Radio
Boy
Melody Boy 500 - 1972-1975
(approx.)
Given to me by Leo
Lyndon's family, via Lee Tucker. See Leo's obituary
on the Yacht Boy 210 page.
As this radio had
come from Leo Lyndon, via Lee Tucker, I assumed it would be one Leo had
repaired. Easy to check, as Leo always signed the speaker magnet of radios
he had worked on, along with the date. So, I opened it up to see when it
had been repaired. To my surprise, it was unsigned, and judging by the
dust in the speaker roll, I would say it has never been opened since leaving
the factory. Another 30+ year old Grundig radio with an impeccable service
history of 100% problem free usage, and it has been used until recently
as Leo's kitchen radio.
When it arrived,
it looked fairly unspectacular, but after taking it apart and cleaning
it it has come up almost like new! Even the glossy aluminium trim, which
tends to scratch very easily, is almost unmarked. So it is that one of
my best radios is one I didn't even pay for. A big thank you to Lee and
to Leo's family for giving this to me. It's impossible not to think of
Leo every time I use it, and I am using it a lot. Being technically identical
to the Signal 500, one of my favourite radios, it's a natural "go-to" radio.
See the Signal 500 review for details of why it's a favourite, and for
details of differences between the Signal and this model.
Specification:
Styling:
Similar in size to the
Satellit 700, the radio shares the layout of many other Grundig models
of the '70's era, such as the Signal 500, (whose spec has been used to
compile this page, in the absence of the manual) but in a wood effect and
aluminium trimmed case. Inferior dial scale to the Signal, but slightly
smaller too, purely because of the case styling having less empty space.
The Melody Boy 500 does
not need switching between 110 & 240 V, it does it itself!
Country of manufacture: Portugal.
Size: 170mm high x 300mm
wide x 66mm deep.
Weight (excluding batteries):
2.0 kg approx.
Power supply:
Internal; 1 x PP9, 9V,
or 2 x 1289 batteries, 4.5V each, or 6 x C cells, 1.5 V each, using adaptor
battery holders, for use in countries where PP9 was not available
External; 110-240V internal
AC unit, no voltage selection required.
Battery meter:
Tuning method: Analogue.
Tuning options:
Wavebands:
FM: 87.5-108 mHz, AFC:
No.
LW 145-260 kHz.
MW 510-1620 kHz.
SW 5850-16200 kHz.
IF's:
FM; 10.7 MHz.
AM; 450 kHz.
Station memories: No.
Tuning meter: No.
Local/DX switch: No.
Aerials: Ferrite rod for
LW & MW, Telescopic for FM & SW.
Dial illumination: No.
Mono selector: No (mono
only).
Sockets:
Inputs;
Mono line-in via DIN
socket.
Outputs;
Mono Line-out via DIN
socket.
Earphone/External speaker.
Output power:
Mains operation; 1.5W
RMS.
Battery operation;
1.5W RMS
Speaker: 5.5 x3.75 inches
(143x95 mm).
Tone control: Treble switch.
Clock/Timer:
Review
of this radio (Actually the Signal 500, but with a nod to this model)
Instruction
book for this radio (Again, actually the Signal 500)