classicwireless.co.uk/Murphy1939 Pg 2

Murphy Radio 1939 Continued

Shown left is the Murphy A74. This receiver was positioned in the 1939 range as the special reproduction model. The cabinet is indeed very large, and a 10” loudspeaker is provided. Drum tuning is again included, but to my mind the cabinet is not as impressive as the A50 special reproduction receiver from a year earlier. The output valve has moved on from the AC4/PEN seen in the A50 to the PEN45 which had recently been released by Mazda. This was a very good valve, though of slightly lower output power than the AC4/PEN. Again the receiver was available with the optional pushbutton unit or remote control, though neither are fitted in this example. Valve line-up is TH41, VP41, VP41, HL42DD, ME41, PEN45, UU6.

Shown below left is the Murphy A76, the special short wave performance model for 1939. As can be seen, this model has been fitted with the optional remote pushbutton control that fitted between the wide “feet” at either end of the cabinet. This was the model to replace the A52 special short wave model from a year earlier, but to my mind it is not as good. The main difference between the A74 and the A52 from a year earlier is that the 1939 model is not a double superhet. All communication and short wave receivers of reasonable quality tend to incorporate this technology due to the difference it makes in reducing interference on already weak station reception. Also gone from the 1939 model is the motorised tuning, and a couple of valves. The principles of the tuning scale is similar to that of the year before, with a vertical slide-rule type cursor for the main LW, MW and SW bands, and a separate logging scale with its own cursor to the left hand side for accurate recording of station positions. An extra tuning knob is also provided, presumably by then it had already become apparent that the mechanics required to utilise the same knob to drive both scales were difficult to keep accurate and reliable.

The picture above mid right shows the remote control unit. Six stations are selectable remotely, and the volume level can also be changed by means of the knob at the middle of the remote towards the back. To use the remote control the unit is gently pulled from is resting position in the cabinet, and once finished a small lever which can be seen in the image is moved sideways which assists in retraction of the ribbon cable into the cabinet. The image above far right shows a close-up view of the remote control. Valve line-up is SP41, TH41, VP41, HL42DD, ME41, PEN45, UU6.

Shown left is the most expensive chassis’s available in the 1939 range, that of the ’78 series. This model was the special short wave performance and special reproduction model. Unlike the other models in the 1939 range, the A78C was fitted with remote control as standard. The drum tuning principle is still utilised, together with a black glass escutcheon, which to my mind is not quite as impressive as the mirrored version seen on the A40C. The remote control has already been discussed having been fitted as an optional extra to the A76. Two large chassis’s are utilised in the A78C. The chassis at the base of the cabinet carries the power components and rectifier, together with a pair of PEN45’s in push-pull configuration. The PEN45’s in push-pull deliver the sound through a pair of loudspeakers on angled baffles, which radiate the sound into the listening room in two slightly differing planes thereby ensuring maximum penetration. There are no known surviving examples of the A78RG (unless you know different – in which case email me!). Although a very impressive receiver, the A78C is considered to sound inferior to the A40C from two years earlier.

Continue to the cheapest and most expensive of the 39 model range