 March 1929) at page 55.

What I don't know is anything about the Rheola brand itself. Where was it manufactured and by whom, how many models they made, what years and so on? Were they really still manufacturing radios up to 1951 given how little trace they've left?

The radio still works (the previous owner had it turned on when I came to pick it up) but I'm not planning to turn it on again until and unless someone qualified looks at it. I may just leave it in original condition since I'm not sure it's ever been worked on and I quite like it as is.

If there's any source of information anyone could point me to it would really help satisfy my curiosity.

Welcome to the forum.

What valves are in that radio?

Do you have a photo of it that you could share?

Thanks for the welcome.

I've had a look and from what I can tell from the chassis markings and looking at a couple of the valves there's an 80, 2A5, 2A6, 57 and 58 (the last three are in cans).

Having had a closer look, I think someone might have restored the radio at one stage. The 2A5 had a sticker with a test result on it. And I can see the speaker grille cloth was replaced. But it must have been a few decades ago judging by the dust and the rusting on a few nails used to hold in the grille cloth.

I've submitted photos some photos to Brad.

Just FYI, there is no mention of Rheola in Stokes Golden Age of Radio and More GAOR, or in the first four volumes of HRSA.

I've got a radio with much the same valve lineup and it worked last time I tried. I don't know what brand it is, but it has a green-painted chassis.

I rarely use it because the 2A5 has to be borrowed from another radio because I don't have any spares.

Photos uploaded. Sorry for the delay - I have been away for the past few days.

Thanks Brad. Robbert, as you can see the chassis for the Rheola is also painted green.

It looks quite similar. Mine has the word "Success" on the dial, leading me to believe both radios (yours and mine) are badge-engineered from the same company. The valves are in the same places, and so is the dial mechanism.

Mine looks like the "luxury" model, as it has an extra RF stage, making it a 6-valve set. There's also a 4-pin socket on the back for a SW converter, and the power cord uses a 2-pin socket, similar to an old jug socket. There's screw pins for the gramophone, the aerial and earth. Most of the chassis is now a gold colour, as it spends a lot of time in the sun (even though it's inside the house).

Yours looks far and away more complete with all the parts, so congrats on getting such as nice-looking radio.

Unfortunately I can't help you with the history of the maker and so on, since I'm in the dark too.

Thanks Robbert. This is fascinating and provides another piece of the puzzle. I was wondering how such small producers could be manufacturing radios and the use of badge-engineering sounds very likely.

I do like the look of the radio. The art deco grilles on the old wirelesses of the period are a real art form. Some amazing industrial design.

Robbert, I have at least 1 spare 2A5 that I will never use.
Want it?
Email me!

Yes! Email sent.


Evan
I'll need to look at the other radio that has the 2A5 next week, because in some ways it bares some resemblance to yours too, even though the chassis is a very rusty blue rather than green. The cabinet was restored before I bought it, and it works. The valve lineup is different though.

Evan did you find a 2A5. I live in Canberra and have a spare!