EverReady B126, Vidor L5512

The EverReady B126 battery was popular in portable valve radios of the late 40's, 1950's and the first couple of years of the 1960's and comprised of 60 cells wired in series to a 3 pin socket to ensure it was connected to the radio the correct way. The portable radio used this battery to provide 90 volts for the HT supply and was used in conjunction with another battery to provide current for the valve heaters. The Pye P114BQ, for instance, used a B126 and an AD35.

  B126 battery in the old EverReady style from Bill Morris of Indianapolis.

This is the Vidor equivalent L 5512

Another style of B126 from Keith Waters.

Old style Vidor L 5512 from Bill Morris.

Be very careful when handling this battery pack as 90 volts can pack a powerful shock, as I found out. Also if 9 volt alkaline cells are used, due to their low internal resistance shorting the 90 volts together can generate currents of several amps which can generate energies of several hundred watts and is therefore a potential fire hazard. You have been warned!!!!

Just right click your mouse on the required version and select "Print Target" or save to your computer by selecting "Save Target As..." then print it out. Use something like Paint Shop to resize the image so that when completed the battery should form a cube with sides 3.75"x1.75"x2.5" (or 95mmx45mmx62mm).  Print onto paper first to check the size then print it onto the thickest card your printer can handle, cut around the whole shape, crease where necessary and glue all but the top flaps together. The batteries I used were 10x9 volt PP3 batteries which fit neatly inside with the help of a bit of expanded polystyrene padding. See here for example of how to arrange the batteries. Take care when soldering the connections as these batteries only have point contacts inside and are easily damaged.

I had this email from Keith Waters who describes the way he makes battery covers.

"....... I've tried various methods of making
them, and I've found the best so far is to print the scans on good
quality ink jet paper on my Epson Photo 750 printer, then sticking the
resulting prints onto 220 g/sq m cartridge paper using spray-mount or
similar. This method has the advantage that the bigger batteries can be
made up using one sheet of cartridge paper ( I have a pad A3 size) onto
which several prints can be stuck. When the spray-mount is thoroughly
dry, I fold them and then spray them with a satin matt artwork
protecting spray. This gives the prints a slight sheen which is very
similar to the printing inks used on the originals. The resulting weight
of paper is very similar to the originals too."