Steve
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Post by Steve on Oct 16, 2019 8:19:39 GMT 12
I came across this 5-valve Hinemoa branded table radio through a friend who had it in his collection. I've managed to find a few vague references to them in around 1935/36 in Christchurch - but nothing more. After some negotiations and the trading of a couple of radios in exchange, I'm pleased to now have it in my care - I will pull the chassis for better photos and diagnosis when I get a chance.
Has anyone else ever seen one? Better still, does anyone else have one? I believe the paint job to be an 'after market modification'... but I've had nightmarish results from stripping cabinets... so I'm not sure I will strip it. I've already noted one bodgy looking repair to one of the slats in the grill. Its also got a 'jewel' pilot lamp in the volume control plate which seems unusual, I'll try to see if this looks original or if it was added at a later date. I believe it to be 1934/5 vintage - it uses 2.5V valves with a 2A5 output.
Advertising seems to be almost non-existent in any periodicals I've checked. Farmers in Chch refers to them being available there in '35, and a couple of auction houses list them in '36 as part of radio auctions, one which lists 5- and 6-valve console and table models:
Interestingly, the font of the brand name almost matches that on the poster from the worldwide box-office smash hit of 1914/15 - Hinemoa, a movie that was filmed in Rotorua and completed in 8 days on a £50 budget - then shown around the world to great acclaim.
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Post by Philconut on Oct 24, 2019 14:48:15 GMT 12
It's not from the Gilfillan/El Rey stable is it?
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Steve
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Post by Steve on Oct 28, 2019 9:01:45 GMT 12
I don't think so, not with a name like that (Maori mythology probably wasn't all that big in Southern California in the mid 30's)... and the construction is a little bit amateurish for anything out of the Gilfillan factories... It seems to be localised to Christchurch (There is a Hinemoa St in Chch... Courtenay Place was the birthplace* of the Courtenay radio so that idea is not out of the question...) * Not actually strictly correct, Cornhill St was the birthplace, but they were sold on Courtenay Place. |
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Post by Philconut on Oct 28, 2019 9:56:58 GMT 12
Interesting.
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Steve
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Post by Steve on Feb 22, 2020 15:52:23 GMT 12
Update. I've been working through some old photos and came across this one (click for bigger image):  Which has the Hinemoa name on it.  This could just be a model name, not necessarily a brand. Johns did name some of their sets using Maori words back in this era... but still... interesting. Anyone know anything about this model? Cheers, Steve |
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Post by Mark Thomson on Apr 30, 2020 13:52:50 GMT 12
Hi Steve
Just came across your query.
Hinemoa was definitely a product "Brand" /Model name of Johns Radio Ltd (with whom my Dad worked as a Radio Serviceman in the Great Depression 1931 to 35)
Chancery St Auckland.
Definitely NOT a Gilfillan product out of LA (as you know, Three of us Radio Historians (myself and two Californians) are launching our website, Later this year and writing a book on Los Angeles- Manufactured radios.).
Cheers,
Mark.
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Steve
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Post by Steve on Apr 30, 2020 15:27:53 GMT 12
Thanks Mark - the construction of this set looks quite 'Radio Ltd'... and there is no mention in later Johns catalogues that I have seen of early-mid 30's based Hinemoa sets. Actually I don't have any mention in the Johns catalogues I have of Hinemoa at all... I'd love to find out when they made them since its clear from the photo of that 20's set that they did. This later set looks like its had extensive work - it could have been a kitset potentially, the sockets are screwed in, which was not typical of big manufacturers. Of course the other possibility is that what I have is a frankenset, and its been put together from parts here and there... but there must have been at least Hinemoa dial plates sold by someone if that was the case - and they could well have come from Johns if that was the case. What I think I know about the brand is it relates to my set at the moment: www.vintageradio.co.nz/brand/hinemoaAnd photos including under-chassis shots (which show a transformer and coil cans typical of c.1937 Radio Ltd sets, but not showing other typical features of radio ltd sets, like the strange candohm-looking terminals they used, and riveted valve sockets. www.vintageradio.co.nz/model/hinemoa/154 |
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Post by Philconut on Apr 30, 2020 18:33:48 GMT 12
I have just been reading past posts & I have a Radio Ltd 4 valve TRF set from about 1930 which is very amateurish in its construction. It also has the valve sockets screwed in. As does an Ultimate 9L I am currently working on. Attachments:
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Steve
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Post by Steve on May 1, 2020 12:37:30 GMT 12
Hi John, the 9L is a surprise, although not so much the 4V set. I would have thought Radio Ltd would have been far more professional by that stage in their game. I assume the 9L is around '33?
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Post by DHockey on May 1, 2020 14:00:18 GMT 12
The Hinemoa does look like it uses a lot of Radio Ltd components (coils, IF can, valve shield, fasteners, grid clips etc) and the chassis itself is very close to the Radio Ltd design used on quite a few of their small mantel models.
I see there are two screw holes on the top of the chassis at the rear of the speaker cutout. These are where the speaker bracket would attach in similar Radio Ltd sets where the speaker is mounted on the chassis. I take it the speaker in your set is screwed to a baffle in the cabinet? There is also another hole on the front of the chassis under where the speaker would be that has paint chipped off around it. Looks like there may have been a control there in the past? The crude installation of the jewel lamp in the volume plate doesn’t look original to me.
The 4 pin speaker socket is not original, looks like a 1950’s replacement, the wiring to this socket is also later plastic covered wire. This looks like a modification that was done because the original speaker was hard wired into the chassis, as they were in Radio Ltd sets that used this style of chassis.
I’m leaning more towards the chassis not being original to the cabinet with this one.
Philconut – I have an almost identical chassis to yours under my workbench. It has a 3 gang condenser and an extra valve socket. No identifying markings on it though.
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Steve
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Post by Steve on May 1, 2020 14:15:50 GMT 12
thanks Daniel, the speaker in this one is a later model imposter and definitely not original... but yes, it does look like the speaker was originally mounted on this chassis, and the chassis is inconsistent with the cabinet. I guess I need to wait for another Hinemoa radio to surface from the depths of someones collection so I can compare them...
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Post by DHockey on May 1, 2020 14:18:48 GMT 12
Just had a look at a Ultimate JCL (1933) I have and it has screwed in valve sockets too.
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Post by Philconut on May 1, 2020 17:09:04 GMT 12
Yes, according to a part circuit I found it is 1933. I've just had a look at a JCL chassis I have here and there are very many similarities to yours Steve. The dial & volume plates appear to be identical except for the name on them. Also the cabinet is remarkably similar. On your Hinemoa, does the power cord come out of the top cover of the power transformer as it does on both my JCL & the 9L? The JCL chassis has a 3 gang tuning condenser. Two sections are for a double tuned aerial coil. The circuit I found is labelled Courier Treasure Chest & is dated 1933. I'll post a couple of photos later after I have reduced their size. Attachments:Ultimate 514 Circuit.pdf (261.54 KB)
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Post by Philconut on May 1, 2020 17:27:35 GMT 12
Photos as promised/ I note that the valve shields in all three of my radios are of a different design. The speaker may not be original but the mounting certainly looks original and different to anything I have come across.   |
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Steve
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Post by Steve on May 1, 2020 18:06:23 GMT 12
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