ULTIMATE MODEL RAN 'GYPSY' (1949)

The Ultimate model RAN was manufactured by Radio (1936) Ltd in 1949.

Other radios based on the same chassis:

6-valve portable broadcast band radio - AC mains or battery

Seen in advertising as either the "Gypsy" or "Gipsy" Portable - although many of the adverts with "Gipsy" also have the other spelling (see below) so this is likely a typo.

1949 Ultimate RAN

Ultimate RAN 'Gypsy'
NORTHLAND AGE, 23 DECEMBER 1949

Technical Information

Valves (6): 1P5GT, DK40, 1P5GT, 1H5GT, DL41, 7Y4

Intermediate Frequency: 460kc/s

Frequency Bands: 1

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

1949 Ultimate RAN

1949 Ultimate RAN

1949 Ultimate RAN

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.

Other documented models using this chassis (3 in total)

YEARMODEL NAME
1949 Golden Knight model RAN
1949 Rolls model RAN