Northern Electric 5308 "Midge"
Manufacturer: Northern Electric, Belleville, Ontario, Canada
Model: 5308
Approximate Date Of Manufacture: 1949-1950
Type: 5-tube Superheterodyne AM BC band radio
Tube lineup: 35W4, 12BE6, 12BA6, 12AT6, 50B5 (miniature)
Status: working, restored
Where purchased: eBay, August 2006
Description
This is a Northern Electric 5308 "Midge". It is a good example of a
radio that was very popular, made and sold for low cost, and sold in
high volume during the post-war radio boom. It uses a very simple and
reliable AA5 design that did not change much over a period of
years. It is electrically very similar to my model 5700. It is smaller than
most table radios, does not have a dial lamp, and puts out 1.5 watts
of audio power. Tuning is a little tricky as the tuning knob is
mounted directly on the tuning cap with no dial cord. There is a
connection for an external antenna and a length of wire was connected
on my unit. The radio was originally offered in six colours: Green,
Brown, Red, Yellow, Ebony, and Ivory (like this one). It is not clear
whether the name was short for "midget" or the small biting fly of the
same name. A sticker on the bottom has the standard warning of that
era that a radio receiving license is required.
As received the radio worked but was very dusty inside. The power
supply filters caps had been replaced at some point. Inside I found a
US Mail postage sticker from 1960. This radio was made in Belleville,
about a two hour drive from where I live.
Restoration consisted of a good cleaning and recapping, and gluing of
the loop antenna back in place. It did not need an alignment. The case
could use being repainted but I have not done that.
Pictures
