Who actually made these radios and how many models were there. I have bought one and it looks to be battery only so I am looking to work out the voltages . The valve lineup I believe is 1R5 1T4 1S5 3V4 6X4 but as I take decent photos and pull it apart I will check on that.

With a 6X4 in the line-up, I'm guessing it is an AC/DC set. The rest of the valves are typical battery set types.

Motor Spares manufactured the Chieftain brand.

They didn't make a huge range, as below. Year of manufacture may be approximate:

1948, Peter Pan Adventurer, Portable

1950, OE, AC BC
1950, AE, AC DW
1950, BP, AC/Bat. Portable
1950, CP, AC/Bat. Portable
1950, NE (Teardrop), AC BC Man.
1954, CPF(21), AC/Bat. Portable
1955, AV, AC DW RG
1955, EF, AC BC RG
1955, LF, AC DW RG

Things will become clearer when I pull it apart. Could be a challenge
And I know its a portable so with the above info its definetely AC/DC.

Well I have pulled it apart and have sent Brad some pictures. I could only identify two out of the 4 valves. That is 1h5gt and K63. There is no 6x4 and definitely battery only. I have sent pics of the valves so you may help in identifying them for me. I think it's a beaut little set to work on.

That is 1h5gt and K63

Not familiar with a K63. Is that KT63?

If so, it's a strange valve to have in a battery only set as it has a 6.3 volt filament and 250 volt plate voltage. Plus it's an octal base, whereas battery set valves will usually be 7 pin miniature.

Perhaps those 2 valves are not original/correct.

It does say k63 and it is 7 pin miniature I might take a photo and email it to you if your email is unhidden.

K63 may be the manufacturer's date code.

Unhide your email address and I will send you pictures GTC

Yes, send pics to me too, Carl.

The 1H5GT is a 1.4V battery diode - triode with an octal base. Common in the mid to late 1930s. Postwar, 7 pin all glass took over.

I've got a battery set at home somewhere with war surplus 7 pin valves in it that have numbers like that. They are actually the usual 1R5, 1T4, 1S5, 3V4 setup.

But I've never seen a set with a mix of octal and 7 pin battery valves, which is what yours seems to be.

Your K63 is a 1R5, which looks like it has replaced a 1A7GT, maybe in the factory when they ran out of 1A7s.
Whichever, it was a long time ago!

Your left-hand Octal valve is a 1N5GT or 1P5GT (IF amp, could be either, one of these is a remote cut-off type for smoother AGC), the right hand one is a 1Q5GT (audio output).

Set looks immediate post war to me.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if it actually runs as-is (with the valves in the right sockets of course.)

Some of the wiring is a little tatty and the battery wires are not colour coded so I will fix all that. Even if it does work I will recap it . I am assuming that this would be negative ground on this set ?

Negative earth would be usual. Electrolytic connections should prove that (assuming no prior tampering).

Has the model been determined yet? I can't locate a reference to a 4 valve battery only Chieftain in the usual places.

However, there are quite a few popular line-ups for 4 valve portables with octals among other brands.

So what does your set have? Three 7 pins and one octal?

Other way around GTC. All octal except for 1R5.

I'm just digging a set of bottles out of the garage!

Found 'em! I'll pack & post tomorrow.

What I am trying to say is the battery wires are not colour coded ( thinking someone has tampered with it ) so I am assuming that the one that ultimately is grounded via the on off switch would be negative. I will change this because I dont want any little accidents when connecting the battery.

I will be checking the valves on Wednesday night as well. If they are not good I will let you Know Ian, I do appreciate the help.