McMurdo Silver Masterpiece V obtained!

[Brad Winder]

A gorgeous Masterpiece V came up for sale local to me, and after hmmm and debate (ok, I didn't actually debate much) I contacted the seller and after some back and forth schedule conflicts, we finally met.

He was selling the radio on behalf of a family that moved to the U.K. and decided not to have the radio shipped over. I looked it over, made a fair offer, and done deal!

The Masterpiece had been in the same family since new! And it came with all the paperwork!

It was ordered in early December 1936, and shipped December 18. It arrived in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on December 23, just in time for Christmas. Shipped by Canadian National Express out of Chicago. And we think that fast shipping is a modern convenience?

Tariff and taxes are not a modern problem (?) either. The duty on radios not built in Canada at that time was 25%, with another 8% sales tax and a 3% excise tax. With the broker fees, shipping and set...all in the purchase cost $312.07 CDN. Surprisingly , the exchange rate at the time was almost on par. Maybe why the family ordered such a high end set from the U.S. instead of buying something built here.

In todays $, the Masterpiece would have cost over $7100!

I cleaned it up a bit. It was very dusty inside and out. It was last serviced in 1979. I will change out the electrolytic filter caps before I attempt to bring it up on my variac.

[Tony Ray Shimmin]

Hi David. Thanks for additional information regarding the back board. Although the backboard in the photo was fitted to a different cabinet, it appears to be the same style as the type used on a Clifton cabinet, like I have. What type of stain would you recommend for the outside to make it appear as original as possible? Last year someone sold one on Ebay for a good price, if I had known I would end up with a cabinet, I would have bought it then. If you ever hear of anyone with a MP-V amp they would consider letting go, please let me know. Thanks

 

[David C. Poland]

I suppose dark walnut, several applications until it looks right when wetted with mineral spirits (paint thinner).

Then maybe a thin satin finish rather than glossy. But new plywood is not going to look 90 years old.

I suppose you could glue up spruce boards to make a solid wood slab for the back, cut and stain it and set it out in a dusty garage a couple years to gain some patina ...   :>)

[Tony Ray Shimmin]

I know. Unfortunately, it would never look like a real 90 year old original. I still kick myself for not getting an original someone solf on Ebay last year. Had I known I was going to get a cabinet I would have bought it then. Oh well...20/20 hindsight again. LOL

[Brad Winder]

It looks like there is some sort of sound absorbing "padding" on the other side of the back? You can see the edges in the picture. Stromberg Carlson and Northern Electric used a soft material on their sound chambers. I'm assuming it is to reduce the "boom"

[Norman S Braithwaite]

Aniline wood stain would look the closest to original.  The dimensions of bifarian back panels varied depending on the model of cabinet.  Sound deadening materials were employed in these cabinets to reduce echo within the cabinets.  I have seen celotex board and a hairy fiber "wool" used.  There were also different versions of the stiffener ribs.  Some have low profile, wide ribs and most have high profile narrow ribs.  The bifarian speaker system was introduced during the production run of the Masterpiece V.  Early Masterpiece V sets did not have the bifarian speaker system.

Norman 

[Brad Winder]

My friend found a good video that shows the back...

https://www.facebook.com/reel/795285964979017