Does anyone know who made this 1955 Radiogram?

[Old Sparky]

This is a Westminster 4-band (L, M, SW & VHF, the latter to 108Mhz) Bureau-style Radiogram, using a conventional for  it's day chassis with B9A Valves (ECC85, ECH81, EF89, EABC80, EL84, & EZ81, plus a 'magic eye', the latter being an Octal-base EM??)  The Auto-Changer is a BSR UA6.  I know Westmister was a Curry's Brand, but possibly not till later than this.  Radio Museum doesn't include this model  (or this chassis ,AFAIK) so can anyone here shed light on the manufacturer?  It must have been quite an expensive item back in the 1950s.

[Murphyv310]

Seen that chassis in other stuff, probably one of the mass produced ones for the lower end of the market. Could be Plessey but don't quote me, easy to fix with no hidden surprises though.

[Geordie McBoyne]

Possibly it was made by Plessey and a similar to a chassis fitted in certain Co-op Defiant radiograms.
Defiant models RGMSH656 single EL84 output and RGMSH756 has two EL84s in push-pull.

Geordie McBoyne.

[Old Sparky]

Thanks, both. I did wonder if there was a push-pull version of this chassis as there is an unused B9A size hole near the front R.H. corner. I could try looking up the two defiant models you mention, Geordie, if any info or picture(s) is available for those.

[Old Sparky]

I haven't found any photographs, but have found some info. which suggests to me that the Defiant RGMSH656 is the same radiogram as the Westminster one. The circuit, which I cannot put on here as it's on UKVRRRDF service data site appears to be identical.

[boater sam]

Judging by the poor standard of the cabinet, its not a thing of beauty, possible a cheaply produced generic chassis for store sales under various "brand" names. No small wonder that the far east wiped out our entertainment equipment sales so easily.

[Crackle]

Curry's used the brand "Westminster" for a range of products made by various manufacturers. https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_herstell...ny_id=6459 (The Setmakers p.205)
Belcher is also thought to be the manufacturer of products bearing the "Westminster" brand, although it is unclear where the association between Westminster and Belcher comes from, there is no mention of Belcher that I can see in the "The Setmakers". https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/belcher_we...0a535.html
Belcher is mentioned in "Radio Radio" fig.378 p.129.

Discussion has been had recently in the Radio Museum about this subject. It would be very useful to find out more information on the subject as it seems information is a now little foggy with age.
It would be great to know more facts, backed by evidence where possible, so that the Radio Museum can be updated for the benefit of all.


Mike

[Old Sparky]

Unfortunately the picture of the cabinet isn't very good, and, as the owner has collected it, i can't take another one, but, to me, it looked O.K. 'in the flesh' especially bearing in mind that it's over 60 years old. They may have been low to middle market products, but I can't help wondering how much one would have cost new back in the mid 1950s, when the price of a MW/LW radio would have been at least a week's wages then. A fair proportion of that price would have been for the cabinet, too!

[Murphyv310]

Hi.
A few years ago I picked up a 1963 Dynatron Marlow from Edinburgh FOC. It was left in a house a young couple bought. It was mint and complete with all documentation, the receipt was over £300. Now it had an Ekco made chassis, not to dynatron standards but never the less very good. I refurbished it and my youngest daughter has it. Its been in two flats now and is about to move again. It certainly was well worth restoring, some of the low end ones though are pretty ropey, the VHF performance is often mediocre and the use of rather small elliptical speakers disappointing. I agree with Sam in that by the late 50's and early in the next decade at the low end of the market our stuff was poor. Why people fawn over Dansette record players with one UL84 beats me, to me they are total junk!

[Old Sparky]

The Westminster has a large round speaker, admittedly just mounted in the cabinet in a large, otherwise empty space, and, although I didn't measure it's frequency response, that probably would have been something like 80 or 100Hz to, at most 10 or 12kHz, maybe less, but the 'better' brands probably had similar speakers, too.