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.

[Brad Winder]

Here's a picture of the inside when assembled:

[Brad Winder]

[David C. Poland]

Very nice. Congrats.

[Alex R. Whitaker]

That ultra rare factory black cabinet!  Wow, what a find!

[Tony Ray Shimmin]

Hello Brad. Congrats on the find. I have a very nice Masterpiece V and just got an original Clifton cabinet. Unfortunately, it is missing it's amp and speaker, as usual. I have been looking for an MP-V amp forever...and just missed out on a MP-VI amp at auction yesterday. If you hear of anyone with a MP-V amp, I have a Masterpiece IV receiver and beautiful amp I would trade. MP-IV amps will not work with MP-V or VI sets. 

Do you have the back cover for your cabinet? If so would you mind checking the measurements so I can build one for mine. I would need full diameters for the height and width, plus the diameters for the 4 cutouts. The hardest part would be the measurement for the rounded wood bars on the back of the board. I will probably have woodworking shop make the cover. 

You also said you had the original paperwork. I don't suppose you could send me copies of the paperwork...like any manuals, setup guides and other documents?

Thank you,

Tony

[Kent King]

The bifarian back board is rather unique. There was a fellow (no longer in business) who made replica boards. I cannot locate any measurements on it but maybe someone here will see this and reply...

Kent

Tony Ray Shimmin said:

Hello Brad. Congrats on the find. I have a very nice Masterpiece V and just got an original Clifton cabinet. Unfortunately, it is missing it's amp and speaker, as usual. I have been looking for an MP-V amp forever...and just missed out on a MP-VI amp at auction yesterday. If you hear of anyone with a MP-V amp, I have a Masterpiece IV receiver and beautiful amp I would trade. MP-IV amps will not work with MP-V or VI sets. 

Do you have the back cover for your cabinet? If so would you mind checking the measurements so I can build one for mine. I would need full diameters for the height and width, plus the diameters for the 4 cutouts. The hardest part would be the measurement for the rounded wood bars on the back of the board. I will probably have woodworking shop make the cover. 

You also said you had the original paperwork. I don't suppose you could send me copies of the paperwork...like any manuals, setup guides and other documents?

Thank you,

Tony

[Tony Ray Shimmin]

Thanks for the reply kent. I kick myself for not getting an original backboard that was on Ebay earlier this year. That was before I ever thought I would get an original Clifton cabinet. Yet here I am with the cabinet. I hope someone has one they could measue for me. 

Tony

[Brad Winder]

Hi Tony,

No, the set didn't come with a back on the cabinet. I don't see any evidence that there ever was a back on it. No screw holes or brackets, keepers etc. Also the plug that goes into the back of the amp/PS sticks out past the edge of the cabinet.

Tony Ray Shimmin said:

Hello Brad. Congrats on the find. I have a very nice Masterpiece V and just got an original Clifton cabinet. Unfortunately, it is missing it's amp and speaker, as usual. I have been looking for an MP-V amp forever...and just missed out on a MP-VI amp at auction yesterday. If you hear of anyone with a MP-V amp, I have a Masterpiece IV receiver and beautiful amp I would trade. MP-IV amps will not work with MP-V or VI sets. 

Do you have the back cover for your cabinet? If so would you mind checking the measurements so I can build one for mine. I would need full diameters for the height and width, plus the diameters for the 4 cutouts. The hardest part would be the measurement for the rounded wood bars on the back of the board. I will probably have woodworking shop make the cover. 

You also said you had the original paperwork. I don't suppose you could send me copies of the paperwork...like any manuals, setup guides and other documents?

Thank you,

Tony

[Tony Ray Shimmin]

Hi Brad. Thanks for the reply. Mine did have one on it. Has the original screws and wingnuts that held it on. Here is a pic of the set...no amp or speaker though.

[Tony Ray Shimmin]

Here it is with the cover on it.

[Kent King]

Here is the only picture of the bifarian board I can quickly locate...

[David C. Poland]

A picture is worth 1000 words.

It should not be too hard to make a repo back board for someone with basic woodworking tools. 

It is thick stock, using at least 3/4 inch plywood or 1 inch if you can source it.  Strong bracing to minimize any sympathy resonance - probably hardwood, like oak or birch. The openings provide ventilation for the amp and I suspect produce an effective bass reflex cabinet of the type more common in the 1950's, well  before sealed enclosure speaker technology came about. I suspect the bracing should face was outside to prevent the cabinet from being placed too close to a wall.