[bridkarl]

My week for Pacific radio - marked “15” on the back and “Rex” on the front label. A very distinctive dial with a ringed planet

 Can’t find any mention of this unit anywhere - ebay, radio attic, radio museum,google. The paint doesn’t seem original. All I can figure is this is an off brand recased in some old cube radio

[Arran]

If it is a Pacific radio, and not a "Plant A" radio, or something else. There were a number of independents cranking out generic sets, with private label names, for smaller retail chain stores and the like. I have one that is a four tube TRF AC/DC with a ballast tube, sensitivity isn't bad but selectivity is crap with only a two gang tuning condenser. "Rex" is Latin for king, so nothing really of note there, but the planet in the center might be a lead, there are also ones that say "Aetna" with the mountain in the dial, a volcano in Italy, I think that the latter were sold in Walgreens.
Regards
Arran

[bridkarl]

I think you are right. I found a pic of a radio with the same tag - attributed to something called “dorset rex of 5th avenue”  in NYC - lots of handbags etc with the same label.
I have no idea other than to assume it’s some long gone local department store chain. Evidently from 1925 to 1950 they existed selling things like compacts. I assume this was some 1930s item -
Given it was NYC I think probably a Chicago production.
I only paid $75 for this so I think that’s reasonable- too much probably but better than the $150 the seller was asking.

[David]

Jackson Bell later called Packard Bell made lots of store brand radios. Please take a picture of the back and a list of tubes. David

[Paul Philco322]

Shoulda been called "The Saturn". Paul

[Joe Rossi]

A picture of the back would be helpful to identify. Clinton made a boatload of radios for others, and this does resemble a Clinton.

Joe

[bridkarl]

Here’s the back. When it gets here I’ll take better pictures
I’ve found nothing about this Pacific if that’s indeed what it is.

[MrFixr55]

Hi Folks,

Heare is a link to the Pacific 15 from Nostalgia Air:

https://www.nostalgiaair.org/pdfs/Pacifi...orp-15.pdf

This is definitely a Depression era TRF set using an RF amp, biased detector (sometimes referred to as a "power detector") an output stage and a rectifier. This set has a ballast tube instead of the Cordohm "curtain burner" power cord with the heater resistor as part of the cord. This ballast tube is counted as a tube, likely as a marketing ploy to make this sound like a true 5 tube radio, which were usually Superhets. If the case is correct to the radio (and if the dial moves with the tuning knob, then it likely is), this is rather upscale for this set. Most of these sets did not even have a calibrated tuning dial. They were labeled 0-100 like the 1920s TRF sets.

In my book, fairly high on the Cool-ometer

[bridkarl]

We will see. I am interested in seeing how the case looks once I get rid of that paint. I thought the dial was just so cool.

[Arran]

It has a better power supply circuit then my Plant A set, at least it has a filter choke in the power supply, the Plant A uses a resistor. It will work but it won't be a stellar performer, the metal Arvin sets had a better design, though they were a bit newer. I wonder what the difference was in performance between the Pacific model 15/16 and the model 20, the latter had a few added components and some changed values?
Regards
Arran

[bridkarl]

I finally got back to this after a long hiatus
(busy getting retired - lots of paperwork)
 - the radio works. Needs cleaning, but it's been recapped sometime in the last 10 years or so.

I am puzzled by this coil of wire going between the 43 and 6C6 - I think it's some kind of resistor that's lost its cover. Not sure if I need to replace it or just put on some shrink tubing and let it be.
It appears to connect to ground from the 6c6.

           

[Joe Rossi]

That appears to be resistance wire.  I believe it should be covered, and if it needs replacing a regular resistor works. I have never understood why they were used.  Joe

[bridkarl]

I removed this and it tested to 40 ohms so I just put two 80 ohm 1/4 watt resistors in parallel. Not sure it's all that critical. At some point I'll find a 40 ohm 5 watt resistor and throw it in there. I'm honestly not sure what it's supposed to do - I suppose it was a Depression era cost saving measure- like they needed a precision resistance not available as a carbon comp?? I read that somewhere but have no idea either.

[Joe Rossi]

Bridkarl, Which pins of which tubes does this connect to? Joe

[bridkarl]

From ground on the 6C6 to the chassis. I thought it was another tube until I looked closer. The chassis connection is that solder lump under the switch in the lower right.