Tony G0MQG in Norwich, Norfolk is selling an Eddystone 770R mk 1 that he bought for spare parts. It is minus the band 2 coil pack and valves and is being offered for spares/restoration.  Tony is looking for offers. Due to size and weight it will be collection only.  If you are interested his email address is tony122@ntlworld.com and he is on QRZ.COM                             
 

Tony in Melbourne Australia has recently purchased a very nice Eddystone 830 receiver which originally came from a Government auction 10 years ago. Oddly, it has two knobs that just do not look original –Tony has no idea how they ended up on the set. See photo of the non-original knobs circled in red. He is looking to buy the correct knobs if anyone has them for sale. A quick look would suggest that these knobs were not only used on the 830’s but other models as well, so perhaps there might be a few floating around that someone is willing to part with.

The two knobs are the ‘TUNING’ and the ‘INCREMENTAL’ knobs. Black with satin metal insert as shown on the second photo. Tony is located in Melbourne Australia. Contact him via email  tony@tzed.com.au if you can help him.

Steve Halkyarf in Carlisle has an Edometer owned by long time EUGer Mr Ron Drew G8URU who was his father in law. It is complete and with its carrying box and looks in good condition. It comes complete with instruction manual and other documentation. Steve believes it works and is looking for offers. If you are interested contact Steve via e mail: <smhalkyard@btinternet.com> 

Jack in Bristol is selling father’s EC10 Mk1 which comes complete with battery box and the original packing carton. Jack says that the receiver is working and can provide a short video of it operational.

Jack can pack for courier dispatch but wants the purchaser to arrange and pay for the courier.  Jack is looking for offers on this radio but would like it to go to a collector. Jack can be contacted on Jack Macmillan baldheadedpriest@gmail.com 

Gerry O’Hara VE7GUH has taken his S820 AM/FM Tuner out of storage and given it the once over using a new piece of test gear to measure the 10.7MHz filter response. You can find the article in Restorations here

Lawrence G4GZG  in Torquay, South Devon is looking to buy an Eddystone 8256/1P cabinet for EC958 receiver, or advice on similar case to fit. Reasonable price paid depending on condition plus carriage. If you think you can help Lawrence please contact him on    g4gzg@yahoo.com

The post on Arthur Edwards G6XJ and his QSL card resulted in a message from Tony G4UZN who has a fantastic Historic QSL card collection https://qsl-history.webs.com/. (He is the guy who advertises in Radcom for old QSL cards).

Tony found a pre-war G6XJ QSL card dated 1933 which although blank does have an interesting message on the rear about a trip to Denmark on the SS Mongolia in July 1933.

Tony’s collection got me thinking about other hams that were employed by Stratton and Laughton in the early days of the company. The Laughton’s company history “A Century of Achievement” published in 1960, mentions several people of which Tony has been able to find QSL cards.

George Brown G5BJ, who designed the VHF two way transmitting /receiving equipment that was sold to the Metropolitan and other Police Authorities in 1938 in case landline telephone communications was disrupted by enemy bombing. George G5BJ eventually left Stratton and Laughton to join the Birmingham Police to take charge of their radio section. The 1938 QSL card shows a contact with W4TS on 14MHz fone (AM) and the 1946 card shows a contact with VU2WP on 28MHz CW. The police equipment went on to form the basis of the 400 series R/T VHF equipment which was used in the D-day landings.

In 1924 Stratton & Laughton formed a retail organisation under the name Webbs Radio. It had five shops including those in London and Birmingham but in the end only the London store survived. Webbs Radio was under the able management of E.J. Pickard G6VA. During the war  E.J.Pickard was brought back to Birmingham and was on fire watch in November 1940 when the Bromsgrove St works was destroyed by enemy bombing. He and Harold Cox (Technical Director) and E.M.Lauze courageously went in and out of the burning building bringing out practically all the valuable radio test equipment. The QSL card shows a 1933 contact with OZ2K on 7MHz CW.

Also part of the Webb’s Radio staff was H.W. Stewart G2CY, H.R.Adams G2NO, and their resident American Buyer in Boston, Ted McElroy W1JYN. Tony G4UZN also had a QSL card from G2CY dated 1933 for QSO with OK2K on 7MHz CW and from G2NO dated 1936 with G2TG on 7MHz together with a Xmas card of the same year. Ted W1JYN was apparently the world champion high speed telegraphist. I think there must have been a parting of the ways in 1937 as I have seen a Short Wave Magazine ad for Eves Radio Limited in Wolverhampton with G2NO and W1JYN offering American Radio equipment and parts.

Again let me thank Tony G4UZN for his help and interest in Eddystone alumni QSL cards. Visit his site it is fascinating.  Chris G0EYO

Robert in mid Wales has two receivers he wishes to go to a good home free of charge due to age and health issues. The 940 was purchased off EBay in 2019 and is in nice condition and has the speaker mounted in the cabinet. It had been restored by the previous owner. The 840A is a bit scruffy and has had some work done on it including a new set of valves. The sets appear to work but Robert has not been able to fully check them out. You would have to collect these from Robert’s home in Llanbrynmair, Powys (SY19).

If  you wish to take up this generous offer of Robert’s then please contact him via e mail  at robert.reay@btinternet.com 

Arthur Edwards G6XJ joined Stratton & Laughton’s Radio Section in its very early days. Arthur was a radio amateur and eventually became Commercial Director and General Manager. During his war service he served in the Fleet Air Arm. We published a post in January 2016 of a picture of Arthur in his radio shack in 1929 (from Short Wave Magazine,  January 1949- see below). Arthur left the company when it was purchased by Marconi in the 1960’s.

Last week on E Bay I noticed a QSL card from G6XJ for sale which I purchased for the princely sum of £2.50. The card is for a QSO in November 1950 with G3DOE (Thanet Radio Society) on 80m band. The radio company had the call sign G6SL from the early 20’s and I took over the registration of this call for Eddystone Radio when Managing Director in the 80’s and still have it.

Clive Walker in Ludlow has some interesting items he is selling off.

Eddystone Speaker £65

Battery box £35

Waterproof Diecast Box (with O ring – unused) £15

Postage within the UK is OK  or can be collected if that is preferred.

Will observe Covid 19 rules. 

If you are interested in any of these item contact Clive via e mail  clive.walker5@btopenworld.com