Shown left is the model 139 from
1939. This is a four valve plus rectifier receiver in a bakelite cabinet
emblematic of the Art Deco
style. The cabinet features a speaker cloth protected by bakelite bars that
follow the cabinet lines around the corner to the side, a feature often seen in
buildings of the time too. Shown right is a view of the Apollo Theatre in Wilton
Road, Victoria,
London. The architects were E. Walmsley Lewis & W.E. Trent, and the building
was constructed in 1930. Although another building has been built tight up against this one the
horizontal lines following the perimeter of the building may be clearly seen. The model 139 was also available as the model 239, where the
same chassis was used in a wooden cabinet (that was totally uninspiring). The
139 is actually a development of the Ferranti "Prestune" receiver
from
1938. This was a pushbutton set housed in the same cabinet, but the likelihood
of war seems to have persuaded Ferranti to dispense with the pushbutton feature.
The same bakelite cabinet press has been used though. The pushbutton unit was
situated immediately beneath the three smaller control knobs, and the space is
simply blanked off with a further piece of bakelite for the model 139. The
receiver originally cost £9.9.0, and featured a valve line up of 6A8G, 6K7G,
6Q7G, 6F6G, R4. The receiver circuit does not have any particularly interesting
or notable features. I find this to be one of the most pleasing bakelite cabinet
designs, and this model seems to be quite rare - it certainly took me a good few
years before I found one.
Deco
style. The cabinet features a speaker cloth protected by bakelite bars that
follow the cabinet lines around the corner to the side, a feature often seen in
buildings of the time too. Shown right is a view of the Apollo Theatre in Wilton
Road, Victoria,
London. The architects were E. Walmsley Lewis & W.E. Trent, and the building
was constructed in 1930. Although another building has been built tight up against this one the
horizontal lines following the perimeter of the building may be clearly seen. The model 139 was also available as the model 239, where the
same chassis was used in a wooden cabinet (that was totally uninspiring). The
139 is actually a development of the Ferranti "Prestune" receiver
from
1938. This was a pushbutton set housed in the same cabinet, but the likelihood
of war seems to have persuaded Ferranti 
to dispense with the pushbutton feature.
The same bakelite cabinet press has been used though. The pushbutton unit was
situated immediately beneath the three smaller control knobs, and the space is
simply blanked off with a further piece of bakelite for the model 139. The
receiver originally cost £9.9.0, and featured a valve line up of 6A8G, 6K7G,
6Q7G, 6F6G, R4. The receiver circuit does not have any particularly interesting
or notable features. I find this to be one of the most pleasing bakelite cabinet
designs, and this model seems to be quite rare - it certainly took me a good few
years before I found one.