1940s | Wayne's Radios

All Things Bright and Beautiful

Posted on March 20, 2014 by waynesradios

1947 Marconi bakelite radio. This lovely little radio has come up a treat.

Now to get going on its partner. Both radios are second set radios, complete with carrying handle. These were the first portable radios, intended to be moved from room to room, although compared to modern transistor radios they still weigh a ton.

The cabinet is painted bakelite. the contrast of the cream with the red handle and knobs is a great combination. The second radio has cream knobs and handle and the cabinet is plain dark brown bakelite. Do you think it might feel a plain Jane? We’ll keep you posted.

Fabulous Ferranti

Posted on March 15, 2014 by waynesradios

This fabulous Ferranti Model 145 is now going through its final sound check. It’s been a long time getting to this point, but well worth the wait.

Success of Sorts

Posted on February 7, 2014 by waynesradios

Drum Roll

We’re very pleased to announce that we’ve managed to find our very own Ferranti 145 “jelly mould” radio.

Sadly there’s not a full complement of knobs, the wiring has completely disintegrated and the cabinet seems to have saved seventy years worth of dust and dirt. It won’t be a quick fix, but hey, we like a challenge.

On the plus side, the bakelite cabinet is sound and with a bit of TLC will be as good as new.

Having done a bit of research, we were surprised to discover the beautiful styling on the case produced in 1945 wasn’t original but had previously used on the, now rare, Nova Consolette way back in 1936. As was often the way with radio production at this time, post-war manufacturers had to make do and mend, using surplus or mixed and matched pre-war components and cabinets.

Thinking about it, I don’t know why it came as such a surprise. The shape and line of this radio shouts 1930s design loud and clear.

Function and form, a strong symmetrical shape, bold and beautiful lines. Think Battersea Power Station or the Chrysler Building.

One thing that does surprise. This radio is not as big as it looks. From the photograph I was expecting to see a beast of bakelite but no, it’s very neat and compact but still weighs a ton.

1949 Bakelite Beauty

Posted on August 2, 2013 by waynesradios

Radios manufactured during the war years were very basic models using standardized parts, cabinets and valves and made to strict government specifications. Initially listeners in England were prevented from tuning into, and being influenced by, propaganda transmitted from Germany whereas before the war many listeners enjoyed radio broadcasts from all over Europe.

Once the war was over, radio production slowly resumed only hampered by a shortage of valves and components. The first sets were manufactured largely for export to bring in money for the British Economy recovering from the high cost of the war. These were based on existing pre-war designs as manufacturers used up any old stock that had been put by during the war. Nevertheless, the popularity of radio listening continued at home and by March 1949 the official radio licence figure was over 9 million at a cost of 20 shillings.

The Ferguson Radio Corporation based in Enfield, London made sets for the UK home market influenced by contemporary American models and in 1949 they produced this elegant cream bakelite model.

Sixty four years later, this 1949 radio is being fully restored and converted for use as an mp3/iPhone amplifier and fm receiver. Powered by battery or mains it will be used at home and also taken camping to 1940s festivals. How good is that.

As for the Radio Licence, they stopped issuing them in 1971.

Midget Vintage Valve Radio

Posted on June 29, 2013 by waynesradios

Let me introduce you to our latest restoration project, a vintage midget valve radio made by ULTRA in 1947. Truly lovely to look at … even better to hear.

The ULTRA company was set up by Edward (Teddy) E. Rosen who was born in 1898, the son of Rachel and Samuel Rosen, who were Polish-Jewish immigrants to the East End of London.

Edward had an early connection to the world of Radio when he was thirteen he secured a job with Marconi. When World War One started, he lied about his age and joined the Royal Flying Corps servicing radios. After the war he set up a company making wide frequency response headphones, then horn loud speakers and finally taking on a new radio designer to design and make radios aimed at the middle market.

Ultra Electric Ltd became known for producing quality sets at a reasonable price. Their first mains receiver was built in 1931 and they continued manufacturing until interrupted by the Second World War when they moved over to the manufacture of the Civilian “Utility set” and provided components for Royal Air Force planes. In 1947 ULTRA returned to the commercial market and this ET415 hit the shops.

Sixty six years after its original manufacture, the brown bakelite case was in good condition, just dull and grubby.

Cleaned up and the electronics completely overhauled, the midget ULTRA was back in action.

1947 Radio, Radiogram and TV catalogue from the first post-war Radio show Olympia, London

You too can be the happy owner of an ULTRA radio – there is a model to attract every taste – and, more important still, every taste is superbly met.

The original advertising information points out that a brochure “is not enough to fully appreciate the quality and technical superiority of ULTRA radios, but full information is readily available from any appointed ULTRA Dealer, who will be pleased to show you that all these radios are truly lovely to look at … and still better to hear”.

I suppose now that the ULTRA Dealers have long gone … that responsibility falls to us and we can confirm that they were absolutely right.

Is This The Most Successful Radio of All Time?

Posted on April 12, 2013 by waynesradios

The DAC 90 was a very popular little valve radio which was first produced by Bush Radio in London in 1946. It originally cost eleven pounds and eleven shillings.

The first DAC radios came in black and amazingly, considering the number of radios we’ve got piled up on the shelves in our workshop, we’ve never actually come across one – but we’re not giving up. The brown and cream ones are still relatively plentiful. Unlike other vintage valve radios, I bet no one could bear to throw this one out.

This little lovely was believed to have been designed by Frank E Middleditch who was awarded the British Plastics and Moulded Products Trader award in April 1937. The aim was to satisfy the demand for a small, transportable, plug in radio. They still wanted it to have the familiar bush “tone” but wanted it to look good and above all be reliable.

Bush’s advertising saw the tree as “The symbol of reliable radio”. They prided themselves on rigorous quality control. Ferranti offered a ninety days warranty, Bush offered its customers a whole year.

The original control knobs on the black sets were completely smooth but had to be redesigned because the Mrs in the kitchen trying to turn the knobs found them difficult to turn with wet or greasy fingers. The next generation of knob was ridged and the radio produced in brown and cream.