PACIFIC MODEL 107 'SKYSCRAPER' (1934)

The Pacific model 107 was manufactured for Pacific Radio Company Ltd by Radio Corporation of New Zealand Ltd in 1934. It's part of the Pacific Art Deco series.

Other radios based on the same chassis:

7-valve broadcast band superhet with NSC (Noise Suppression Control). 

YouTube series on Pacific 107 restoration

 

Available in console and table-top versions, the cabinet is a very Art-Deco skyscraper-inspired design - reminiscent of both the Chicago Board of Trade Building and the Fisher Building in Detroit, USA.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisher_Building https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Board_of_Trade_Building

 

Note: early models have a different badge to later ones, and possibly different knobs - the tabletop photographed here is an early serial number while the console has a later serial and the same badge found on 1935 models.

John Stokes noted that this model was also released as a Courtenay model 207 (if anyone has one, or has seen one please get in touch).

 
The Pacific model 107 is part of the 'Pacific Art Deco' series.

In 1934 and 1935 Pacific produced some truly magnificent cabinet designs.  A few of these were particularly Art Deco inspired and worthy of special mention.

The items in this series are


Technical Information

Valves (7): 58, 2A7, 2B7, 57, 57, 2A5, 80

Intermediate Frequency: 175kc/s

Frequency Bands: 1

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

Pacific version - code 107.  Courtenay version - code 207

1934 Pacific  model 107 'Twin Arc Dial'

1934 Pacific  model 107 'Twin Arc Dial'

General Construction Notes for Radio Corporation of New Zealand Ltd:

The first digit of the serial number typically indicates the year of manufacture of RCNZ chassis' (although not the decade - that requires a little knowledge of the valves, construction, etc). Sets from around 1934 onwards were often (but not always) constructed in a distinctive pressed 'baking pan' style chassis, seemingly unique to RCNZ.

Model codes beginning with a 0, for example the model 051, are Osram valve versions of the model without the leading 0. Technically the 0 should be an O (for Osram), however the digit 0 was used throughout the site before this fact was discovered.

The E suffix indicates a magic eye option is fitted (in models which were available with or without, such as the model 25).

A and B suffixes appear to be simply updates to the current model, R also appears to be simply an updated model ('R'edesign, perhaps?)

P indicates either a permanent magnet speaker version of a model which also came with an electromagnet speaker (the model 26 for example), or a portable model (like the model 694P).  This suffix was used in the mid 50's when Radio Corp was changing over.

N and M indicated miniature valve versions of a model which started with all (or a mix, ie: model 5) of larger valves. One of these two codes may indicate a transitional mixture of octal and miniature - clarification is required.

S often indicates a stereo model.  It can also indicate 'self-biased' in the transition period between back-biased and self biased sets where there were models with both methods employed (53S for example)

Finally, other suffixes and prefixes make occasional appearances in the RCNZ lineup - like the 66W (a variant of the long-running model 66) and the 75XA (a 10-valve version of the model 75 with a separate amplifier chassis).

Model nicknames are often sourced from either newspaper advertising, company literature or the NZ Radio Traders Federation official trade-in price books (Particularly Courtenay models from this publication)

In 1954, model numbering changed, to begin with the number of valves (ie: 501 - 5 valves, 1006 - 10 valves, etc) although the final 2 digits don't appear to have much significance.  Middle digits of 5 (portable) or 6 (mantle, including clock radio) are used on the AWA-designed plastic-cased sets.

Other documented models using this chassis (2 in total)

YEARMODEL NAME
1934 Pacific model 107 'Shelley'