HMV P4 Radio

[paul williams]

Found this in a local car boot recently




a bit dusty but complete. I dont know what to do with it, my choices are:
1. Restore is as best I can and end up with a LW/MW radio with dubious sound quality


Loose all the valves and power supply and add in new electronics that:

2. Convert it so it is now an FM stereo receiver, and add stereo speakers, bearing in mind that VHF FM broadcasting is due to stop within the next 3 years.
3. Convert it to a stereo DAB radio, more expensive and tricky and needs a reasonably good aerial to work properly
4. Ignore the radio alltogether but add an mp3 socket, maybe a cd player behind the grill, which would open and use it as a mini sound centre

5. Do nothing.

Although I have a P4 I prefer the space in the middle compartment to being stuffed with a radio and the family aready have mp3/iplayers/dvd players to use on journeys anyway so what do you recommend? I will probably sell it afterwards anyway so which option is best?

[P3Steve]

if your not going to keep it sell it as it is and let the new owner decide

[chris dancey]

I transferred my P4 75 1959 from positive to negative earth, this meant disconnecting the HMV valve radio, I restored the radio frontage and rewired the internal lights so that it still lights up when switch on, although the radio part is disconnected, I fitted a modern c/d player ......with remote control on my auxiliary dash ...see photos in last 'Freewheel ' 340 Page 13 bottom left photo....( the player is out of sight ) with a cassette library / changer in the boot. This gives the original authentic look, looks great when lit up at night with the benefit of a c/d player and the choice of 6 c/ds.