Ultimate was manufactured by Radio (1936) Ltd,
they had various distributors.
Currently there are 133 documented models.
Ultimate was the main house brand for Radio Ltd and one of the best-known brands in NZ.
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In 1932, reportedly 3100 Ultimate radios sold in NZ, approximately 20% of all radios sold in that year (according to their adverts).
Where the model code is not clearly stated it can be found (in most cases) as the letters at the start of the serial number. For example, RB10574 would be a model RB.
| IMAGE | YEAR | MODEL CODE | VALVES | BANDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1923 | Ultimate RA1 | 2 + crystal detector | Broadcast |
 |
1928 | Ultimate SG4 'Screen Grid 4' | 4 | |
 |
1931ish | Ultimate model 856 'Senior Console' | 8 | |
 |
1932 | Ultimate model 417 'TRF' | 4 | Broadcast |
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1932 | Ultimate model 520 | 5 | Broadcast |
 |
1932 | Ultimate model 523 | 5 | Broadcast |
 |
1932 | Ultimate model 524 'Superhet Mantle' | 5 | Broadcast |
 |
1932 | Ultimate model 527 'Consolette' | 5 | Broadcast |
 |
1932 | Ultimate model 627 'Superhet Mantle' | 6 | Broadcast |
 |
1932 | Ultimate model 631 'Consolette' | 6 | Broadcast |
 |
1932 | Ultimate Short Wave Adapter | ||
 |
1933 | Ultimate model 514 'JCL' | 5 | Broadcast |
 |
1933 | Ultimate model 521 | 5 | Broadcast |
 |
1933 | Ultimate model 522 | 5 | Broadcast |
 |
1933 | Ultimate 5LN | 5 | Broadcast |
 |
1933 | Ultimate model 621 | 6 | Broadcast |
 |
1933 | Ultimate model 623 | 6 | Broadcast |
 |
1933 | Ultimate 7L | ||
 |
1933 | Ultimate model 829 | 8 | Dual Wave |
 |
1933 | Ultimate model 931 | ||
 |
1934 | Ultimate 10LAW | 10 | Dual Wave |
 |
1934 | Ultimate 7LAW | 7 | Dual Wave |
 |
1934 | Ultimate AU | 5 | Broadcast |
 |
1935 | Ultimate CU | 6 | Dual Wave |
 |
1936 | Ultimate AAU | 6 | Dual Wave |
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1936 | Ultimate ACC | 6 | Broadcast |
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1936 | Ultimate AEU | 9 + magic eye | All Wave |
 |
1936 | Ultimate AFU 'De Luxe' | 10 + magic eye | All Wave |
 |
1936 | Ultimate UU 'Wembley' | 5 | Broadcast |
 |
1936 | Ultimate XU | All Wave | |
 |
1937 | Ultimate BBU | 5 | Broadcast |
 |
1937 | Ultimate BCU | 7 | All Wave |
 |
1937 | Ultimate BDU | 6 | Dual Wave |
 |
1938 | Ultimate BWU | 7 + magic eye | All Wave |
 |
1938 | Ultimate BXU | 5 | Broadcast |
 |
1938 | Ultimate BYU | 5 | Dual Wave |
 |
1938 | Ultimate CCU | 6 | Broadcast |
 |
1938 | Ultimate EXP | 7 + magic eye | All Wave |
 |
1939 | Ultimate CIU | 5 | Broadcast |
 |
1939 | Ultimate CNU | 7 + magic eye | All Wave |
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1939 | Ultimate COU | 6 + magic eye | All Wave |
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1939 | Ultimate CPU | 6 + magic eye | Dual Wave |
 |
1939 | Ultimate CUU | 4 | Broadcast |
 |
1940 | Ultimate EA 'Teleflick' | 6 | Dual Wave |
 |
1940 | Ultimate EB 'Junior' | 5 + magic eye on some sets | Dual Wave |
 |
1940 | Ultimate ED | 7 + magic eye | All Wave |
 |
1940 | Ultimate EG 'Dual-Wave Junior' | 5 + magic eye on some sets | Dual Wave |
 |
1941 | Ultimate FA | 6 + magic eye | 5 |
 |
1941 | Ultimate FB | 6 | Broadcast |
 |
1941 | Ultimate FJ | 5 + magic eye | 5 |
 |
1945 | Ultimate RA | 5 | Dual Wave |
 |
1945 | Ultimate RB | 5 | Broadcast |
 |
1945 | Ultimate RB | 5 | Broadcast |
 |
1945 | Ultimate RD | 4 + vibrator power supply | Broadcast |
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1946 | Ultimate RG | 8 + magic eye | Broadcast |
 |
1946 | Ultimate RG | 8 + magic eye | Broadcast |
 |
1946 | Ultimate RJ | 6 | Broadcast |
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1947 | Ultimate RL | 6 | Dual Wave |
 |
1947 | Ultimate RN | 5 + vibrator | Broadcast |
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1947 | Ultimate RO | 6 + magic eye | 5 |
 |
1947 | Ultimate RU | 5 | Broadcast |
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1948 | Ultimate RAA | 7 + magic eye | 5 |
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1948 | Ultimate RAC 'Minor' | 5 | Broadcast |
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1948 | Ultimate RAC 'Mitre' | 5 | Broadcast |
 |
1948 | Ultimate RAG 'Cargill' | 6 | Broadcast |
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1948 | Ultimate RW 'Snowden' | 6 | Dual Wave |
 |
1948 | Ultimate RX 'Eden' | 5 | Broadcast |
 |
1948 | Ultimate RY | 5 | Dual Wave |
 |
1949 | Ultimate RAN 'Gypsy' | 6 | Broadcast |
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1950ish | Ultimate RG | 8 + magic eye | Broadcast |
 |
1951 | Ultimate RAW 'Troubadour' | 5 + selenium rectifier | Broadcast |
 |
1951 | Ultimate RAX | 6 | Dual Wave |
 |
1951 | Ultimate RBC 'Clifton' | 6 | Broadcast |
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1951 | Ultimate RBD | 8 + magic eye | Broadcast |
 |
1951 | Ultimate RBE | 5 | Broadcast |
 |
1951 | Ultimate RBG 'Minor' | 4 | Broadcast |
 |
1951 | Ultimate RBH 'Drummond' | 6 + magic eye | 5 |
 |
1951 | Ultimate RBK 'Tawa' | 5 | Broadcast |
 |
1951 | Ultimate RBK 'Musgrave' | 5 | Broadcast |
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1951 | Ultimate RBK 'Miro' | 5 | Broadcast |
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1952 | Ultimate RBN 'Car Radio' | 7 + vibrator | Broadcast |
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1952 | Ultimate RBP 'Hanging Horror' | 4 | Broadcast |
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1953 | Ultimate RBO 'Troubadour' | 6 or 7 valve equivalent | Broadcast |
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1953 | Ultimate RBY 'Duchess' | 6 | Dual Wave |
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1953 | Ultimate RBZ 'Linnet' | 4 | Broadcast |
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1953 | Ultimate RCB 'Minnow' | 6 | 4 |
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1953ish | Ultimate RCD | 5 | Broadcast |
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1953ish | Ultimate RCD 'Saturn' | 5 | Broadcast |
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1953 | Ultimate RCG 'Newark' | 6 | Broadcast |
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1953ish | Ultimate RCI | 7 | Dual Wave |
 |
1953 | Ultimate RCZ 'Seafarer' | 6 | Dual Wave |
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1954ish | Ultimate RCD | 5 | Broadcast |
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1954 | Ultimate RCE 'Baby Grand' | 7 | 4 |
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1954 | Ultimate RCE 'Symphony' | 6 + magic eye | 4 |
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1955 | Ultimate RCC 'Emperor' | 7 | 4 |
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1955 | Ultimate RCC 'Rex' | 7 | 4 |
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1955 | Ultimate RCC 'Monarch' | 7 | 4 |
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1955 | Ultimate RCJ 'Century' | 5 | Broadcast |
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1955 | Ultimate RCP 'Cygnet' | 5 | Broadcast |
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1955 | Ultimate RCP 'New Sorrento' | 5 | Broadcast |
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1955 | Ultimate RDG 'Sorrento' | 5 | Broadcast |
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1956 | Ultimate RBK 'Sherwood' | 5 | Broadcast |
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1956 | Ultimate RCC 'President' | 7 | 4 |
 |
1956 | Ultimate RCC | 7 | 4 |
 |
1956 | Ultimate RCL 'Hanover' | 5 | Broadcast |
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1956 | Ultimate RCL 'Stuart' | 5 | Broadcast |
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1956 | Ultimate RCL 'Windsor' | 5 | Broadcast |
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1956 | Ultimate RCN 'Tyne' | 6 | Broadcast |
 |
1957 | Ultimate RDE Transistor 7 'Voyager' | 7 transistors, 1 diode | Broadcast |
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1957 | Ultimate RDE Transistor 7 'Venturer' | 7 transistors, 1 diode | Broadcast |
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1959 | Ultimate RDM 'Explorer' | 8 Transistor ,1 Diode | Broadcast |
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1959ish | Ultimate RDR 'Autoportable' | 8 | Broadcast |
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1959ish | Ultimate RDR 'Grand Mantle' | 8 | Broadcast |
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1959 | Ultimate RDW 'Madeline' | 7 | 5 |
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1959 | Ultimate RDW 'Lyndhurst' | 7 | 5 |
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1960ish | Ultimate RCN 'New Tyne' | 6 | Broadcast |
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1960ish | Ultimate RDG 'Argyle' | 5 | Broadcast |
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1960 | Ultimate REF 'Lynton' | 5 | Broadcast |
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1961 | Ultimate REH 'Fairleigh' | 7 | 5 |
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1961 | Ultimate REH 'Lurline' | 7 | 5 |
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1961 | Ultimate REO 'Beaumont' | 5 | Broadcast |
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1962 | Ultimate REM 'Playmate' | 1 + rectifier diode | |
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1962 | Ultimate REQ 'Christina' | 6 | Dual Wave |
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1963ish | Ultimate REM 'Playmate II' | 1 + rectifier diode | |
 |
1963 | Ultimate RER 'Friendship 8' | 8 transistors, 3 diodes | Broadcast |
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1964 | Ultimate REQ 'Monterey' | 6 | Dual Wave |
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1964 | Ultimate RES 'Lonsdale' | 4 + rectifier diode | Broadcast |
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1964 | Ultimate REU | 4 + rectifier diode | Broadcast |
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1964ish | Ultimate REV 'Domino' | 4 + silicon diode rectifier | Broadcast |
 |
1965ish | Ultimate U163 'Impresario' | 7 | 5 |
 |
1966 | Ultimate U505 'Imperial' | 7 | Broadcast |
 |
1966ish | Ultimate U525 'Nottingham' | 15 transistor, 2 diode | Broadcast |
 |
1972ish | Ultimate model 702 'Vagabond' | 4 Transistors |
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