Can anyone help identify the model number or possibly what the real brand of this radio is? It is a small plain 2-knob tombstone. The case is sort-of a false front plywood style.
There are no numbers on the chassis or any stickers. Only the front dial plate says Universal. It has a scale-style pointer dial that goes from 0 to 100.
Look at these pictures please to get a better idea, since there isn't much to go off of:

http://www.benjalore.com/gallery/v/stevestuff/
(near bottom of page)

As you can see, it's in terrible shape.
I have searched NA and googled like crazy... I appreciate your efforts.

:Can anyone help identify the model number or possibly what the real brand of this radio is? It is a small plain 2-knob tombstone. The case is sort-of a false front plywood style.
:There are no numbers on the chassis or any stickers. Only the front dial plate says Universal. It has a scale-style pointer dial that goes from 0 to 100.
:Look at these pictures please to get a better idea, since there isn't much to go off of:

According tp my Collectors Guide your radio may be a model 72A6. The guide lists the year as 1935, but that seems quite a late date for the radio you pictured. No other info is included in the book. Hope this helps.
Dick

:
:http://www.benjalore.com/gallery/v/stevestuff/
:(near bottom of page)
:
:As you can see, it's in terrible shape.
:I have searched NA and googled like crazy... I appreciate your efforts.

Thanks Dick for searching your refs!

I can't find schematics based on the 72A6 number, so I drew it out this morning (fun!). After measuring the no-load transformer voltages, it seems to use 2.5v tubes (and an 80).

Based on 5-pin sockets and tube caps for the 1st two tubes, I think it goes 24/35 RF amp, 24/35 det, 46/47 af (and 80). So now I have to figure out which of the two it is for each stage. I don't have that much experience with that. Anybody have opinions which tubes would be most likely?

Also, if you can tell me the model no of a similar 4-tube TRF set, I can possibly look it up and compare to the schematic I made (there were a couple things that didn't make sense...)

Thanks again.

::Can anyone help identify the model number or possibly what the real brand of this radio is? It is a small plain 2-knob tombstone. The case is sort-of a false front plywood style.
::There are no numbers on the chassis or any stickers. Only the front dial plate says Universal. It has a scale-style pointer dial that goes from 0 to 100.
::Look at these pictures please to get a better idea, since there isn't much to go off of:
:
:According tp my Collectors Guide your radio may be a model 72A6. The guide lists the year as 1935, but that seems quite a late date for the radio you pictured. No other info is included in the book. Hope this helps.
:Dick
:
::
::http://www.benjalore.com/gallery/v/stevestuff/
::(near bottom of page)
::
::As you can see, it's in terrible shape.
::I have searched NA and googled like crazy... I appreciate your efforts.

:Thanks Dick for searching your refs!
:
:I can't find schematics based on the 72A6 number, so I drew it out this morning (fun!). After measuring the no-load transformer voltages, it seems to use 2.5v tubes (and an 80).
:
:Based on 5-pin sockets and tube caps for the 1st two tubes, I think it goes 24/35 RF amp, 24/35 det, 46/47 af (and 80). So now I have to figure out which of the two it is for each stage. I don't have that much experience with that. Anybody have opinions which tubes would be most likely?
:
:Also, if you can tell me the model no of a similar 4-tube TRF set, I can possibly look it up and compare to the schematic I made (there were a couple things that didn't make sense...)
:
:Thanks again.
:
:
:::Can anyone help identify the model number or possibly what the real brand of this radio is? It is a small plain 2-knob tombstone. The case is sort-of a false front plywood style.
:::There are no numbers on the chassis or any stickers. Only the front dial plate says Universal. It has a scale-style pointer dial that goes from 0 to 100.
:::Look at these pictures please to get a better idea, since there isn't much to go off of:
::
::According tp my Collectors Guide your radio may be a model 72A6. The guide lists the year as 1935, but that seems quite a late date for the radio you pictured. No other info is included in the book. Hope this helps.
::Dick
::
:::
:::http://www.benjalore.com/gallery/v/stevestuff/
:::(near bottom of page)
:::
:::As you can see, it's in terrible shape.
:::I have searched NA and googled like crazy... I appreciate your efforts.

Steve, take a look at Universal Battery, model 7232.
Dick

Dick,
I looked at the 7232. You were right before about 1935 seeming a little too new. The 7232 is a superhet with more tubes. What I've got is definitely a TRF, based on my homemade schematic.
Thanks for offering your help anyway.
I'm guessing that this so-called "Universal" was made by some other off-brand with no surviving literature.

If you feel like reading more, you might find this funny though-- because of the placement of the tuning cap on the chassis, it hits the tube next to it when it is about 90% open. I tried all sorts of 5-pin ST and Globe tubes (with top cap) and they all interfered with the tuning cap. Then I noticed that the tuning cap was mounted crooked on the chassis, perhaps to try to minimize this problem. Furthermore, the faceplate around the tuning knob is mounted off-center on the front of the cabinet to accommodate this, and it even appears to be its original placement. So I'm wondering if this company had fairly little experience at set design and got themselves into trouble (and went bankrupt?). And maybe that's why it's hard to find anything on them...
Just speculation, but it's interesting.

::Thanks Dick for searching your refs!
::
::I can't find schematics based on the 72A6 number, so I drew it out this morning (fun!). After measuring the no-load transformer voltages, it seems to use 2.5v tubes (and an 80).
::
::Based on 5-pin sockets and tube caps for the 1st two tubes, I think it goes 24/35 RF amp, 24/35 det, 46/47 af (and 80). So now I have to figure out which of the two it is for each stage. I don't have that much experience with that. Anybody have opinions which tubes would be most likely?
::
::Also, if you can tell me the model no of a similar 4-tube TRF set, I can possibly look it up and compare to the schematic I made (there were a couple things that didn't make sense...)
::
::Thanks again.
::
::
::::Can anyone help identify the model number or possibly what the real brand of this radio is? It is a small plain 2-knob tombstone. The case is sort-of a false front plywood style.
::::There are no numbers on the chassis or any stickers. Only the front dial plate says Universal. It has a scale-style pointer dial that goes from 0 to 100.
::::Look at these pictures please to get a better idea, since there isn't much to go off of:
:::
:::According tp my Collectors Guide your radio may be a model 72A6. The guide lists the year as 1935, but that seems quite a late date for the radio you pictured. No other info is included in the book. Hope this helps.
:::Dick
:::
::::
::::http://www.benjalore.com/gallery/v/stevestuff/
::::(near bottom of page)
::::
::::As you can see, it's in terrible shape.
::::I have searched NA and googled like crazy... I appreciate your efforts.
:
:Steve, take a look at Universal Battery, model 7232.
:Dick

:Dick,
:I looked at the 7232. You were right before about 1935 seeming a little too new. The 7232 is a superhet with more tubes. What I've got is definitely a TRF, based on my homemade schematic.
:Thanks for offering your help anyway.
:I'm guessing that this so-called "Universal" was made by some other off-brand with no surviving literature.
:
:If you feel like reading more, you might find this funny though-- because of the placement of the tuning cap on the chassis, it hits the tube next to it when it is about 90% open. I tried all sorts of 5-pin ST and Globe tubes (with top cap) and they all interfered with the tuning cap. Then I noticed that the tuning cap was mounted crooked on the chassis, perhaps to try to minimize this problem. Furthermore, the faceplate around the tuning knob is mounted off-center on the front of the cabinet to accommodate this, and it even appears to be its original placement. So I'm wondering if this company had fairly little experience at set design and got themselves into trouble (and went bankrupt?). And maybe that's why it's hard to find anything on them...
:Just speculation, but it's interesting.
:
:
:
:
:::Thanks Dick for searching your refs!
:::
:::I can't find schematics based on the 72A6 number, so I drew it out this morning (fun!). After measuring the no-load transformer voltages, it seems to use 2.5v tubes (and an 80).
:::
:::Based on 5-pin sockets and tube caps for the 1st two tubes, I think it goes 24/35 RF amp, 24/35 det, 46/47 af (and 80). So now I have to figure out which of the two it is for each stage. I don't have that much experience with that. Anybody have opinions which tubes would be most likely?
:::
:::Also, if you can tell me the model no of a similar 4-tube TRF set, I can possibly look it up and compare to the schematic I made (there were a couple things that didn't make sense...)
:::
:::Thanks again.
:::
:::
:::::Can anyone help identify the model number or possibly what the real brand of this radio is? It is a small plain 2-knob tombstone. The case is sort-of a false front plywood style.
:::::There are no numbers on the chassis or any stickers. Only the front dial plate says Universal. It has a scale-style pointer dial that goes from 0 to 100.
:::::Look at these pictures please to get a better idea, since there isn't much to go off of:
::::
::::According tp my Collectors Guide your radio may be a model 72A6. The guide lists the year as 1935, but that seems quite a late date for the radio you pictured. No other info is included in the book. Hope this helps.
::::Dick
::::
:::::
:::::http://www.benjalore.com/gallery/v/stevestuff/
:::::(near bottom of page)
:::::
:::::As you can see, it's in terrible shape.
:::::I have searched NA and googled like crazy... I appreciate your efforts.
::
::Steve, take a look at Universal Battery, model 7232.
::Dick

Steve,
I found only four models for universal in my books, two console and two table models. I suspect you were right about some small company tried to break into the radio business. AND FAILED!
Dick