Motorola MP-55L

Manufacturer: Motorola Canada Ltd, Toronto, Canada
Model: MP-55L chassis HP-470
Approximate Date Of Manufacture: 1950s
Type: 4 tube AC or battery operating BC band portable
Tube lineup: 1R5, 1U4, 1U5, 3V4
Status: working, not restored
Where purchased: gift, December 2004

Description

This is a tube portable radio that can be operated from AC power or one 7-1/2V A battery and one 90V B battery. It has 4 tubes and a selenium rectifier. An interesting feature is the loop antenna inside carrying handle, which rotates. Most components are on a printed circuit board.

As received it was not working. I discovered that someone had swapped two tubes. Of course, putting a 1 volt tube in the 3 volt tube location destroyed it. When the 1U5 tube was replaced with a good one, it worked. The line cord was also missing.

It is in reasonably good shape with minor wear. The tuning knob has suffered some damage from what appears to be melting. I have not done any restoration. If I do, it should be recapped and the selenium rectifer replaced with a silicon diode.

Pictures