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 Help please to identify early Holden Radio
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 Return to top of page · Post #: 16 · Written at 6:42:39 PM on 5 February 2023.
Ian Robertson's Gravatar
 Location: Belrose, NSW
 Member since 31 December 2015
 Member #: 1844
 Postcount: 2449

Your radio was made in 1936. The "C" denotes this.

On this site:

https://vintage-radio.com.au/default.aspx?id=22

or a briefer article that deals specifically with the ARTS&P story:

http://vintagewireless.byethost12.com/articles/dating.html?i=1


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 17 · Written at 7:39:42 PM on 5 February 2023.
MonochromeTV's avatar
 Location: Melbourne, VIC
 Member since 20 September 2011
 Member #: 1009
 Postcount: 1201

1936 is a wee bit early for a Model 6395 (CG). The CG was released in 1938 and had push-button tuning.
,
The likely candidates now could be: 220 (DA), 6376 (EE), 6376F (FD), 12376 (FB). Valves 78, 6A7, 78, 6B7S, 41, 84; Vibrator PM131 (6 volt) or PM132 (12 volt). Model 220 was either 6 or 12 volts.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 18 · Written at 8:12:57 PM on 5 February 2023.
Ian Robertson's Gravatar
 Location: Belrose, NSW
 Member since 31 December 2015
 Member #: 1844
 Postcount: 2449

The CG is the closest model I can find on Kevin's site. The only difference I guess would be the head unit.

At least we now have a definite year for it!

Depends if the OP's radio has 6 valves (i.e. it has an RF stage) or 5. We haven't seen inside it yet.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 19 · Written at 11:39:08 PM on 5 February 2023.
Marcc's avatar
 Location: Wangaratta, VIC
 Member since 21 February 2009
 Member #: 438
 Postcount: 5364

I have sent a couple of photos to Brad of a set here that has lots of similarities. It cannot be before 1933.

The Vibrator appears to be 8V. Rectifier #84 (6Z4); Output #41 (6K6); Mixer probably autodyne #78 (6K7): Mouse in it dead. Did not remove other 2 tubes look the same.

Those tubes were later fitted with octal bases and re-numbered, as listed, often that meant that the only differences in many sets were base changes, heater voltage changes and the circuit stayed the same.

The early Genuine Holden workshop manuals, Like my Ford one, did have circuits and details of the radios. I did have a debate with a 48-215 owner on his radio which was Firestone Air Chief made by Astor but it was the universal one used in Vauxhall and Holden and badge engineered for lots of other stuff.

I have a suspicion that what you have may pre-date Holden as a car & was something like a Buick.

Had another dig 78 is missing TC and another is loose add 6B7 Duo Diode Pentode and 6A7 Pentagrid

So we have a TRF stage, Pentagrid, IF, Det first audio, Audio, Rectifier & V4006.

Astor 8662 car radio
Astor 8662 car radio


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 20 · Written at 8:57:05 PM on 6 February 2023.
Brad's avatar
 Administrator
 Location: Naremburn, NSW
 Member since 15 November 2005
 Member #: 1
 Postcount: 7382

Photos uploaded to Post 19.


‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
A valve a day keeps the transistor away...

 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 21 · Written at 7:39:31 AM on 9 February 2023.
Graechel's Gravatar
 Location: Tamworth, NSW
 Member since 27 January 2023
 Member #: 2536
 Postcount: 13

My unit has 5 valves and looks VERY similar to Post19 apart from the Logo.

Have resisted removing valves so far but can do so to identify if of any further use.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 22 · Written at 12:47:29 PM on 9 February 2023.
Brad's avatar
 Administrator
 Location: Naremburn, NSW
 Member since 15 November 2005
 Member #: 1
 Postcount: 7382

Graechel, Can you please send the second batch of photos as JPGs. I cannot embed PDF files unfortunately.


‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
A valve a day keeps the transistor away...

 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 23 · Written at 9:43:32 PM on 9 February 2023.
Brad's avatar
 Administrator
 Location: Naremburn, NSW
 Member since 15 November 2005
 Member #: 1
 Postcount: 7382

Photos uploaded to Post 15.

An excellent case of badge-engineering.


‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
A valve a day keeps the transistor away...

 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 24 · Written at 10:16:03 AM on 11 February 2023.
Ian Robertson's Gravatar
 Location: Belrose, NSW
 Member since 31 December 2015
 Member #: 1844
 Postcount: 2449

Are you sure about the 5 valves, not 6?
Does the tuning gang have 2 or 3 sections?

If it's 5 valves, my original suggestion might be closer. The push-button tuning feature only affected the head unit on the bowden cables. Your's might well be an interim model or a composite of two radios. Either way that circuit should be very close.

Great project to get going. Next you'll need to acquire a mid-30's Chevrolet to put it in!


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 25 · Written at 12:04:49 PM on 11 February 2023.
Graechel's Gravatar
 Location: Tamworth, NSW
 Member since 27 January 2023
 Member #: 2536
 Postcount: 13

Thanks Ian, The pics now on Post 15 should answer your questions.
Composite a possibility as I have no knowledge of the history but lack of any other hardware casts doubt..
Unfortunately restoration as a project is now beyond me but someone else may grab the opportunity.
Have a bag of old valves to catalogue and that will have to be my project.

Once had, or family did, a mid 30s Plymouth. Does that count??
Will write up an introduction shortly which is what should have done when joined..


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 26 · Written at 1:19:09 PM on 11 February 2023.
Marcc's avatar
 Location: Wangaratta, VIC
 Member since 21 February 2009
 Member #: 438
 Postcount: 5364

Pretty much as I expected very much an Astor built unit under licence to Firestone Tyre & Rubber. or NASCO; Which means you may also find it in "Rider" USA. via Nostalgia Air.

Does not seem to have been got at. Standard Autodyne arrangement.

Plymouth is not GM.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 27 · Written at 3:03:11 PM on 11 February 2023.
Graechel's Gravatar
 Location: Tamworth, NSW
 Member since 27 January 2023
 Member #: 2536
 Postcount: 13

Marcc, comment was somewhat tongue in cheek.
Thanks for link suggestion.
I am digging deeply from what I thought was a basic request and all your help has stirred a real challenge.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 28 · Written at 6:44:24 PM on 11 February 2023.
Ian Robertson's Gravatar
 Location: Belrose, NSW
 Member since 31 December 2015
 Member #: 1844
 Postcount: 2449

Yep, those pics weren't up when I last looked at that page.

6 valves, therefore not the model I suggested. Close, though.

A couple of observations:

Rectifier looks like a 6X5GT, which means the socket has been changed. It can't be original because the radio clearly dates to 1936 and the 6X5 didn't appear until 1939.

Looks like it's been worked on extensively when fairly new. The replacement of the rectifier and its socket was a common piece of surgery when the vibrator transformer secondary tuning cap failed. By this time the original rectifier was hard to get.

Must have been the most common failure point in vibrator car radios, I certainly replaced a lot of them when I was a kid fixing radios for the garage across the road.

The cap I spoke of earlier is a paper one that shows signs of heating, as most of them did.

Interesting!!!


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 29 · Written at 1:12:21 AM on 12 February 2023.
Marcc's avatar
 Location: Wangaratta, VIC
 Member since 21 February 2009
 Member #: 438
 Postcount: 5364

All tubes in mine are six pin series rectifier as stated is #84 Later 6Z4. That is not a GT envelope. Most latter changes (If done) would be socket only with little need to change the circuit. The early design of 6X5 despite being designed for car radios was a horror story.

They had a profound habit of going short & Zenith seemed to specialise in destroying them. One never changed a vibrator unit without changing the buffer / padder as they had an attrition rate. Often replaced them with 2KV types, or mains line caps. Cap value used is critical.

Many Astor radio's ended up badge engineered for a variety of vehicles CS & CR I think was one: fixed a few car radios. Use 630V caps in the PSU. Especially if its going into a vehicle with Kettering ignition.


 
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