Other radios based on the same chassis:
5-valve broadcast band mantle radio.
The Pacific 105 is virtually identical to the Courtenay 205 except for the cabinet and chassis paint colour.
There are two known versions of the cabinet for this set, one with thinner grill bars (as shown above in the B&W photo from John Stokes' photo archives) and the more commonly seen model with thicker bars. The thin-bar model is believed to be an early example.
There is one other Pacific model using this cabinet, but with a round (aero) dial - it seems to be particularly uncommon, but the one sighted example has early model 15 circuitry (the model 15 was a 1935 design, and the successor to the 105). This was possibly to use up a stock of cabinets, as most model 15 radios appear to have been a more modern chest design, or a short tombstone with a slotted grill.
This was one of 4 known 1934 Radio Corp of NZ models in this style of case: the Pacific 105, the Courtenay Exponat, the Troubadour 5H and the Philips Radioplayer 5H. The Pacific and Courtenay models share the same chassis based on American valves, while the Troubadour and the Philips models use Philips valves and have similar, but slightly different chassis'.
In 1934 and 1935 Pacific produced some truly magnificent cabinet designs. A few of these were particularly Art Deco inspired and worthy of special mention.
Intermediate Frequency: 175kc/s
Frequency Bands: 1
Chassis Notes(most schematics can be clicked to download a full size version)
General Construction Notes for Radio Corporation of New Zealand Ltd:
The first digit of the serial number typically indicates the year of manufacture of RCNZ chassis' (although not the decade - that requires a little knowledge of the valves, construction, etc). Sets from around 1934 onwards were often (but not always) constructed in a distinctive pressed 'baking pan' style chassis, seemingly unique to RCNZ.
Model codes beginning with a 0, for example the model 051, are Osram valve versions of the model without the leading 0. Technically the 0 should be an O (for Osram), however the digit 0 was used throughout the site before this fact was discovered.
The E suffix indicates a magic eye option is fitted (in models which were available with or without, such as the model 25).
A and B suffixes appear to be simply updates to the current model, R also appears to be simply an updated model ('R'edesign, perhaps?)
P indicates either a permanent magnet speaker version of a model which also came with an electromagnet speaker (the model 26 for example), or a portable model (like the model 694P). This suffix was used in the mid 50's when Radio Corp was changing over.
N and M indicated miniature valve versions of a model which started with all (or a mix, ie: model 5) of larger valves. One of these two codes may indicate a transitional mixture of octal and miniature - clarification is required.
S often indicates a stereo model. It can also indicate 'self-biased' in the transition period between back-biased and self biased sets where there were models with both methods employed (53S for example)
Finally, other suffixes and prefixes make occasional appearances in the RCNZ lineup - like the 66W (a variant of the long-running model 66) and the 75XA (a 10-valve version of the model 75 with a separate amplifier chassis).
Model nicknames are often sourced from either newspaper advertising, company literature or the NZ Radio Traders Federation official trade-in price books (Particularly Courtenay models from this publication)
In 1954, model numbering changed, to begin with the number of valves (ie: 501 - 5 valves, 1006 - 10 valves, etc) although the final 2 digits don't appear to have much significance. Middle digits of 5 (portable) or 6 (mantle, including clock radio) are used on the AWA-designed plastic-cased sets.
| YEAR | MODEL NAME |
|---|---|
| 1934 | Courtenay model 205 'Exponat' |
| 1934 | CQ model 54 |
| 1934 | Stella model 5A |
| 1934 | Sandison model 5A |
MENU
