• Year
  • 1939–1941
  • Category
  • Broadcast Receiver - or past WW2 Tuner
  • Radiomuseum.org ID
  • 223492

 Technical Specifications

  • Number of Tubes
  • 4
  • Main principle
  • Superheterodyne (common); ZF/IF 452 kHz; 2 AF stage(s)
  • Tuned circuits
  • 6 AM circuit(s)
  • Wave bands
  • Broadcast (MW) and Long Wave.
  • Power type and voltage
  • Dry Batteries / 1.5 & 90 Volt
  • Loudspeaker
  • Presumably Dynamic Loudspeaker (moving coil)
  • Material
  • Wooden case
  • from Radiomuseum.org
  • Model: 8518 - Lissen Ltd.; London and
  • Shape
  • Tablemodel, high profile (upright - NOT Cathedral nor decorative).
  • Notes
  • The Ever Ready 5218 is the similar model. The 5214 & 8512 have a two tone finish, the 5215 and 8515 are almost identical but with single colour leatherette cloth on wood. There is a portable version shown with a different scale window shape in a 1939 advert (see link). This may be the 5216/8516 or 5217/8517. If you know please contact us.
    Early versions are all the same chassis. There may be no later versions of the Lissen due to bombing of the factory at the Angel, Islington (also known as Angel Lane, Edmonton) in 1941. The tuning knob is friction drive so contra-rotates to scale pointer direction.
    Lissen 8514, 8515, 8516, 8517 (all "portable"). The following are probably all table models: 8518, 8519, 8485, 8618. (Two of these are named Richmond and Stafford, please contact us if you know which!)
    Ever Ready 5214, 5215, 5216, 5217 (all "portable"). The following are table models: 5218, 5219. This is the first Lissen/Ever Ready "All dry" set and the basis of the "Forces Entertainment" All dry battery portable and the immediate post WWII portable Model "A" octal set and table versions.
    The tubes are basically European Edge connect versions of the Sylvania Octal models released in 1938 and by about 1943 unobtainable. A 1946 Mullard bulletin explains the Octal replacements (the European equivalents of the Sylvania / RCA parts)

    Uses All Dry No. 3 Combination Balanced battery pack, later known as AD3, giving over 240 hours operation.
  • Author
  • Model page created by Michael Watterson. See "Data change" for further contributors.

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