1.Find of the day 2. Remember when??

[harryj]

Check out this interesting old relic we found at the Military Jeep Swap Meet at Canungra.
It's a Ferris radio, a real 'blast from the past'!
Some of you will remember this radio from your younger years, recalling pleasant Sunday drives in the family car.

This Ferris brand radio would have been the most expensive item to tick on the options list when buying a car back then, kind of like ticking the 'Air-Con' box in the '70s.

The Ferris was very unique and desirable, in that you could listen to your favourite radio station anywhere.
It plugged into the car, then when you arrived at your picnic site in the country you took it out of the car and operated it on it's own battery, and then when you got back home you plugged it into the household 240v mains in the kitchen, truly versatile indeed !

Do you remember? Would you like to share your memories of the Ferris multi-use car radio? We'd love to hear them...

Technically, it's model number is M106, valve type (not 'transistorised').
Serial no.1068157
Of course, it's AM only, but would have pulled in the long distance signals from radio stations very far away, especially at night.

[Sleepy]

I can recall Dad having a Ferris Radio slung under the glovebox in the HT Kingswood. Took up most of the legroom.
A more modern version, something like this:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/10/669.jpg

From memory this one operated on 12 volt or 8 D cell batteries for portable operation. I can recall sliding it out of its cradle and taking it with us down the beach. Circa late 60's. Mum could listen to the cricket while we burnt ourselves to a crisp in the water...:angel:

[wrinklearthur]

I can recall Dad having a Ferris Radio slung under the glovebox in the HT Kingswood. Took up most of the legroom.
A more modern version, something like this:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/10/669.jpg

From memory this one operated on 12 volt or 8 D cell batteries for portable operation. I can recall sliding it out of its cradle and taking it with us down the beach. Circa late 60's. Mum could listen to the cricket while we burnt ourselves to a crisp in the water...:angel:
I fitted the black and silver version of that radio into my 86" when I was doing my National service recruit training at Pucka, July 1972. (My marble came up in the fifteenth National Service ballot).

Great little radio. After Gough got in, I got out and I then worked my way around Oz. I remembered listening to this radio in the bush after work, on a IP geophysics survey, on Ning Bing station, north of Kununurra. The date was September the 5th 1974, This was when, in Hobart, the Mt St Canice laundry steam boiler exploded. It killed 8 people and injured 21.

I was listening this report at night on 936 AM, to 7ZL in Hobart, using a long wire aerial down to the radio, with a couple of turns around the case and the end poked into some wet ground.

Cheers Arthur

[harryj]

Great recollections there Arthur (sharp memory!), and Sleepy.

And we look forward to anyone sharing their childhood memories of the Ferris portable car/home radio, in particular the valve M106 (see photo) that son & I found.
This somewhat battered and scarred old relic :( will be restored, but might have to wait a year in the queue of tasks begging our attention. :bangin:
I have a trade background in electronics so we will give it a good go. Presently I have a couple of old car radios (out of early Chevys) sitting on the bench, to repair for a bloke at work.

[disco_thrasher]

ahhh thee old wireless:D

[Sleepy]

Here you go harryj, you can have an even older one.

1940's FERRIS CAR RADIO 240 / 6 VOLT | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1940s-FERRIS-CAR-RADIO-240-6-VOLT-/220875414052?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item336d335a24)

[harryj]

Now I know why they call you 'Sleepy' - you must have spent all night on the internet looking for that lovely relic for me.
I remember, as a kid, getting zapped off the valves whilst tinkering with old wirelesses ;)
Well done my friend.

[Sleepy]

you must have spent all night on the internet looking for that lovely relic for me.


No, not all night. - searched ebay "Ferris Radio" and there you go. ;)
At the risk of a thread drift, I am also a Ham Radio enthusiast and admirer of all things "tubed". I have a lovely tube amplifier from the 70's that produces wonderful music quality and this special Mallard radio from the 50's. It is AM only, of course, but has the most magnificent clarity. I replaced the tubes in it about 10 years ago and is my favourite for listening to the cricket.:)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/10/563.jpg

[Scallops]

....
Of course, it's AM only, but would have pulled in the long distance signals from radio stations very far away, especially at night.

When I was a young Geologist straight out of Uni, I remember working in the Gibson desert, roughly midway between Warburton and Wiluna. Late one evening we picked up a radio station in SA - 5DN I think, in North Adelaide, it told us! I remember thinking that was pretty cool, especially because in the morning, the signal had turned to static....

[digger]

Here you go harryj, you can have an even older one.

1940's FERRIS CAR RADIO 240 / 6 VOLT | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1940s-FERRIS-CAR-RADIO-240-6-VOLT-/220875414052?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item336d335a24)

Thats the radio I have for my 109, s1 ! (packed at the moment) but I think its 6/12/240,... maybe wrong..

mines a brown colour but works an absolute treat (once it warms up!) panel and switch on left, speaker in middle and double pane channel selector on right side. Has some knobs on side (well 1, others are missing :( )

I was told these are 40's - late 50's manufacture?
I have no 6v cord, so was thinking of 240/12v invertor tucked into car somewhere...

[harryj]

G'day Digger,
be very careful about applying any power to the old wireless, as you risk frying the circuitry/components. It's operating voltage needs to be carefully determined, and also whether positive or negative earth.
Unless it has been re-furbished the 'insides' are getting brittle, caps leaking, and wiring corroded etc.:o
Only proceed with caution ! Send me a PM for further advice.
Harry (electronics tech)

[bobslandies]

Thats the radio I have for my 109, s1 ! (packed at the moment) but I think its 6/12/240,... maybe wrong..

mines a brown colour but works an absolute treat (once it warms up!) panel and switch on left, speaker in middle and double pane channel selector on right side. Has some knobs on side (well 1, others are missing :( )

I was told these are 40's - late 50's manufacture?
I have no 6v cord, so was thinking of 240/12v invertor tucked into car somewhere...

I have a brown one also Digger. Mine does not work yet and it is going in my 1949 80".

It is a Ferris Model 74. See here:

74 Car Radio Ferris Bros. Pty Ltd.; Sydney, build 1945&ndash (http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/ferris_74.html) - This is a great site!

98/146/1 Car radio and power lead, portable, model 74, metal/ glass/ electronic components/ rubber/ paper, Ferris Bros Pty Ltd, Australia, 1947 - Powerhouse Museum Collection (http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=161293)

I just remembered - my late aunt worked for the company at Brookvale in Sydney and got me one of those removeable transistorised ones for my 2A station Wagon around 1970, got upgraded to an AWA Clarion radio/cassette system later

Bob

[Sleepy]

And here's another.:D

FERRIS PORTABLE CAR RADIO MODEL 94 circa 1953 | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/FERRIS-PORTABLE-CAR-RADIO-MODEL-94-circa-1953-/220878798261?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item336d66fdb5)