This is a vintage 1950s UK Radiomobile radio made by World Radio Limited London. It is 12V positive ground. The large lump on the back is an amplifier. The dial frequency range is 0.6 to 1.5 MC/sec reading right to left, as a European model (not for the North American market). Note that this radio would need a larger adapter faceplate to mount in the MGA dashboard.


This is another model of Radiomobile (dealer installed) as found in a completely documented original low mileage MGA 1600. This one has the European longwave frequency band as well as shortwave band.


Here is an original British "Radiomobile" unit fitted to cars for the UK. A little hard to use in the states...try tuning 880 AM for WCBS.


In 1955, and for at least a few more years to follow, Radiomobile radios were a two-box affair, plus a separate speaker and antenna. The primary box is what you see in the pictures above with the receiver and tuner, full of amplifier tubes, and mounted in the dash panel. The secondary box was an amplifier, slightly larger than the receiver unit, also full of amplifier tubes, to be mounted on the firewall behind the dash. The speaker was about 6-inches diameter, mounted on a heavy card stock box in center behind the dash panel. See installation instructions. When you see a Radiomobile with amplifier on the back end and speaker in the bottom of the primary box, it would be a later model transistorized unit.

Radiomobile radio with external amplifier and speaker

Addendum March 20, 2021:
See 16-page 8.7-MB pdf article for history and photos of 20 different models of SMITHS Radiomobile for MGA (1955 to1962)
This article is compliments of Tristan Spencer, as posted on the MGA facebook group.

Addendum July 24, 2024:
His Master's Voice 500 series (mid 1959 - mid 1961)
Introduced around 1960, the 500T series was the successor of the 400T series. The amplifier units remained identical for the two series. The 500 series also offered four models: Model 500T, 501T, 502T and 530T. The 500 series had"oval" instead of "square" push buttons. It was replaced by the 600T series in September 1961.

.... Note that a letter "B" behind the T suffix of the receiver refers to the amplifier type that is used in combination with this receiver (could be A or B).

1960 - 1961 500T Long & Medium Wave for Europe
1960 - 1961 501T Long & Medium Wave for Europe; polarity switch
1960 - 1961 502T Medium Wave for World excl. Europe; polarity switch

"His Masters Voice" Car Radio SERVICE INFORMATION
Models 502T Amplifier models A and B "Push Button"
9-MB pdf document -- 5 pages -- (click below)


SMITHS Radiomobile OWNERS MANUAL
for Transistor Powered Car Radio
6-MB pdf document -- 7 pages -- (click below)