• Year
  • 1950/1951
  • Category
  • Broadcast Receiver - or past WW2 Tuner
  • Radiomuseum.org ID
  • 127337

Click on the schematic thumbnail to request the schematic as a free document.

 Technical Specifications

  • Number of Tubes
  • 4
  • Main principle
  • Superheterodyne (common); ZF/IF 470 kHz; 2 AF stage(s)
  • Tuned circuits
  • 6 AM circuit(s)
  • Wave bands
  • Broadcast plus more than 2 Short Wave bands.
  • Power type and voltage
  • Line / Batteries (any type) / = 90 & 7.5 ; ~ 110 - 250 Volt
  • Loudspeaker
  • Permanent Magnet Dynamic (PDyn) Loudspeaker (moving coil) / Ø 6 inch = 15.2 cm
  • Material
  • Metal case
  • from Radiomuseum.org
  • Model: PE55MBQ - Pye Ltd., Radio Works;
  • Shape
  • Portable set > 8 inch (also usable without mains)
  • Dimensions (WHD)
  • 355 x 265 x 145 mm / 14 x 10.4 x 5.7 inch
  • Notes
  • The main body of the cabinet is steel with black textured paint. The front and rear panels are probably Bakelite. The telescopic aerial is stowed in the lid as the width of chassis precludes  a retractable type. It just pushes into the rubber boot mounted top socket which has a side socket for a normal wander plug. The chromed lid hinges are insulated from main case by 4 rectangular rubber washers and connect the MW (BC) band 14 turn loop aerial.

    The rear cover is detached by pushing down on top, sliding down and unhook top then bottom. The bottom of the case has two strips as springs.

    Bands (approximately)

    1. MW 540 ... 1600 KHz
    2. MSW 3 ...  8.6 MHz
    3. 31m 9.4 ... 9.85 MHz
    4. 25m 11.57 ... 12.15 MHz
    5. 19m 15.0 ... 15.7 MHz

    The order is different on scale than on wavechange / power switch. Presumably the 5 bands are duplicated twice (11 positions switch) so as to use the same case and knob layout as the domestic  P29UBQ which has only LW & MW, though it has the appearance of 5 scales, rather than a 5 way switch and on/off separately or on volume control. As the model has mains and battery operation a normal 2 pole switch would not suffice.

    The DK92 wasn't available till late 1951 early 1952 so the DK40 is used to give reliable 19M band operation on battery. A 1R5 / DK91 would likely only be reliable on fresh batteries or mains. The DL94 is from 1950. This with lack of LW and the "E" in PE55MBQ puts this as an Export Model for 1950 to 1951. The PE70B (1952), PE92B (1953 or 1954, same bands) PE94MBQ  and PE94MBQ/LW (both sometime 1954 to 1956) are likely successor models (in having Shortwave rather than only MW & LW).

    Battery is balanced 90V & 7.5/9V combo pack with type "W" connector. The 9V connection isn't used. A B148 pack (or slightly larger L5546) will connect correctly but is very small for the compartment.

    Equivalents to

    Battery adds about 1.5 kg to the Radio weight.

  • Net weight (2.2 lb = 1 kg)
  • 5.7 kg / 12 lb 8.9 oz (12.555 lb)
  • Source of data
  • - - Data from my own collection

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