MULLARD MODEL 542 (1942)

The Mullard model 542 was manufactured for C. & A. Odlin Ltd by Philips Electrical Industries of N.Z. Ltd in 1942.

Other radios based on the same chassis:

5-valve + magic eye, all wave with local setting on broadcast band. Same as Philips 157

Mullard model 542
MANAWATU TIMES, 24 JUNE 1942

Technical Information

Valves (5 + magic eye): ECH35 (or CCH35 ), EF39, EBC33, EL33 (or CL33 or EBL31 ), AZ31 (or AZ1 ) and 6U5 Magic Eye

Intermediate Frequency: 454kc/s

Frequency Bands: 3

Chassis Notes(most schematics can be clicked to download a full size version)

Philips NZ model 157 and 158 and Mullard 542 Schematic

General Construction Notes for Philips Electrical Industries of N.Z. Ltd:

Philips early-mid century were probably the Google of their time - they had branches in many countries and a global brand that everyone knew - and were apparently happy to let engineers come up with new ideas and implement them.  Construction is often overly complex but very well engineered - although repairs can also take a complex path.  They used time-in-motion studies to find the most cost effective way to asemble sets and sometimes this means repairs can be nightmarish (if you've ever worked on a V7A Theaterette this will be all too aparent).  U suffix model numbers are transformerless (hot chassis) sets and great care should be taken, or the sets avoided altogether.

Philips model codes are complex - they are explained in-depth on the Philips brand page. 

Mullard codes: The model codes from Mullard sets (unlike their Philips counterparts) appear to contain valve count and date information.  For example, the model 525 is a 5-valve 1945 design.  The 2 appears to just be an identifier (most likely in case there were two models in 1945 with 5 valves, which there was - the 515 is the small 'Meteor' mantle set).

Fleetwood codes are often just a rearranged version of the Philips code.  For example, the FL374T transistor radio is a rearrangement of the Philips model L3Z74T.  Early Fleetwood codes were numeric with F on the end.  From about 1959 onwards the codes were much more like their Philips counterparts.  They start with F or FL (or sometimes FZ for larger consoles)...  These later codes also tend to end in a Philips-style identifier for the power source (A for mains, B for battery, T for transistor battery, etc - see the Philips brand page for more info on that).

Other documented models using this chassis (4 in total)

YEARMODEL NAME
1940 Philips model 157
1940 Philips model 158
1942 Mullard model 652