ULTIMATE MODEL CUU (1939)

The Ultimate model CUU was manufactured by Radio (1936) Ltd in 1939.

4-valve reflex AC / DC broadcast band radio.

Note: at the time this radio was produced there were some areas in NZ (particularly parts of Auckland) which had DC mains which, for the most part, could not be used to operate typical radio sets made for 230V AC mains.  Most main manufacturers had a DC mains set in their lineup to sell to these customers (such as this one), or a service bulletin to convert specific sets in their lineup to DC operation (for example the model 12 from Columbus).

Technical Information

Valves (4): 6K8, 6B8, 18, 25Y5

Intermediate Frequency: 410kc/s

Frequency Bands: 1

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

1939 Ultimate CUU

General Construction Notes for Radio (1936) Ltd:

Early Radio Ltd. schematics did not show the models, just the year, valves and bands, so some sleuthing is required to find the right one.

Early 30's Ultimate models with three digit model numbers indicated both the number of valves in the set, and the price it retailed for - for example, the model 856 was an 8-valve radio which retailed for $56 pounds. The equivalent Courier models were reversed, so an Ultimate 856 was a Courier 568 (theoretically, at least). This was the Auckland price though, and often the sets would retail for 1 or 2 pounds more in other centres, presumably to cover the freight cost of moving them around the country from the Auckland factory.

Note the use of old resistance terminology on older schematics: ω means ohms and Ω means megohms.

Some 1936-onward 3-letter chassis codes vary the last letter between brands, for example:
BBU - Ultimate model BB
BBR - Rolls (and Golden Knight) model BB
BBC - Courier model BB
All use the same chassis.

Golden Knight, Courier and Rolls appear to use the same copper-painted chassis while Ultimate chassis' are painted silver

After the war a new model code system was introduced, whereby radio models all began with R - the first model being the RA, a dual-wave 5-valve set commonly released in a pressed tin cabinet.