My Latest acquirement, McMichael 255

[Tedzed1]

My latest addition to the fold, and my first McMichael.

Originally released in June 1955 at a cost of £33, 7s, 10d plus purchase tax, I suppose it was quite expensive for it's day, this one seems all complete, and original, the tuning knob will not turn, but hopefully this radio will not take too much fettling,

Looking forward to this one, I know McMichael used to have a good reputation, but did it survive into the mid fifties?

[Yorkie]

Looks in nice condition for its age Paul, especially the dial and speaker fabric, and with all the original knobs. Handy that it's got FM too. The mains transformer looks well up to its task, and a decent sized speaker in its own compartment should gave a good account of itself. You're right about it being expensive in its day. They always stated prices minus the Purchase Tax - not surprising given that it added 33% to the base price, making that radio close on £45.00. I started work in 1954 as an apprentice, and remember going home excitedly to say that men were taking home ten pounds a week with a bit of overtime, so that radio would have cost a month's wages for a working man. Accounting for inflation, at today's price £45.00 equates to about £900.

Best of luck with the restoration - a nice large chassis, so hopefully, will give easy access to the components.

[Joe]

It's earlier to ave VHF and must have been one of the first with a dial marked "FM."

I'd be jealous if I'd got room!

- Joe

[Shaman]

Nice beast Paul, should sound well once its gone over...regards....Alan

[Tedzed1]

Thanks for the comments everyone, i was quite surprised that for a 1955 set that it used an ECC85 for FM, also on the service sheet the FM is
designated 88-95 Mc/s.

It's earlier to ave VHF and must have been one of the first with a dial marked "FM."


- Joe

I also thought that.

Nice beast Paul, should sound well once its gone over...regards....Alan

I hope so Alan, I am going to put some time and effort into both the chassis and cabinet.

I will update when I have got the chance, Kerry has started a new hobby breeding Skinny Pigs, a derivation of the guinea pig, but pedigree, hairless, and worth £100 a pop, so needed some help tonight, you would have thought we had another baby the way she was acting.
our carrier pig had five offspring tonight, 3 skinnies, one normal, and one werewolf,
I don't intend to fall into a "cats" thread, but if anyone is interested, I enclose a picture, the 3 pink ones are "skinnies" the normal one is the one with the white in it.

the picture was taken about 10 Mins after giving birth, sorry for the gore.

So back to radio repair, if I get a minutes peace

[Joe]

I think we need more Piggy Posts. They're bigger and more developed, eyes open &c, than I would have expected. Are they edible?

- Joe

[Tedzed1]

Don't know about edible Joe, they are smaller than the normal "guinea" so probably more crunchy.

[Andrewausfa]

Looks a nice one. There was an earlier McMichael console set going very near me a few months back, sorely tempting but no room here to house it really.

McMichael lasted until 1956 I think when they joined with Sobell.

I think you need to knit those chaps a waistcoat each, they must get cold!

Andrew

[Tedzed1]

Hi Andrew, as you just posted, I was sorting out their "hot water pad" basically a special hot water bottle, it is specially designed just for skinnies.

[Andrewausfa]

At the risk of diverting from Mr. McMichael, how big are they - thumb-size?
Funny old things. Guinea pigs that is, not McMichaels.