Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jerome van der Linden, who writes seeking a bit of help:
Hello Thomas,
From time to time I see you’ve tried to ID receivers used in movies etc. I have a slightly different request that I hope you may pass on…
I’m trying to restore an old AM/SW radio for a friend and only know that its brand is a Howard radio who built sets in the US and in Melbourne, Australia. But I don’t know its model number and the tubes (valves here) are not all identifiable.
The chassis has numbers printed on it adjacent to the tubes AZ3 (with a Y2GT tube in its socket); AL3; ABC1 plus a couple of others. The four front control knobs appear to be volume, AM/SW band selector, tuning job (which drives a set of gears connected to the dual gang variable capacitor tuner), and what I assume is the tone control. There does not appear to be a power switch. Apart from tubes, I’m keen to confirm what my physical inspection of the 16 or so capacitors, in fact, are supposed to be so that I can source replacements.
The radio also has a toggle switch on the back, which I think switches the input between radio and an external gramophone. The loud speaker appears to be of the type with 4 conductors, where two are probably powering an electro magnet for the speaker. (I have also emailed the Steven Johnson web site for information, as he seems to store a lot of schematics for download.)
Thanks in advance.
Jerome van der Linden
Readers: If you can help Jerome, please comment!
> its brand is a Howard radio who built sets in the US and in Melbourne, Australia.
Howard Radio Pty Ltd of Richmond, Vic, was an Australian company and not related to the US manufacturer Howard Radio Co of Chicago. They were something of an offshoot of the Carnegie & Sons piano company, and used their cabinetmaking capacity for their cabinets.
They mostly built upright consoles, and a few smaller table-tops. Somewhere around WWII they stopped manufacturing radios and became a wholesaler only. Being a small manufacturer, it’s very likely that their chassis were similar or identical to others of slightly earlier years. Radiomuseum has some company details and models listed; the HRSA or the whinging sods at the Australian Vintage Radio forum might have some more information.
I like the responses and the helping hands out there,for someone in need of info.Good going guys ! Jerome best of luck with your adventure & Happy Holidays
Just saw the Bay to Birdwood badges in the background of the first photo, so I thought I would say hello to Jerome as it looks like we both live in Adelaide Australia. Mark Pascoe.
Thank you Mark: yes I’m in Happy Valley. Amazing that Thomas’ web page has such a wide and quick reach!
Yes, just like radio!?
Here’s a good resource which may help:
https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Schematics/Lamphouse-Radio-Circuits-(NZ)-1945.pdf
You may find some help here:
https://antiqueradios.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=1&sid=fdbc5ba0c9a9a0f2b61e862d4a21b3f6
Wow! I think this is first Howard Radio Co. radio I have heard of other than mine. I have a Model 308 dating from about 1940. All I have left is the chassis from what started out as a radio-phono console. Mine has 8 octal tubes which appear to be a few years later development than yours, so not much help.
Parts will be the problem. Mine had an electrodynamic speaker. The coil served a dual purpose, a) filter on the power supply and b) as an electromagnet for the speaker. Many years ago I substituted a PM speaker, and just used the coil for the filter. Mine is in serious need of restoration at this point.
All the caps should be replaced, as any leakage will cause a load on the power transformer.
The previous comment from John is much appreciated, as it is a source I was not aware of.
You may have already found this but you might be able to manually go through these and play the “valve match” game…
https://thecodemachine.co.uk/Schematics/Search.php?exact=1&manuf=howard&model=