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Do you like my Bush?

Paul said:
Just beautiful :) Marvels of engineering when it really was engineering! :)
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Yeah, i really love finding out about these old companies and the boom of tech during the post 2nd ww era.

I also managed to get an old 50s radiogram that i'm going to use as my /internet router cupboard for the hall :thumbs:

Needs some work, but should house everything nicely. Another valve radio to mess with to ;)

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myPinballs said:
Always on the look out for other electrical things to learn about. I've just purchased this old radio for an experiment and mess about with valves :) Cool shape i think to. Shall be tuning into some radio 4 shortly!!
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Ah yes, Radio 4 when did that happen. I find myself listening to that more and more since i went past 40.
 
Dang you for sowing a seed...
My father had/has a homemade valve radio in his workshop (something he made as a kid), had as in it once worked, has as in its not worked for years since the local chemist ran out of stock of radio valves.

Im going to attempt to bring the thing back to life for him for Christmas.
Any suggestions on where to get valves from and is there a good list of alternative valve options as I guess some must be unobtainable now?

Guy
 
Moonbus said:
Dang you for sowing a seed...
My father had/has a homemade valve radio in his workshop (something he made as a kid), had as in it once worked, has as in its not worked for years since the local chemist ran out of stock of radio valves.

Im going to attempt to bring the thing back to life for him for Christmas.
Any suggestions on where to get valves from and is there a good list of alternative valve options as I guess some must be unobtainable now?

Guy
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Most popular values have been remade, some are really sought after - like the Mullard GZ34 - this is used in a lot of music amps etc so commands a high price - a modern remake is about £30 - an original unused new old stock original (especially with yellow writing) can go for £100 or so - it's crazy but true. Anyhow, the good news is that your father's radio is unlikely to use anything so expensive, and most vales are commonly available, via ebay or specialist sellers, who do still exist. e.g. Watford Valves - www.watfordvalves.com
 
Some pics of my upgraded and restore for the tuning scale section. The wiring was seriously bad on this area. I replaced the lot and also installed a connector for easy removal of the full unit. The bulb holders are very similar in design to a wpc-95 backless assembly, albeit in metal not plastic!

Before

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After

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Please remember guys these radios have a potentially live Chassis as they were an AC/DC set. I have several I have done over the years. Please make sure the neutral is going to the Chassis when you connect the non polarised plug at the back of the radio.
 
Courtney Blush said:
Please remember guys these radios have a potentially live Chassis as they were an AC/DC set. I have several I have done over the years. Please make sure the neutral is going to the Chassis when you connect the non polarised plug at the back of the radio.
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where is your sense of adventure. the live chassis is what made me grow up. (well my head touched the ceiling a few times )


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Some stats on my replaced parts and how out of spec 70 ish year old parts get!

Original Part reading first, correct reading second

C22 - 122.8nF - 100nF
C19 - 25.7nF - 10nF
C18 - 32.5nF - 10nF
C17 - 9.3nF - 3nF
C15 - 27.23nF - 10nF
C16 - 122.0nF - 50nF
C9 - 183.4nF - 50nF
C10 - 85.51nF - 50nF
C1 - 143.04nF - 50nF
C5 - 136.6nF - 50nF

R16 - 252R - 250R
R15 - 11.66KR - 10KR
R18 - 247R - 250R

Notice how out of spec the caps get! This is in line with the way caps go in all electronics, so pinball is no exception
 
myPinballs said:
Some stats on my replaced parts and how out of spec 70 ish year old parts get!

Original Part reading first, correct reading second

C22 - 122.8nF - 100nF
C19 - 25.7nF - 10nF
C18 - 32.5nF - 10nF
C17 - 9.3nF - 3nF
C15 - 27.23nF - 10nF
C16 - 122.0nF - 50nF
C9 - 183.4nF - 50nF
C10 - 85.51nF - 50nF
C1 - 143.04nF - 50nF
C5 - 136.6nF - 50nF

R16 - 252R - 250R
R15 - 11.66KR - 10KR
R18 - 247R - 250R

Notice how out of spec the caps get! This is in line with the way caps go in all electronics, so pinball is no exception
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At work when I repair say an old vox/marshall/fender amp none of the components are close to the schematics.

Back then it was probably + or - 30% tolerances. I agree not to the extent of the readings on yours.

I get a lot of my work from collectors who want to leave as many original components in as possible.

Some customers go the other way and want everything changed, but that does alter the tone of the amplifier big time.

I can not see a radio purchased today be working in 10 years. The fact these are well over 50 years old amaze me.
 
Great work Jim, unfortunately I haven't even looked at mine yet - too busy messing with Arduino stuff still - but I will get around to it...................
 
Well I'm on with mine after it's sat in the garage for nearly 8 months. I cold tested all the circuits and was happy to plug it in. Nothing... Zilch, then I figured a previous owner had tried to repair it.. Big mistake. Ive spent all day sorting out their attempts. (One of which is to remove the 6v valve heater circuit's return to ground wire!!!!!! ffs. That fix yielded a glow from the 4 valves and one rectifier! yey!

Im a long way off R4 reception though Jim!
 
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