1950's Cold War Spy Radio Does It Work?

A real spy radio receiver from the 1950's. Let's have a closer look and see if we can get it to work

[@RingwayManchester]

This is a really cool radio! Thanks!

[@michaelclutton8446]

As you say that's a rare beast, I have never seen one before, it reminds me of the Mk 123 set

[@monteceitomoocher]

Very interesting and cool item, love how the tuning gang has the local oscillator and aerial circuits side by side to reduce its profile, and ganged together with gearing, very well thought out and compact design.

[@catnapmusic9064]

Justin, I have one of these. Sadly I butchered it years ago when vintage stuff was of no interest to me. Silly boy!! All being well I still have all the component parts so you've inspired me to restore it.

[@catnapmusic9064]

no idea what catnapmusic is. I'm Mike G4IIA CU VMARS net soon.

[@thewtf]

Might be worth restoring it! Cud be worth a few bob!!

[@MrMcGuy]

Exceptionally cool video and piece of gear. History is so fascinating.

[@MichaelBeeny]

It sounds like the volume pot on the radio was set to full and all that distortion was the output valve clipping. I doubt the radio sound would be that bad. Try reducing the radio volume. Not the amplifier volume. I'm sure that is the problem.

[@thewtf]

Actually there was not very much variation… that is ,all or nothing!!

[@Steve-GM0HUU]

Thanks for posting.

[@grayzhu]

Nice video. And very compact design.

[@navstar7334]

Don't quite know why, but half expected to hear a "numbers" station when you switched that set on!! Very interesting presentation, thank you 👍

[@thewtf]

Good point! I guess something like this would have been used to listen to numbers stations

[@joedoe4871]

good stuff. Thanks for the video. Enjoyed it

[@fullsoundrecording]

Pretty cool buddy, Thanks.

[@geoffchadwick3253]

My grandmother has one of those radios in her kitchen, been there for years.

[@thewtf]

Obviously a spy!

[@richardlitwin4046]

Thanks, I enjoyed that.

[@williamrmeara2162]

This was NOT a product of the Warsaw Pact countries. The intent was NOT to listen to transmissions from Eastern European (Soviet allied) governments. Instead this was produced by the UK, and was intended for use by HMG.

[@thewtf]

Never said it was!

[@bob_mosavo]

Thanks 👍

[@jamesm90]

Very interesting 👍

[@kkteutsch6416]

Nice.

[@thewhizard]

Cant get any number stations? battery pack or ac adaptor?

[@FLH3official]

Interesting piece of gear. Curiously, for a spy item, there are some markings inside, on the little brown thing. I thought every evidences of origine of this equipment should have been removed.

[@MM0IMC]

Was the fast clicking caused by the LM386 audio amp? 🤔

[@thewtf]

Yup

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

I thought maybe something was arcing.

[@billfargo9616]

Hifi quality from a lowfi speaker?

[@user-ol5dv3cl5n]

HT 67.5v.LT 1.4v See wireless for the warrior vol 4 for circuit diagrams Etc. I have an Mk 814 Steam generator.

[@billfargo9616]

The BFO would also support SSB.

[@26-TC545]

there's a Mk 301 on the bay right now ... 1 bid at 150gbp

[@thewtf]

Its the same one!!

[@daveg8htfadlibaudio250]

Would sound better with a bigger loudspeaker 😀

[@MichaelBeeny]

The distorted sound was the output stage clipping nothing to do with the speaker.

[@harrymartin1661]

Is it for 70V or 67,5V? This old stuff must be sensible for overvoltage...

[@thewtf]

On the contrary most valve stuff are fairly tolerant of a few volts here and there

[@zebo-the-fat]

wot?? no bluetooth?

[@vanhetgoor]

There are still many questions after having seen this. Such as, what spies and for what country. You could at least have had a look on the valves to see their origins.I think this was not a radio for spies but for ordinary citizens in occupied territory. When in the second world war Germany occupied large parts of Europe radio was forbidden. Just like now in the present times it is forbidden to publish magazines and newspapers that do not follow the rules. In this here and now it is impossible to produce television programmes without lies. In world war number two the Germans forbade listening to other sources of indoctrination, just like what it is right now. This radio was not ment for spies but to break the the indoctrination, if the flow of information stops the minds of people get killed quickly. Look at the official C0v1d-nineteen propaganda in the last few years, it was practically impossible to tell the truth, this time the indoctrination was so powerful that nowhere on Earth there was a radiostation that not under the control of them who wanted us to believe their side of the story. In the 1950's people understood that 'other' radiostations could broadcast what the officially approved sources of indoctrination would not tell you. Those days are gone. What has happend to us?

[@thewtf]

It is a British radio. Was also used by UK special forces.From what I have read it was not for civillians

[@weerobot]

WTF...

[@andrzejpl9897]

With equipment like that life of spy was horrible? 😂

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

@thewtf >>> Great video. Subbed...👍 *EDIT→* This thing is NOT exactly the same, but it vaguely reminds me of the PRC-90 military survival radio