PACIFIC MODEL 5C (1932)

The Pacific model 5C was manufactured for Pacific Radio Company Ltd by Radio Corporation of New Zealand Ltd in 1932.

Other radios based on the same chassis:

1932/33 Pacific 5-valve broadcast band radio

Early superhet, no AVC.  Same cabinet as used for (seemingly) most early Pacific table radios.

Said to be electrically the same as the model 103, note the two schematics that are similar below

 

Lineup in this model (which has a 1932 serial code, but might be 1933) is 57, 58, 57, 59, 80

Technical Information

Valves (5): 57, 58, 57, 47, 80

Intermediate Frequency: 175kc/s

Frequency Bands: 1

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

1932 Courtenay 5C and 103 Schematic

Note, this schematic is almost identical, but has a 250k resistor to ground on the 2nd IF secondary, and a different B+ power arrangement for the first audio 57.  This might be the 103 schematic with the above being the 5C?  Its in the Pacific service literature as a '5V M.V.C.'1932 Courtenay 5C

1932 Courtenay 5C

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 (7 in total)

YEARMODEL NAME
1932 Courtenay model 5C
1933 Courtenay model 103
1933 CQ model 52
1934 Courtenay model 103
1934 Stella model 5A
1933 Sandison model 5V