1939 Kriesler Console Radio - Model 3k30
This radio is a Kriesler Model 3K30 console radio. This updated tuning dial was introduced in the Wireless Weekly , February 24, 1939 and was reported as ‘the largest and most informative yet to be seen in an Australian receiver’.
The earliest advertisement is in Launceston Examiner, July 1939. This was a mid-range model for 1939 with a 5 valve circuit, deluxe Dual wave and sold for 28 Guineas. It received AM (MW) and one SW band The top of the range was a 9-valve model, (3K70).
Kreisler radios sold from 14 Pounds for a small 4 valve mantle radio, portable radios which ran on ‘A’ and ‘C’ batteries with up to 100 hours of use, DC adapters, to 32 Guineas for a 6-valve set
FEATURES
The dial is styled as “projectographic”.Whereas most dials were illuminated from the front (with the lights in front of the glass) or side (with the dial light being directed into the side of the glass), the projectographic design illuminated the dial from behind with the station call signs illuminated against a black background. A cream coloured light diffuser gave an even glow and transparent parts of the dial had a soft cream colour enabling moving indicators collared red to be easily visible, The ‘Australian Stations’ part of the dial is yellow and the ‘World Wise Stations’ (Short Wave) is green.
This radio was acquired in Launceston. The back of the cabinet has the name Bartley of Elphin Road, both long associated with Launceston
Kreisler Radio Company was founded in 1931, commencing at the corner of Crown and Yurong lanes, Sydney, NSW. In 1932 the moved to Kreisler House, 2 Level Street, Chippendale, then to the conrner of Pine, Myrtle and Beaumont Streets also in Chippendale from 1934 to 1940. Kreisler Radio Co was one of Australia’s largest radio and TV manufacturers, raking third by there late 1950s. The company was sold to Philips in the early 1950s, to enable financial and technical resources to enable TV production. The Kreisler name was used until 1983.
The Kriesler name was intended be after the famous composer and violin virtuoso, Fritz Kreisler. However the registered name was changed either by mistake or to avoid copyright issues
The Amplion V15 speaker is just about the best speaker available at the time.
It was common for radios of this period to go in for repair every few years as some of the parts were not as durable and reliable as they are today. Previous work had been done on this radio with the replacement of the original tone control with a combination on/off-tone control switch. The amplifier circuit worked well, however the radio circuit did not. All the old wax/paper capacitors were replaced one by one, and it was only when the last capacitor in the most inaccessible location was replaced that the radio circuit came back to life
Radios of this era also were not as electrically safe as they are today. In bringing this vintage radio back to life it has been made electrically safe with the provision of a fixed connection to Earth and a fuse. Even so, the voltages operating inside these old radios is very much higher than in modern domestic appliances so that tampering inside the radio is strictly prohibited.
As a part of modernising the radio, Bluetooth has been added to enable connection to smart devices. See the instructions to enable this. In this case a small 5volt DC circuit has been added to an existing 6.3 volt AC line in the radio to produce the power to run the small Bluetooth circuit. To help balance the audio output of the Bluetooth circuit with the radio signal output a small amplifier circuit has been added to the bluetooth.
Maker of the Cabinet
The cabinet was made by Ricketts and Thorp, the well known Sydney furniture and cabinet makers.
More information :
https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_hersteller_detail.cfm?company_id=12832
The cabinet is made from highly grained Queensland Walnut (side panels and columns) with the central panel and top using a darker version of the same timber. Trim to the vertical ornamental elements is imported Zebrano veneer. The bottom strip of the from panel is not identified yet, but likely to be another Queensland ornamental timber.
The style might best be described as ‘monumental’, an echo to the ‘monumental entrance of art deco architecture. The front door of a house may have large columns either side to emphasise grandeur, following on from ancient Egyptian temples which were all the rage in there 1930s. Horizontal speed lines at the top and bottom of the cabinet soften the impact of the strong vertical columns. The dark painted trim is not black, but a very dark brown.
The grill cloth is original although with some damage which is almost universal for this type of extremely fine knitted fabric.
Your vintage radio collector Malcolm Grenness is a member of the Sound Preservation Association of Tasmania, the Historical Radio Society of Australia and Radiomuseum.org. There is more information on this actual radio on the Radiomuseum.org website. This vast archive and community of radio collectors features over 120,000 radio model listings and 350,000 photos and schematics.
A link for this radio is: https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/kriesler_3k30.html
Other links: https://www.soundpreservation.org.au/
https://viriditas.com.au/instructions-1939-kriesler-console-radio-model-3k30/
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