Minerva wood table radio

[alexkerhead]

I have collected a few old radios and recently came upon one I didn't recognize...at..all.
It is a Minerva, and I cannot find a model number.


I did take the glass out and clean it with soapy water and dried it gently, I managed not to rub the lettering off the back of the face.
I replaced the bulb and such.

I went to deoxit the pots and when I went to turn the on/volume pot, I heard a snap noise, and I am thinking...wtf
I check it out and the back of the pot is broke off and there is no way to glue it back on.
Anyway, I cleaned the rest of the pots and put in some tubes I know are good. I also put a new string for tuning in it(pain)

I temperarily crossed the power section that broke off to test it, and put on a new power cable.
I plug it in, and I hear sound, I am so happy, then the dreaded hummm buzz kicks in, the filter cap is hot as sin.
I have to recap it, , but the speaker and tuner works.

I guess the questions are:
Does anyone know anything about this radio?
Does anyone know where I can get a switch/volume pot that will have the same resistances of the stock pot?

Here are some pics of her, she is lovely however.
I will need to refinish as well.

[jbpollock]

Do a google image search for Minerva W-119. It will bring up a picture of a radio that looks like yours and is listed as being from 1948 based on the link. I can't download the picture because it has been deleted from the website...but google still shows the thumbnail.

[alexkerhead]

Thanks JB!

[jbpollock]

If this is the right model number:

http://www.nostalgiaair.org/PagesByM...0/M0010880.pdf

[alexkerhead]

Thanks for the schematic!
That will come in handy.

[Tom Bavis]

I'll bet that heater dropping resistor gets hot... Volume control looks like 500K, but 1 -2 meg was more common - you could use one of those and add a 1 meg resistor in parallel.

What's the shaft length and style (flat, split, round?). I can look. I also have a few NOS "Shaft Saver" pots - you cut off the old shaft and press it onto the new pot.

[alexkerhead]

it is a standard round shaft where the knob uses a small screw to clamp on.
Looks like a 1" or so.

Thanks!

[Mantis75]

Originally Posted by alexkerhead

Thanks for the schematic!
That will come in handy.

I just recently picked up a Minerva W710 and could use a copy of the schematic....the dial plate on yours looks GREAT! I'm not sure if the tubes in my set are placed correctly, only have half the paper tube listing on the back of the antenna....any help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED! Thanks!!!! Chris

[Sandy G]

Alex, I wish you lived closer...I have a guy that could make that case look new...

[AUdubon5425]

I'm not sure how long they were in business, but Minerva didn't appear until 1946. I have a magazine with a Minerva ad somewhere - I'll see if I can find it.

[Reece]

500K volume controls were very common in AA5 radios. Lots of those around, new.

Reece