Identify HMV Car Radio

[Murphy Maniac]

Can anyone help identify the Model Number of the car radio pictured please. May be easier to source the missing knobs and tuning scale if I know the model number. Performance is great, it just looks a mess at the moment.

[Terry]

Are you sure it's really HMV? It looks a bit Motorola/Radiomobile to me. Probably re-badged.

Those dual spindles will be a standard size, so any set of knobs that fit would do if you don't mind them not being original.

As for the dial, a decent square-on picture including a clear rule of some kind for scaling could allow you to create a suitable replacement on the PC.

Is that centre knob really that long or is it exaggerated by the camera angle

[Mike Watterson]

It's got an HMV logo, so unless it's for the Japanese or USA market, it was sold by EMI.
RCA used the logo in USA.
JVC uses the logo in Japan.

However, I agree you'll not get new or NOS parts easily, certainly not the scale. There are ways to convert laser printout from black to white on clear film or even to create white water slide transfers. Likely you can find a knob that fits. Let us know the shaft diameter, there are about four possible sizes.

[Murphy Maniac]

It's unlikely that it was made for the overseas market as it is currently fitted in a 1956 Standard 10, and looks as if it has been for a very long time. The camera angle does distort the length of the knob, it has a total length from radio body to the top of 3.5cm, 2.5cm of which is the top half and 1cm for the inner collar. The two are joined together on the left hand pair to act as solely the on/off volume control whereas, I am assuming that the pair on the right will match but the 1cm deep part acts as the wavechange switch leaving the outer part for tuning.
I definitely need to sharpen my PC skills so that I can attempt a reproduction of the dial.

[Mike Watterson]

I wasn't suggesting it was made for the overseas market. RCA & JVC did their own stuff.
So it's HMV in UK = EMI, rather than a grey import. JVC can't use the Nipper logo outside Japan, and RCA couldn't use it in former Victor territories that had become separated companies. RCA is now owned by Thomson.
Inkscape (vector) or Gimp (bitmap). Either can do this and both are free on Linux and Windows. Both can let you design over a background scan of the existing scale. Producing it in white is the tricky bit. I use a white thermal transfer film and use baking paper/greaseproof paper in the laser printer so the toner comes off easily if doing water slide. Printing on clear film is easier. Then and iron or laminater makes the white film stick to the toner. The film is then peeled off. I did a new scale for the Sky Emperor this way as I had the wrong kind of water slide. You'd not notice that the new glass has plastic film behind it rather than the white printed on directly.

What's the shaft dia and I'll see have I any suitable knobs?

[Murphy Maniac]

Thanks for the info' Mike, I'll have to get swotting and improve my computer skills and have a go.
I have photographed and measured the shafts with results as follows: Depth of the brass part is 0.25" and the diameter is the same at 0.25". There are slots immediately opposite each other for the wavechange switch, one side is showing on the photo.
The centre spindle appears tyo have a rubber sleeve over it and its diameter is 0.188".
The overall length from top of the inner shaft to the bottom of the brass collar is 0.865"
If you do happen to have something which would do the job that would be fantastic, all expenses refunded of course.
Many thanks indeed for all your help on my behalf.

[Mike Watterson]

Unfortunately my dual knobs are either larger for mains TV/Radio or for later car radios with rubber covering and splined shafts on the inner knob.
You'll probably have to hack some bottle tops for wavechange and glue tops for the tuning knob. The UHU glue top might do for starting point of tuning and some juice bottle lid/top for wavechange.

I save various caps and lids just in case.

[Murphy Maniac]

Thanks for looking anyway Mike.
I'll try and be a bit inventive as you suggest.

[Terry]

Depth of the brass part is 0.25" and the diameter is the same at 0.25". There are slots immediately opposite each other for the wavechange switch, one side is showing on the photo.

The centre spindle appears tyo have a rubber sleeve over it and its diameter is 0.188".

Normally, I think you'll find that the outer, with slots as you describe, is ¼" dia (0.25") but the inner shaft is only ⅛" dia. (0.125").

Can you get an accurate measurement of the metal under that sleeve? If it does turn out to be ⅛" it may make it easier to source something that will fit if you remove the sleeve. If you leave the sleeve on for now, you will still retain the option of using either size.