Etronic model RA 640

ser no. R13501

Michael Davis who was clearing out his deceased father-in-law's house and came across this old valve radio. When some time later he was holidaying locally it came to join my collection. I then learned that it belonged to Hubert Smith who once owned a hardware shop in Easingwold, Yorkshire.

After cleaning, fixing the dial and giving it a new mains lead I found that it worked well, I only had to give a dose of switch cleaner here and there for it to burst into life - wonderful for a set made in late 1947 or early 1948. This might be attributable to the use of high quality capacitors which look as if they may have been government surplus. For good measure I changed two capacitors. As is fairly common with radios of this vintage the tuning indicator was very dim.

Etronic model RA 640 MW LW SW five valve radio 6K8G, 6K7G, 6Q7G, 6V6G , 5Z4G and Y63 Tuning Indicator. Etronic was a brand name used by Hale Electric Ltd. Talbot Road, West Ealing, London W13. The firm closed down in 1952. There is an interesting history of the firm here