Would this be worthwile restoring?

digits · 23rd April 2011, 03:58 PM

Found this in the garage....

I wonder if it is worth restoring, the wire insulation is mostly perished, but otherwise it looks ok, just DIRTY.

Any help in identifying would be welcomed too...
On the face is a Mullard badge.

indianajo · 05:03 PM

Cool looking device. If multiband, even cooler. Not hifi, obviously,but low fi has its nostalgic appeal.
You're tubes are probably fine, but the electrolytic caps will all have to be replaced. There are a lot of antique radio clubs and websites, probably get more help than here.
The trouble with AM radios in the western hemisphere is that talk radio has taken over the AM band, blah blah blah blah. The antique radio clubs need to buy KRLD AM Dallas or WLW Chicago, and simulcast WFMT FM classical all night on a clear AM channel. I used to love KRLD AM Dallas classical in the sixties, doing homework in Houston. Here if you are driving a classic car west of Abilene, you get nothing but country, country, crying in my beer, missing you honny. Yeah, there is satellite radio, but they require a direct drip from your artery (credit card) and I don't do that. Their billing operating is 10 miles from my house, but they won't take cash a year in advance. ***** 'em. West of Abilene I just sing to my myself. I sing better than all those country artists anyway, I'm just not as bearded or tall.

digits · 23rd April 2011, 05:27 PM

Hey, been dusting a bit at it, cleans up pretty nice for its age and neglect...
The dial still seems to move the needle around, and the selector can choose between 3 bands and phono.

indianajo · 23rd April 2011, 06:39 PM

Phono input, whoa! A mono record player. It will never go out of style! I wonder if BBC news still broadcasts on shortwave? We get them here on the FM public service station midnight to 6am, interesting if you are working maintenance and need something to stay awake. Cool your capacitor still turns, I have an early 2 transistor radio with a stuck tuning capacitor.

simon7000 · 23rd April 2011, 10:58 PM

I have rebuilt worse. Test the caps before replacing them. It looks almost old enough to have some oil filled power supply caps. They should still be good.

Even if you don't want it it may surprise you to see what eBay brings.

digits · 25th April 2011, 06:44 AM

OK, I managed to get the assembly out of the box in one piece.
Trying to identify some of the components are hard though...

Like what is this gyrating disconbobulator, hanging from a spring in a can doing in there? It seems to have some perished foam stuff in the bottom.

Globulator · 25th April 2011, 08:18 AM

Cool! Looks like a vibrator voltage step-up device:

Vibrator Power Supplies

Of a Type 7866. A mechanical switching PSU..
Which sort of implies it runs from a 6V source - which sounds a bit strange. What does it say on the back of the radio (if it has a back)?

digits · 02:59 PM

No back, I'm afraid... sounds hectic though.
Can one still get that vintage looking wire insulator these days...?

CanAm Man · 25th April 2011, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digits

OK, I managed to get the assembly out of the box in one piece.
Trying to identify some of the components are hard though...

Like what is this gyrating disconbobulator, hanging from a spring in a can doing in there? It seems to have some perished foam stuff in the bottom.

That would be a Stromberg carburetor, from a 1934 Ford.

Quite a find, you have there........

simon7000 · 25th April 2011, 03:06 PM

looks like this radio was a portable! 6 volts was the standard car battery when it was built. The piece does indeed look like a vibrating reed to switch the DC into the step up transformer.

You might want to check and see what that piece is worth on eBay!

23rd April 2011, 04:55 PM	#2
indianajo diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Jeffersonville, Indiana USA	Cool looking device. If multiband, even cooler. Not hifi, obviously,but low fi has its nostalgic appeal. You're tubes are probably fine, but the electrolytic caps will all have to be replaced. There are a lot of antique radio clubs and websites, probably get more help than here. The trouble with AM radios in the western hemisphere is that talk radio has taken over the AM band, blah blah blah blah. The antique radio clubs need to buy KRLD AM Dallas or WLW Chicago, and simulcast WFMT FM classical all night on a clear AM channel. I used to love KRLD AM Dallas classical in the sixties, doing homework in Houston. Here if you are driving a classic car west of Abilene, you get nothing but country, country, crying in my beer, missing you honny. Yeah, there is satellite radio, but they require a direct drip from your artery (credit card) and I don't do that. Their billing operating is 10 miles from my house, but they won't take cash a year in advance. ***** 'em. West of Abilene I just sing to my myself. I sing better than all those country artists anyway, I'm just not as bearded or tall. __________________ Dynakit ST70, ST120, PAS2,Hammond H182(2 ea),H112,A100,10-82TC,Peavey CS800S,SP2-XT's, T-300 HF Projs, Steinway console, Herald RA88a mixer, Wurlitzer 4500 Last edited by indianajo; 23rd April 2011 at 05:03 PM.

23rd April 2011, 06:39 PM	#4
indianajo diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Jeffersonville, Indiana USA	Phono input, whoa! A mono record player. It will never go out of style! I wonder if BBC news still broadcasts on shortwave? We get them here on the FM public service station midnight to 6am, interesting if you are working maintenance and need something to stay awake. Cool your capacitor still turns, I have an early 2 transistor radio with a stuck tuning capacitor. __________________ Dynakit ST70, ST120, PAS2,Hammond H182(2 ea),H112,A100,10-82TC,Peavey CS800S,SP2-XT's, T-300 HF Projs, Steinway console, Herald RA88a mixer, Wurlitzer 4500

25th April 2011, 02:56 PM	#8
digits diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2011	No back, I'm afraid... sounds hectic though. Can one still get that vintage looking wire insulator these days...? Last edited by digits; 25th April 2011 at 02:59 PM.

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23rd April 2011, 05:27 PM	#3
digits diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2011	Hey, been dusting a bit at it, cleans up pretty nice for its age and neglect... The dial still seems to move the needle around, and the selector can choose between 3 bands and phono.

23rd April 2011, 10:58 PM	#5
simon7000 diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oakmont PA	I have rebuilt worse. Test the caps before replacing them. It looks almost old enough to have some oil filled power supply caps. They should still be good. Even if you don't want it it may surprise you to see what eBay brings.

25th April 2011, 08:18 AM	#7
Globulator diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cambridge, England.	Cool! Looks like a vibrator voltage step-up device: Vibrator Power Supplies Of a Type 7866. A mechanical switching PSU.. Which sort of implies it runs from a 6V source - which sounds a bit strange. What does it say on the back of the radio (if it has a back)?

25th April 2011, 03:06 PM	#10
simon7000 diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oakmont PA	looks like this radio was a portable! 6 volts was the standard car battery when it was built. The piece does indeed look like a vibrating reed to switch the DC into the step up transformer. You might want to check and see what that piece is worth on eBay!

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