Bell Planet Colt Vintage Radio (1957) Reconditioning.

[@Theoobovril]

Much enjoyed again, Phil, I always look forwards to your videos when they come out.

[@steelcity321pb6]

Yes, it is somewhat unusual to see a Brit reconditioning a Vintage Radio that was manufactured, and marketed in New Zealand. I personally do not know of any other New Zealand radios here in the UK. Though in monetary terms it is not worth a great deal, owning a radio like this one is, in my opinion, a little bit special 😊. Hopefully towards the end of this month I’ll be uploading part 1 of a 2 part (could run over into three parts) YT restoration video series featuring two Philco, model 48-420 radio receivers. Definitely something to watch out for should they be of interest. Cheers my friend, Phil.🤪

[@rscelectrical7091]

That's a lovely looking and sounding radio buddy, the way that cabinet looks is a credit to you 👍. Already looking forward to your next restoration.

[@steelcity321pb6]

RSC Electrical, thank you for dropping by. Your interest is encouraging. On the surface, this is a small radio that could easily be overlooked as insignificant. That, of course, would be an error. If my Bell Planet Colt is anything to go by, they must have been one of New Zealand’s best performing budget radios. They are amazing little radios. Cheers my friend, Phil.

[@rscelectrical7091]

@@steelcity321pb6 : Totally agree, that's a lovely little radio that would look good in any collection. Hope you have many years of enjoyment from it. You & the family make sure you take care out there my friend. Regards: Andy

[@noel-ec4iy]

It is Australian Silky Oak a beautifully grained wood I enjoyed your video very much many thanks

[@steelcity321pb6]

To let you into a secret, it wasn’t the electronics part of this radio that first attracted me to it - that came later after restoration; it was its wooden cabinet. I very much like this radio. It both looks good, and it performs brilliantly. It’s a superb addition to my collection. Cheers Noel, Phil.

[@rciancia]

Phil, you've done a wonderful job on that radio!!!! It looks simplistic but it does have a transformer, so it has to be early 40's I would guess. I think its great you've used the Egg White technique here... You are fortunate that the wood was solid and not a veneer.. The end result is simply beautiful - Well done Mate.... educational and excellent end result.

[@steelcity321pb6]

Thank you Ron for your support, it is very much appreciated. When I first saw this wee radio I didn’t think much of it, in fact, I felt like putting it to one side and forgetting about it. It was largely out of curiosity I decided to get it on the bench. Having got it going I was very surprised how well it works. It was then I began thinking about a detailed cabinet restoration. I convinced myself it would be worth the effort. What made my wife smile was me using an egg. My culinary skills are so bad, no one in their right mind would want to sample my cooking - especially if they value the preservation of their gut and bowels. Note four of the five valves incorporated into this radio are ‘Rim-lock’ types. They are the 6.3volt heater versions that are inside your Pye Piper radios. For the large part, they were well designed valves. Once again my friend, thanks for dropping by. 73 Phil.

[@984francis]

Early 40s would have octal valves.

[@terryblackman6217]

Using egg white as grain filler, some would say that you are making a meal of it. Only joking,really nice job.

[@VintageRadioSteve]

Hi Phil, that's a nicely restored Colt, well done. And definitely Oak. They came in light and dark oak cabinets in this style. This is the first one of these I recall seeing with the earlier 5B4 chassis in it. The 52 on the top of the power transformer indicates 1952 from memory, and I think these were made by Beacon Transformers Ltd here in New Zealand. That would mean it's possibly been replaced, as your set isn't that old. The speaker code stamped on the rim might also give a clue, the last digit is usually the manufacture year. My guess is 1954 though. The final place to look on these is the electrolytic can as these sometimes had dates printed on them. Anyway, thanks for an enjoyable restoration. Cheers, Steve (www.vintageradio.co.nz)

[@steelcity321pb6]

Hi Gentlemen, This model of Bell Planet Colt radio will go down in my radio restoration history as, “The radio that smashed me in my face.” I’ll briefly explain. When I first acquired this radio - I was led to understand it belonged to an elderly chap who’d immigrated from New Zealand sometime during the early 1960s to live in England. When I first saw this radio, I did not hold it in any sort of regard. I was of the mind there was nothing going for it. Out of curiosity, I decided to get it on the bench, and give it a cursory look-over, and see how our friends down under designed, and manufactured radios. Having reverse engineered a circuit diagram, and used it to assist me to get the radio working, I was exceptionally impressed how well it performed, and sounded. Given that, I felt that the cabinet, which is superbly constructed from good quality wood (oak), and not veneered, was definitely worth restoration. In short, this radio’s restoration turned out for better than I first thought was possible. I’m so happy with it, it now takes place in the centre section of my Vintage Radio display. It is definitely the radio that smacked me in my face. It’s looks, and performance left me stunned. It is an absolute winner. One thing for sure, it will never be returned to New Zealand whilst I’m still alive. I’m proud to say, “It’s mine!” LOL. From what I’ve interpreted from off the paper label on the speaker magnet housing, this radio might have been manufactured sometime during 1958??? Love the New Zealand Vintage Radio website - David Tipton, an Australian Vintage Radio restorer, signposted me towards it. Best regards, and 73s from Phil.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Phil, I'm very impressed with the finished article. For someone that doesn't know much about cabinet restoration the finish was A1 👍 I printed out a chart for the metres to frequency conversion, metres does my head in I'm afraid. Glad you got the schematic from the Kiwis, it was a bit late I know but it confirmed what you already knew. Cheers!

[@steelcity321pb6]

David Tipton Hi Dave, thanks immensely for your support; it is always appreciated. To be truthful, I did not reckon much to this radio when I first saw it. It was out of curiosity I eventually decided to get it onto the bench. Having monkeyed around with it for a while I was pleasantly surprised how well it performed. Since it performed, and sounded good, I felt that a full cabinet restoration was warranted. Thank you for signposting me towards the New Zealand Vintage Radio website. I was surprised how much it has to offer in the way of pictures, radio literature, and circuit diagrams. I also discovered there were some very sharp looking radios manufactured in New Zealand during the 1930s and 40s. That website is definitely worth a visit🤠 Best regards from Phil.

[@AntiqueRadioandTV]

Great to hear from you again Phil! Reminds me of the days when you, OldRadioAl, and John from Switzerland were really prolific. Ahh... "A blast from the past." -- Grain fill using egg whites? I'm no cabinet guru, (that's for sure), but I never heard of that one. Cheep, (get it?), but works great! I'll have to try it sometime. To have Oak get that damaged, someone must have really used it as a boat anchor. -- Beautiful electronic and cabinet restoration. Be well, Tom

[@steelcity321pb6]

Hi Tom, Thank you for dropping by: your support is very much appreciated. John continues to upload videos but they are not directly related to radio restoration. I don’t know what OldRadioAl is doing these days. The egg white did the job most handsomely for sealing open wood grain. I understand it is a centuries old method, and it is still being applied in the manufacture of guitars, and a few other wooden musical instruments. The oak cabinet has restored to a decent standard. The radio part performs far better than I expected. It is the only ITU region three radio in my Vintage Radio collection. Hope you, and yours are keeping well, and staying safe during these uncertain times. Best regards from Phil.

[@Rebel9668]

Hey Phil, The central spot on the dial looks like standard broadcast AM kilocycle numbering for the US market. I think the lowest would be 540kc here and the upper would be around 17something even though they don't usually show that high on a dial (usually the highest is around 1650...my old '33 philco goes higher but it included a long since disused "police band".) though the dial will usually turn a bit lower and higher than what's shown on the band. That's a beautiful little radio. I've seen Bell radios in the US, I think, or maybe I'm getting them confused with Packard-Bell. I know the little white radio on the 60's sitcom "Gilligan's Island" was a Packard Bell AM only set. The prop department for the show added the dummy di-pole antenna to that radio for some reason as that particular model like most radios at that time were using ferrite rods for AM reception.

[@steelcity321pb6]

Rebel9668 Hi Gary, Thank you for your comment: you have raised two valid points. There are three I T U (International Communications Union) regions. For example, UK is in region one; USA is in region two, and New Zealand, where this radio originates, is region three. Complexities regarding frequency (Band plan), and its reasons, and requirement is somewhat too involved to write in this short space. Since I find it a fascinating subject, I’ve made it known to anyone who is unfamiliar, but who might become interested for personal research. I’m reliably informed the USA Bell brand has no relation to the Bell brand of New Zealand. They were, or are independent manufacturing companies. There are a few, original, components incorporated into the Bell Planet Colt radio that were manufactured in Britain. For example, it’s reservoir, and smoothing dual electrolytic capacitors were manufactured by Hunts of London. As I say, two good points you raised my friend. Hope you and your loved ones are keeping safe, and well during these unsettled times. Best regards, Phil.

[@fibberscloset498]

Using egg white as a filler was new to me. It looks great! I'll have to give it a go.

[@steelcity321pb6]

Hi, Using egg white to seal open wood grain is a very old ‘trick of the trade’. Achieving a glass, or semi-glass finish is down to getting the wooden surface very smooth before applying coats of egg white to fill the open grain. Depending upon the type of wood, or veneer, will determine how many times one needs to apply egg white, allowing it to dry, and smooth the surface with high grit count abrasive papers (corse open grain usually require more egg white, and abrasive treatments). Only apply gloss, semi-gloss, or Matt finish once the wooden surface is silky smooth, and dust free. This last bit is very important - surface is to be silky smooth, and dust free. Thank you for dropping by my friend, and keep safe, Phil.

[@rscelectrical7091]

Hey Phil: Hope you read this, everything ok up there with you and the family ?. Andy

[@steelcity321pb6]

Yes Andy, thanks for dropping by - we are keeping our heads down, keeping safe, and keeping going as best we are able. I very much hope you and your family are doing similar. There appears to be not much else we can do my friend. Towards the end of this month, I will be uploading part one of a two part (might be three parts) restoration video series featuring two Philco, model 48-420 radio receivers. Hope they will be of interest. Once again, thank you my friend, Phil.

[@rscelectrical7091]

@@steelcity321pb6 Hi Phil: Glad to hear your staying safe. Yes thanks buddy We're doing ok & trying to go out as little as possible, seems to be quite a few cases in our main hospital so I'm giving the place a wide berth for the time being & apparently there's been a few cases in the local comprehensive but thankfully nothing closer. Look forward to your repair series at the end of the month, try to make sure you stay safe my friend. All the best: Andy