Identifican request - 3 Valve mains superhet

[Sparks]

I purchased this on a car boot sale this morning.  
The back is missing and no maker's name visible anywhere.
I have seen one of these pictured somewhere, but can't remember any details.
Can someone identify it for me please, with make, number and date if possible.
Valve line up:    ECH35 - EF39 and unknown output valve, possible 6V6 or similar.    
Bob

[ppppenguin]

WW2 "Civilian" set. Made by many manufacturers to a standardised design.

[pwdrive]

Wartime Civilian Receiver, looks like a U8 label on the rear of the chassis, if so then it was probably made by Philips Lamps, the PSU doesn't look original though.

Lawrence.

[Sparks]

Thanks, I also found this info after a bit of "digging" on the internet. My set only has three valves, where all the ones covered have four with the rectifier mounted high up on the left hand side. I wondered if someone had changed this one to a metal rectifier, but it doesn't have the appearance of having been modified. I will know better when I look closer. There is an unreadable label on the top, but this is shown on the internet ones as the Wartime Civilian Receiver label.
I don't suppose it will take much effort to get it going if it doesn't work, and the cabinet is not in too bad condition either. Inside a bit grubby, as you can see.
Bob

[Sparks]

I have opened it up, and it does not appear to have been modified.     A lot of the wiring is perished and unsafe, and probably some capacitors have gone as well.    It will be quite awkward to reach some of the components.     The mains leads register open circuit.
Bob

[pwdrive]

PSU looks modified to me, that big block capacitor looks like a surplus ex WD job, it's got an Air Ministry ref number on it, the HT reservoir and filter capacitors in the round can don't look original either, that mains transformer looks a bit small, are you sure it supplies isolated HT as well as the heaters? The tubular capacitor connected to the external earth socket seems to connect to chassis at the other end? Why? Mains isolation?....Wondering if the transformer is just a heater transformer and that the HT is now of the live chassis configuration? I would check that out just to be safe.

Lawrence.

[Bassoonbloke]

Hi Bob,

I must admit that I've not seen one of these receivers like this before. The comments on the mains TX being a bit small could be down to the fact that the PSU is only a HW rectifier (judging by the single metal rectifier).
This would allow for a TX with only a 6.3v winding and I imagine about a 250 - 300v winding, so could be quite small.
I think I can see screw holes in the front control knobs, if this was a live chassis version I would expect these to be totally enclosed with no metal showing (push on type) to avoid possible electrocution !!).
It would be nice to get this radio going in it's present state and see how it fares with a standard model (if there is such a thing).
The U8 number would make this a Phillips version (which could also explain the weird setup !!).

Cheers,
Alan.

[Sparks]

I have looked into it a bit more, and got a circuit from online.    The BVA valve equivalents are:
BVA273 = ECH35,     BVA243 = EF39,     BVA264 = EL33.      So the first two match up, so it looks like the unmarked output valve in an EL33!
It does seem to be modified.   The orange transformer just seems to supply the heaters, and the wires from it, to the heaters are just poked through two very small holes drilled in the chassis without any pretence at insulation beyond the covering on the wires (cracked and brittle).     The mains appears to go straight the  chassis and the metal rectifier.    (Live chassis - Aaargh!).      I will probably remove the whole of the power supply, and get it working from an external source before thinking of making a new safe supply!
So far, I have just brushed all the surface grime off it.    The cabinet is in fair condition.     At the moment, there are several of these on Ebay for quite high prices!    
Bob

[Sparks]

I have found a mains transformer with HT and LT windings that will easily fit in the space that will be vacated by the removal of the present transformer and metal rectifier.
Bob

[pwdrive]

I have looked into it a bit more, and got a circuit from online.    The BVA valve equivalents are:
BVA273 = ECH35,     BVA243 = EF39,     BVA264 = EL33.      So the first two match up, so it looks like the unmarked output valve in an EL33!
It does seem to be modified.   The orange transformer just seems to supply the heaters, and the wires from it, to the heaters are just poked through two very small holes drilled in the chassis without any pretence at insulation beyond the covering on the wires (cracked and brittle).     The mains appears to go straight the  chassis and the metal rectifier.    (Live chassis - Aaargh!).      I will probably remove the whole of the power supply, and get it working from an external source before thinking of making a new safe supply!
So far, I have just brushed all the surface grime off it.    The cabinet is in fair condition.     At the moment, there are several of these on Ebay for quite high prices!    
Bob

That confirms my earlier thoughts, hard to say what the fitted output valve is, KT61, EL33 or maybe a 6P25 or 6V6g.

Lawrence