Abstract Values of the electrical conductivities (δ) of the coordination polymers of Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Cd with the poly (Schiff base) ligand (PSB), derived from 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl methane and 5,5′-methylene bis-salicylaldehyde, were measured over the temperature range of 300–550 K. A slight variation in δ was found, the values decreasing in the order δNi > δCo > δCu > δZn > δMn > δCd > δPSB. The effect of γ-irradiation on the electrical conductivities of PSB and its polychelates was also studied. The radiation-induced electrical conductivities of the compounds investigated were found to decrease with increasing radiation dose. The conductivity data and the Seebeck voltage values showed that γ-irradiated and unirradiated complexes behave as n-type semi-conductors. The effects of γ-irradiation on the electrical conductivity, activation energies for electrical charge transfer, charge carriers and the conduction mechanism in PSB and its polychelates are discussed.