For some time now I have had an interest in older receivers, both military and domestic. I started my working life repairing domestic valve radio’s as an apprentice. I now collect the ones I have liked over the years. Each radio in my collection has to be working to its original specification and this most often involves a lot of restoration work. I enjoy time spent doing this work.
As a school boy with an interest in radio I saw a Racal RA17 being operated in an hanger during an open day visit to nearby RAF Waddington. I ‘marvelled’ at the radio and the brilliant white Vulcan bomber aircraft parked on the runway outside. Many years later I was offered an RA17L and this started my collection. My collection is not yet huge but I am working on it !
Racal RA17L , an all valve receiver tuning HF to 30 mhz. without gaps, heavy at 56lbs.
Racal RA712D, a transistorised set similar to RA17, tunes HF to 30 mhz. runs on mains or batteries.
Eddystone S640, first made in 50’s and popular with radio amateurs, tunes HF to 30 mhz with bandspread!
Eddystone S750, made in 50’s again, double superhet, tunes HF to 30 mhz with ‘sliderule’ scale.
Eddystone S680X I have restored this receiver, its maybe the best the company made in its day..
Eddystone S840 Nice clean set, working well but not my favourite !!
R1155L , Well known WW2 receiver used by the RAF in various aircraft famously the Lancaster. Also used by the Royal Navy. after the war it continued in airborne use etc. The set was so available after the war it could be bought new and crated in London for less than twenty pounds. One company made a ‘radiogram’ using an R1155 chassis all in a nice polished wood cabinet
Marconi CR150, double conversion superhet. Used by the navy. Tunes HF to 35 mhz. at present an ongoing restoration project.
R109, battery operated valve receiver used by the army during ww2. Runs on 6 volts ideal for use in vehicles, ie a jeep. Tunes 1.8 to 8.5 mhz in two bands…just acquired a second one which works very well without any restoration..
RBZ, very small battery operated receiver, used during ww2 by ‘special forces’. Carried in a canvas bag. When operated by a soldier his metal helmet was used as an antenna ! The radio tunes 5 to 13 mhz
WS 62. a ww2 transceiver, has built in power supply and has just over one watt output phone and CW.
BC348. An American WW2 receiver used in their bomber aircraft, eg B17. tunes up to 18 mhz. Mine was modified to have an internal PSU no other mods…
Halicrafters SX28 a recent acquisition in need of restoration but will make a fine set, another ongoing project.
National HRO MX undergoing restoration
British R103 in good order just requires a little work and a psu to get this one operational Now working well, very sensitive and reasonably quiet…
I have numerous domestic radio’s dating from 1920 to transistor sets of the mid 80’s
So thats it for now, I am always looking out for additions to my collection. They are now expensive and pensions stretch only so far !
By the way, that Vulcan bomber did not inspire me to collect aircraft !!