Made in South Africa 5 band radio - info needed

Recently I got my hands on a 5 band portable 1950's radio manufactured in South Africa. I am keen to get it working, so schematic would be very handy and any other info. Works from various mains voltages and from batteries. I haven't been able to find any information of this radio on internet. 

Name: Viking R18U Wanderer portable.

Model: SMD R18U. Manufactured by S.M.D. Manufaturing Pty Ltd, Pinetown, Natal

Valves: DK92, DF91, DF91, DAF91, DL94 . Hot chassis design. 90V and 2 x 4.5V batteries. Some electrolytic capacitiors made England 1954. Telescopic antenna. 

Main cable with Australian 3 pin power plug, neutral wired to chassis with 47nF capacitor?. This must have been done afterwords. Two large resistors with multiple taps wired to mains voltage selector. Selenium rectifier 

Please help.

• Front view_ (193 KB)
• Rear view_ (133 KB)
• Back panel_ (297 KB)

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Hello Vesa,

thank you for the really interesting introduction of your Viking R18U Wanderer Portable. This model is new for RMorg, same with the company SMD Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Pinetown Natal (Durban). The company still exists today, see smd-marine.com/our-story/ (copy and paste in your browser)

The manufacturer now has been proposed as a new entry for the mfr. data base. After acceptance, you can make a new model suggestion for your radio. Please let me know if you need further assistance for doing that.

Best regards

Bernhard

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The new South African company SMD Manufacturing has been created, so your model Viking R18U Wanderer Portable can be proposed as the first model for this mfr.

Please make your new model suggestion and start from the home page "Create new model" or follow the link to the same form.

After acceptance, a schematic search can be started from the new model page.

Good luck!

Best regards
Bernhard

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Thank you Bernhard,

I will start working on the details of the radio and will fill in the form as much as I can.

Regards,

Vesa

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I'm told by an ex-South African that worked there that Grinel aka GRC aka Milcom was the same company as Grintek at one stage. Formed by the need of the UK Racal to distance itself from South Africal. See also this page.

I thought a TR48 had also been uploaded. It was entirely a Grinel model. I'll try and find the photos I took and the technical details.

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