RCA Portable Radio - Videokarma.org TV - Video

michaelr · #1 01-24-2009, 07:05 PM

Hi wanted to share I have an early portable RCA Model BP-10
It did work when I was a kid 40 years ago or so but the rca battery is 67.5 volts and also uses a D size battery. Does any one know anything about this radio
Thanks
Mike

*zenithfan1* · #2 01-24-2009, 07:40 PM

Awesome radio! It's hard to find such small tube radios these days. Good thing you kept it all this time. You might be able to string a bunch of 9 volts together if there's room for it. I just recapped a 1950 Motorola tube radio that has the flip open front. That is what I'm going to try and get 'er portable again. Keep us posted!

batterymaker · #3 01-24-2009, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelr

Hi wanted to share I have an early portable RCA Model BP-10
It did work when I was a kid 40 years ago or so but the rca battery is 67.5 volts and also uses a D size battery. Does any one know anything about this radio
Thanks
Mike

You have RCA's first "personal" portable radio, the second portable radio that used miniature tubes. The first goes to the Sonora Candid portable.

The BP-10 set the standard for personal portables the same way their 630TS television became the pattern on which most televisions were made. As a result, most personals were shaped like bricks and had loop antenna lids.

I believe the BP-10 is the first portable to use the Eveready 467 battery as well.

I have one in the box with its original battery.

Sandy G · #4 01-24-2009, 08:47 PM

Neat little set ! I'd say that the same general guidelines apply to recapping it for best performance, as does the AC sets.

Reece · #5 01-26-2009, 11:17 AM

As suggested, you can snap seven 9-volt batteries together plus to minus, make up a string of them, rubber band them together to fit the space if possible, and then connect to the remaining plus and minus terminals. If there's room, you could open the old battery outer covering and put the 9-volters inside, wiring to the original terminals. You'll have 63 volts more or less which will work. If there's room you can snap eight together for 72 volts. The radio will work OK over a range of several volts. It doesn't have to be exactly 67.5 volts. However, the other cell (the D cell) DOES have to be 1.5 volts as it runs the filaments.
Reece