WORLD's UGLEST Vintage Valve Radio !!

[GlennSprigg]

I couldn't help myself... I want to give this poor thing a 'Life'! (eBay, $21.50 winning bid).
It was made in Australia, around 1940, and is a 'portable' that looks like a 'case', from an
Aussie company called... "Tecnico Aristocrat".  Here are images to weep over the poor thing...

And an image of the "Master Control Panel" (haha)... when opened up!...


GRANTED, it's NOT pretty, (YET!), however... (until I receive it in the post & check more), I've
checked for days on every facet of the 'Net', (Images/Info), and there is NOTHING!!
There's plenty of info on the regular sites for typical "Tecnico Aristocrat" Radios, but nothing
that looks like this!? So maybe it is quite rare.   I've been through ALL Aussie sites, including
the AORSM, and the HRSA, and the Worldwide www.radiomuseum.org , and although they
'may' have schematics etc., they have NO photos to identify this model! for correlation.

When i receive it, and open it up, I will know more.  I will make it pretty again regardless!!

[bd139]

Ugh that is right up there on the fugly scale isn’t it. Good luck. Deserves restoration 

[Alex Eisenhut]

What does it smell like?

[Bud]

Try reaching out to David Tipton, tonns of radio restoration videos on youtube, i believe he is in Aus.

[GlennSprigg]

What does it smell like?

Don't know yet!!!  Waiting for delivery....
Hopefully then I can find the 'magical' model number. just couldn't pass it up for the price!!
No other image on Google???  Must be rare! hahaha...

[GlennSprigg]

Try reaching out to David Tipton, tonns of radio restoration videos on youtube, i believe he is in Aus.

Yes, thanks mate. I've recently found 'David Tipton' on Youtube, and am following him.
He is someone that I will contact next, (and others) after I receive the radio & check it out!

[GlennSprigg]

Ugh that is right up there on the fugly scale isn’t it. Good luck. Deserves restoration 

That's what it's all about !!!   

[Bud]

The positive thing is that it may be all original, with noone touching it with their golden soldering iron. Also many ugly radios after restoration look great.

[schmitt trigger]

Wonder what the exterior material is made of.
Looks like cloth covered wood.

And the cloth most likely is cotton, as during WW2 the synthetic fibers were almost exclusively being used on the production of war materiel.

[Cyberdragon]

A big part of the issue is that it's REALLY dirty. The dial structure is really simple, but it's definately not supposed to be that color.

[Alex Eisenhut]

What does it smell like?

Don't know yet!!!  Waiting for delivery....

I missed that part. I won an auction for a NOS in box Tektronix plugin from the 1960s. It had never been opened. The rubberized horse hair they used as packing material smelled so strong I nearly tossed out the whole box!

I know how bad these rotting organics can smell...

[Syntax Error]

How many Wallabys died to make that covering? So would Dave class that as a dumpster score? You may need your PPE when carrying out the autopsy.

Found a Tecnico address from
http://www.thebakeliteradio.com/page55/page55.html
Tecnico Electronics, 13-19 Glebe St. Glebe. NSW
Which on Google Earth is now a block of luxury apartments. What a surprise. not.

[Lamé Üsernåmê]

Tecnico 859, or something around that number I believe. Not 1940 - style is later than that; I would've said late 40's, maybe early 50's - and the 859 is from 1948.

[Circlotron]

Could be a custom case somebody made for it.
What is the valve lineup?

[vk6zgo]

Could be a custom case somebody made for it.
What is the valve lineup?

I'm inclined to agree------it doesn't look as professional as I would expect from Technico.
As to ugly, have I shown you the "Number 11 Radio set " I used to own?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_set_No._11

[GlennSprigg]

To answer a few various questions here...
It's still in the Post, and since this Covid-19 business, they are slow!!
As a result, I am not aware of the Tube-Lineup yet.
And no, it is not a home made case. I have since found ONE image of one, from an old
auction site, going back 4 years, with the SAME Case/Material. I 1st thought it might be
the SAME unit, (now being sold by someone else), until I noticed that THAT one has 2
latch-clips, where as the one that coming to me (photos above) has only 1 latch.
Must be an older model!! hahaha... 
And yes, to take the weight of the chassis & batteries, I imagine it is cloth covered wood panels.
I know an upholsterer, and will avail myself of his expertise to totally re-cover it, like new!! 
Regarding the crappy 'plastic' dial front cover, I will fabricate a new clear one!, including heating and
smoothly out-denting the shape, as per the original. (I know how...  )
When it comes, and I open it up, you/I will know more....

[GlennSprigg]

Could be a custom case somebody made for it.
What is the valve lineup?

I'm inclined to agree------it doesn't look as professional as I would expect from Technico.
As to ugly, have I shown you the "Number 11 Radio set " I used to own?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_set_No._11

Show us a pic of that !!!   

[vk6zgo]

Could be a custom case somebody made for it.
What is the valve lineup?

I'm inclined to agree------it doesn't look as professional as I would expect from Technico.
As to ugly, have I shown you the "Number 11 Radio set " I used to own?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_set_No._11

Show us a pic of that !!!   

I don't have it any more, & can't find any pix that will let me copy them.

The best I can do is the wiki link.
Just click on that, then on the small pix on the page for a full screen pix.

Both the one in the pix  & mine were AWA made Oz ones!
I'm fairly sure they had a different set of valves to the Brit ones.

[GlennSprigg]

Could be a custom case somebody made for it.
What is the valve lineup?

I'm inclined to agree------it doesn't look as professional as I would expect from Technico.
As to ugly, have I shown you the "Number 11 Radio set " I used to own?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_set_No._11

Show us a pic of that !!!   

I don't have it any more, & can't find any pix that will let me copy them.

The best I can do is the wiki link.
Just click on that, then on the small pix on the page for a full screen pix.

Both the one in the pix  & mine were AWA made Oz ones!
I'm fairly sure they had a different set of valves to the Brit ones.

UGLY!!... are you mad!... that's BEAUTIFUL !!!!!
The epitome of wonderful military nostalgia that I LOVE !!!!!!!! 

[vk6zgo]

Could be a custom case somebody made for it.
What is the valve lineup?

I'm inclined to agree------it doesn't look as professional as I would expect from Technico.
As to ugly, have I shown you the "Number 11 Radio set " I used to own?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_set_No._11

Show us a pic of that !!!   

I don't have it any more, & can't find any pix that will let me copy them.

The best I can do is the wiki link.
Just click on that, then on the small pix on the page for a full screen pix.

Both the one in the pix  & mine were AWA made Oz ones!
I'm fairly sure they had a different set of valves to the Brit ones.

UGLY!!... are you mad!... that's BEAUTIFUL !!!!!
The epitome of wonderful military nostalgia that I LOVE !!!!!!!! 

The funny thing, Glenn, is that looking at the picture, I can still remember what it smelled like!

I bought it in the very early '60s, from "Andy Anderson" in Perth, who had a lot of surplus military electronics stuff in his Murray St store.
From memory, the No.11 was five quid!($10 to the "younguns")------as that was a week's wage to me back then, I had to save up!

I would have done better to have saved four times longer & got a No.22, which had 6 volt tubes & was more amenable to modification.
Andy's is also where I bought the 6SH7's for my R,TV & H "Set for young DXers", which probably, with all its problems, was more useful to me than the  No.11, but didn't look quite as cool!

In Andy's other store, in Hay Street, he had an eclectic collection of junk, from radial engines out of an Avro Anson to Hupmobile headlights, & every conceivable thing in between!

There were quite a few similar establishments, such as ""Jack's Equipment Mart" in Wellington St, & "O.W. Strang" in Victoria Park, who had a complete Rolls Royce Merlin in his window!

I guess most cities had similar establishments.

[Connecteur]

I can understand the concept; it's not something to decorate your living room like a piece of furniture.  It's an early example of a purely utilitarian design, much unlike many of the things we have nowadays.  Its functionality constitutes  a style and form of its own.

[Labrat101]

What does it smell like?

Don't know yet!!!  Waiting for delivery....
Hopefully then I can find the 'magical' model number. just couldn't pass it up for the price!!
No other image on Google???  Must be rare! hahaha...

Nice Find .
 Good Luck . You maybe lucky and only need a few Caps . & love and tender care . Those old tubes will be fun .   
  I hope this wasn't the source of the Virus out break .. 

[GlennSprigg]

What does it smell like?

Don't know yet!!!  Waiting for delivery....
Hopefully then I can find the 'magical' model number. just couldn't pass it up for the price!!
No other image on Google???  Must be rare! hahaha...

Nice Find .
 Good Luck . You maybe lucky and only need a few Caps . & love and tender care . Those old tubes will be fun .   
  I hope this wasn't the source of the Virus out break .. 

Thank you mate!, & to all other contributors.
Regarding your comment about the 'virus'... with my last few deliveries, I raise the roller-door, and
the delivery guy just throws it inside, & doesn't even want a signature!!  hahaha...!!
Yep. It will be a work of love!!....  It's the 'unknown' insides that I'm excited about!   
To 'vk6zgo'...
Obviously your no 'Spring-Chicken' either, with you interests, work, play history with 'Contacts' !! 
Years ago, I lived in Adelaide, and had a great relationship with an old Guy near Port Adelaide.  I must
have collected thousands of dollars of equip/parts over the years, which I still pine over many decades
later, as it is ALL gone now! (Divorce/house/property etc.. sigh). I had COUNTLESS pieces of old valve
based test equipment , and HUNDREDS of not just common, but very RARE tubes, military & otherwise.
Damn.  I hate 'remembering' what I once had...  All gone!!!

[Labrat101]

yup 44 yrs married ...  You only get 25 years for murder ..  "" I would have been Free 19yrs  by now ""   

You Can't worry over what was . as Einstein said you cant destroy matter. You can only create Watt Matter zzz   

  Just be careful with your new Found TIME MACHINE ..   

      It May still have some magic in it !!! ..  .. May have belonged to The Dr.?   

[GlennSprigg]

yup 44 yrs married ...  You only get 25 years for murder ..  "" I would have been Free 19yrs  by now ""   

You Can't worry over what was . as Einstein said you cant destroy matter. You can only create Watt Matter zzz   

  Just be careful with your new Found TIME MACHINE ..   

      It May still have some magic in it !!! ..  .. May have belonged to The Dr.?   

Ha!!... It's interesting what you (Einstein) said there, about destroying matter... (Well you can, sort of!).
What was actually said, is that "ENERGY can not be created or destroyed, but can ONLY be transferred from
one object to another, or transformed from one form to another".  Obviously, in a nuclear explosion, that
original small amount of 'Matter' is being converted to 'Energy' as we know it, in the form of heat, light, and
various others on the spectrum, as per the famous 'E=MC2'.  Also, 'Matter' (at atomic particle level) has been
re-created in high energy accelerators, which leaves me with the only logical conclusion...

MATTER is but a 'Form' of ENERGY, and visa versa... 

[Labrat101]

Could be true . BUT you forgot 1 thing .. Sorry.
All those Nerdy scientist come up with theories that confuses there bosses into thinking they KNOW.
To keep there Jobs . Most of them would not know how to boil an egg.
We all read How NASA has found this that and the other .. BUT just ask one to prove it without
a computer emulation (That any school boy can Do))    .
They Know the public will believe those pictures and videos  are they Real . Maybe ,Maybe Not. 
They Have to justify the billions $ that they are wasting .
'E=MC2'.  was done on a blackboard and NONe of the scientist can figure it out with there quantum
computers & a cup of Luke warm tea .   
The entire Universe is Really really Small and we are just a Single Molecule In a bigger story.
So it looks Large In respective as we are very very Small .  .

  By The Way Hows the Radio .. got it working? Please post a photo when you clean it Up.

Every one Is right to they are proven wrong .. But they are still right .. The Proven was Wrong.
RNS.

[Connecteur]

Naw, it takes some genuine talent to produce a machine that conforms to all the many parameters of market success. It has to be attractive, reliable, inexpensive profitable, all at the same time.  Hats off to the geniuses who manage to pull it off.

[karamba]

In case you need another one:
http://arts.theodorebruceauctions.com.au/custom_asp/fullcatalogue.asp?salelot=AS0399+++541+&refno=++110157&saletype=

[GlennSprigg]

In case you need another one:
http://arts.theodorebruceauctions.com.au/custom_asp/fullcatalogue.asp?salelot=AS0399+++541+&refno=++110157&saletype=

Yep.  That's the other one I mentioned, (4 or 5 year old auction), that had 2 latches, where mine to come has 1 latch.
Which I mentioned, because some thought it was possibly a home made case. (Which it is not).
Still waiting!!!!  (Bloody Aussie Post!!)   

[vk6zgo]

What does it smell like?

Don't know yet!!!  Waiting for delivery....
Hopefully then I can find the 'magical' model number. just couldn't pass it up for the price!!
No other image on Google???  Must be rare! hahaha...

Nice Find .
 Good Luck . You maybe lucky and only need a few Caps . & love and tender care . Those old tubes will be fun .   
  I hope this wasn't the source of the Virus out break .. 

Thank you mate!, & to all other contributors.
Regarding your comment about the 'virus'... with my last few deliveries, I raise the roller-door, and
the delivery guy just throws it inside, & doesn't even want a signature!!  hahaha...!!
Yep. It will be a work of love!!....  It's the 'unknown' insides that I'm excited about!   
To 'vk6zgo'...
Obviously your no 'Spring-Chicken' either, with you interests, work, play history with 'Contacts' !! 
Years ago, I lived in Adelaide, and had a great relationship with an old Guy near Port Adelaide.  I must
have collected thousands of dollars of equip/parts over the years, which I still pine over many decades
later, as it is ALL gone now! (Divorce/house/property etc.. sigh). I had COUNTLESS pieces of old valve
based test equipment , and HUNDREDS of not just common, but very RARE tubes, military & otherwise.
Damn.  I hate 'remembering' what I once had...  All gone!!!

Hi, Glenn, .
Mate, you're only a "spring chicken"----- I'm 76, pushing 77 hard.*

I don't know if you've seen this website before, but there is a lot of interesting stuff there, although mainly UK oriented.
https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/

They are a nice mob, although being Poms, they are "mad as hatters".
I fit in quite well, in fact my nickname there is "Oldmadham"-----they don't like folks using their Amateur Radio callsigns, so I had to be a little less lazy than normal.

*edited because I granted myself a year of life which I haven't yet experienced.

How it happened:- I typed "78" instead of "76" first up, so it read "78, pushing 77", which was obviously ridiculous, so "Mr Alzheimer" here swapped the numbers, not realising they were still stupid.
I think I'll blame the iPad! 

[GlennSprigg]

Tecnico 859, or something around that number I believe. Not 1940 - style is later than that; I would've said late 40's, maybe early 50's - and the 859 is from 1948.

Turns out you were right mate!!!  I just finally received it in the post, and inside the 'battery' compartment, there is a view of the chassis, and yes it's a 1948 Tecnico Aristocrat Model-859.  How did you suspect that is what it was!!! Valve lineup... 1T4, 1R5, 1T4, 1S5, 3S4.
Sorry about my 'large' (smaller than original photos)...


The Tube-Lineup is interesting, due to the '3S4' tube, having a 3v heater, as opposed to the 1.5 v heater in the other tubes. Just after WWII, there was a shortage of 1.5v tubes, so they used this instead. That valve had 2 1.5v heaters that were connected in parallel with 1.5v across them.  You could easily modify the circuit to use the originally wanted '1S4' rectifier. (EDIT: Oops... "Audio-Output!")

This Radio is 'totally' original, with NO modifications or repairs evident. Here are a few internal photos...


And zooming in to the various left/centre/right internal chassis areas...




I'm sure in the USA, it is SOO much easier to find info. THIS Radio is from Australia, and as such is
100 times harder to find info!!!! (Yes, I know all the Aussie Sites!).  'radiomuseum.org' shows the
tube line-up, but has no photos or schematics. NO other sites have any info???
I don't mind reverse-engineering this radio & supplying the data for free, (as I'm going to make
it work!), but in the interim, I found out that there is an Article in a Periodical from the H.R.S.A.
(Historical Radio Society of Australia), who has an article in their "Radio Waves" periodical,
   Radio Waves    Issue 73,  July 2000 Page 12
   Tecnico   859   The Tecnico Aristocrat Five-valve battery radio (Steven Kandiliotis)
Would love to know what it said!!! haha...

In the mean time, I will make this poor thing look like new!!

[Circlotron]

Tuned RF stage! Woot!

[Cyberdragon]

Rectifier?

You mean output driver...

[Pinkus]

Just by looking at the photos of the electronics I can smell it. 
I will probably never forget this smell of >60 years old electronics even if I haven't opened such old treasures for ages.

[Lamé Üsernåmê]

Tecnico 859, or something around that number I believe. Not 1940 - style is later than that; I would've said late 40's, maybe early 50's - and the 859 is from 1948.

Turns out you were right mate!!!  I just finally received it in the post, and inside the 'battery' compartment, there is a view of the chassis, and yes it's a 1948 Tecnico Aristocrat Model-859.  How did you suspect that is what it was!!! Valve lineup... 1T4, 1R5, 1T4, 1S5, 3S4.

• I've seen one before, so I knew the make was correct & that the cabinet was original. Couldn't remember the model though.
• Most Australian radios are pretty easy to date from outside, so I knew it wasn't 1940, but late 40's - maybe early 50's at the latest.
• It's the only Tecnico on any of the lists - HRSA, Radiomuseum, etc - of that era that has a canvas-covered wood cabinet.

Schematic etc can be found in AORSM '48. Otherwise, it should be very close to sets with similar valve lineup (give or take some minor details e.g. how the bias V is derived in some of the Astors e.g. KQ).

[GlennSprigg]

Tuned RF stage! Woot!

Yep!!... I was surprised to see the Triple-Gang tuner in this Broadcast only unit. 

[GlennSprigg]

Rectifier?

You mean output driver...

Oops. Corrected now.. Don't know what I was thinking!, thanks... 

[GlennSprigg]

Just by looking at the photos of the electronics I can smell it. 
I will probably never forget this smell of >60 years old electronics even if I haven't opened such old treasures for ages.

Yea... I touched on that aspect recently, in answering another post.  It never goes away!! 

[GlennSprigg]

Tecnico 859, or something around that number I believe. Not 1940 - style is later than that; I would've said late 40's, maybe early 50's - and the 859 is from 1948.

Turns out you were right mate!!!  I just finally received it in the post, and inside the 'battery' compartment, there is a view of the chassis, and yes it's a 1948 Tecnico Aristocrat Model-859.  How did you suspect that is what it was!!! Valve lineup... 1T4, 1R5, 1T4, 1S5, 3S4.

• I've seen one before, so I knew the make was correct & that the cabinet was original. Couldn't remember the model though.
• Most Australian radios are pretty easy to date from outside, so I knew it wasn't 1940, but late 40's - maybe early 50's at the latest.
• It's the only Tecnico on any of the lists - HRSA, Radiomuseum, etc - of that era that has a canvas-covered wood cabinet.

Schematic etc can be found in AORSM '48. Otherwise, it should be very close to sets with similar valve lineup (give or take some minor details e.g. how the bias V is derived in some of the Astors e.g. KQ).

Thanks for that info mate!!   

[SpecialK]

Any sneak peeks of your restoration progress?

[TerraHertz]

That is certainly one ugly-arsed old radio!
Looking at the components reminds me to ask - how reliable are those very old style resistors?
I've never tried restoring anything that uses them so don't have experience with their problems.

Also, how does their color coding work? Doesn't look like E12, and some seem to have only two color bands.

[Circlotron]

Colour coding is body, end, centre. E.g. green black orange = 50K. No 47K in those days.

[Cyberdragon]

Yes, also known as Body-End-Dot resistors, which originated with early "dogbone" style carbon resistors. I'm working on a Crosley 5M3 from '34 that's full of them.

[GlennSprigg]

Re:-  Old style resistor values...
Yes, and more confusion at times when some companies like 'Atwater-Kent' used their own custom colors for resistors! 
http://www.atwaterkent.info/TechData/Images/EV1932_007.gif
Probably aimed at throwing people off doing their own repairs.

I've been quite ill for a while, but i'm getting to this radio of mine in the near future, and will up-date photos etc. !   

[SpecialK]

Hope your feeling better soon.

[GlennSprigg]

Hope your feeling better soon.

Thank you. Unfortunately, I can only create delays for the inevitable. And 'make-hay' while the sun shines!!   

[Dazzler111]

Gday Glen did u ever get that Technicolor Aristocrat restored? I recently acquired one of these similar to yours but slightly different catch arrangement, I can’t find any circuits, might have to just work it out as I go.I’m going to add a 240v power supply and restore this poor ugly beast!

[Dazzler111]

I forgot to mention mine has two latches and a all octal valve line up, 1.4v tubes so it might be the model before yours can’t find a model number thou, cheers Bob

[Jeff eelcr]

Glenn, I am working on a 1955/6 Sears Silvertone radio with the same tubes
Sams 382 folder 11 covers mine.
Jeff

[Dazzler111]

I found a model number: 759 but no mention anywhere online, seems to be post war vintage around 1947 going by the dates on the speaker and OPT.

[Dazzler111]

[Dave Wise]

The resistors are marked with the Body-End-Band system, an intermediate stage between Body-End-Dot and the modern striped system.  They're probably somewhat off but the radio barely cares.  The IF transformers are shielded, while the oscillator can go naked.

Except where proven good, those molded paper capacitors should be shot on sight.  Be slightly suspicious of the molded mica caps.

The only difference between the 1S4 and 3S4 Power Pentodes is that the former has its two filaments paralleled inside the envelope, while 3S4 needs an external jumper.  (3S4 was also used in a 50mA series string in "three-way" AC/DC/Battery radios.)

[Connecteur]

I've seen radio restorers insert new capacitors inside the shell of an original one.  Does this preserve the originality, or is it going too far?  Do shiny new capacitors ruin the authenticity of a vintage radio?

[Dave Wise]

When you acquire something old, there's always the question, "Repair or preserve?"  The answer is, "Season to taste."  I like to make things work and I don't have anything a museum would care about, so I always repair.  One time I did re-sleeve capacitors, just for the visual satisfaction.  But even that radio will pass from me with notes describing what I did.  Some will even come with a "trophy bag" of removed parts.

[Connecteur]

I suppose there is a tiny market opportunity for manufacturing "new old" capacitors; ones that look like the original, but perform as new ones.

I seem to recall a Youtuber who recreated old batteries for vintage radios, but I've not heard of anything from him lately.  Maybe he showed everyone else how easy it was to do it themselves.

[vk6zgo]

I've seen radio restorers insert new capacitors inside the shell of an original one.  Does this preserve the originality, or is it going too far?  Do shiny new capacitors ruin the authenticity of a vintage radio?

I don't see it that way---part of the "authenticity" of a vintage radio is its history.

"Shiny new capacitors" have themselves been around for some time, & it is highly likely if the radio was constantly in service for all that time that it would have had the originals replaced.

That is even more the case with test equipment which has been in service, in say, a Radio or TV station, where service lives of equipment are normally quite long.(It is often faster, cheaper, & more simple to repair older stuff than to obtain new replacements of similar specs).

[unknownparticle]

Moses sandals!!  That has been hit hard with the ugly stick!!    Then again, Australia isn't known for it's design culture!!

[unknownparticle]

I've seen radio restorers insert new capacitors inside the shell of an original one.  Does this preserve the originality, or is it going too far?  Do shiny new capacitors ruin the authenticity of a vintage radio?

Guilty as charged!!  Cap re-stuffing is a major part of radio and TV restoration, just look at the underside of a valve chassis that has been re-capped with modern components and compare it with the original to see why.  Not an enjoyable job, particularly with waxies but rewarding in the end. 

[vk6zgo]

Moses sandals!!  That has been hit hard with the ugly stick!!    Then again, Australia isn't known for it's design culture!!

Great comment coming from the country that produced the Fairey Gannet!

[unknownparticle]

Moses sandals!!  That has been hit hard with the ugly stick!!    Then again, Australia isn't known for it's design culture!!

Great comment coming from the country that produced the Fairey Gannet!

Form follows function rules in military aviation!!  We also produced the Spitfire, the D type Jag, the E type Jag, Aston Martin DB5, Concorde, Lotus Elan, etc, etc, etc.

[vk6zgo]

Moses sandals!!  That has been hit hard with the ugly stick!!    Then again, Australia isn't known for it's design culture!!

Great comment coming from the country that produced the Fairey Gannet!

Form follows function rules in military aviation!!  We also produced the Spitfire, the D type Jag, the E type Jag, Aston Martin DB5, Concorde, Lotus Elan, etc, etc, etc.

Standard Vanguard, Reliant, Triumph Mayflower, Lotus 7, absolutely any truck with "Scammell" on the front, with a "special mention" for the Scarab, & with aircraft, the Nimrod, the Miles Aerovan, & the Bristol freighter, this list avoiding some of the true aircraft horrors of the between-wars era!

As far as radios are concerned, when I visited the UK in 1971, I noticed some of the portable radios still current at the time, looked older & dowdier than first generation Oz "transistor radios" from the late 1950s/early 1960s!

Of course, the Brit manufacturers could argue that they were still "hanging in there", in the early '70s, as the Oz companies had succumbed to the influx of Japanese radios by then.