Pye VT4 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Kevin19 · 27th Jul 2010, 01:07 PM

Hello everyone.

I suppose every one is going groan not another Pye V4 well this is a Pye VT4! And OK there is more than enough on the other recent threads to keep me going re this set and its restoration, but I just thought John or Trevor or anyone maybe able to help me with a question re the set? It looked quite clean and dry so I did just take the back off and all looked in order apart from the Focus unit?

My question is Looking from the back at the tube neck I see the focus unit is empty nothing else is missing even Ion trap is there and in place! Do you think this set could have had a latter electrostatically focused tube fitted or such would have that been possible and would that then account for the focus unit being taken off? Cannot see any think on the tube i.e. labels or such like.
I yet again did it the John W. Way and plugged the set in and gave it full mains! I had very optimistically plugged the Aurora in! And to my utter amazement in a few seconds I had music coming through the speaker then this came up on screen! So looks like it maybe worth restoring this one!

Best wishes.

Kevin.

ppppenguin · 27th Jul 2010, 01:25 PM

You've got a good'un there. Cabinet looks nice. Bright tube.

murphyv310 · 27th Jul 2010, 02:14 PM

Hi Kevin.
Indeed your VT4 is fitted with an electrostatic tube possibly a Mullard AW36-20 or a Mazda CME141, the results should be very good but you may not have any picture sift magnets, I might have a se here if you need them.
Good Luck

chipp1968 · 27th Jul 2010, 04:33 PM

That looks really good .Amazing some sets work after so long dormant.

murphyv310 · 27th Jul 2010, 05:19 PM

Hi Chipp.
You are so right! some sets seem to need so much and others virtually nothing. I too go the HKS & Fernseh way, (go on plug it in) and most will show something, the Murphy V202CA that must have been sitting for years was so surprising with so many caps actually duff but the set still worked quite well.
That's a nice VT4 Kevin has and should be an easy fix.

Heatercathodeshort · 27th Jul 2010, 06:38 PM

You see Kevin, if the set you fiddling with catches wind of horrific 'Flash Gordon' looking lamp limiters and nasty transformers with knobs on, they simply give up the ghost and die of fright! Catch 'em unawares and they usually spill the beans before the implements of torture can be applied.... 'Plug 'em in and hear 'em scream!
That is a beauty. As Trevor suggests the tube is an electrostatic type but will require a picture shift device. Looks aluminized too! Now for the ten gallon bucket full of caps and diodes. That is one of the fastest 'first lights' ever seen on this Forum. Cheers, John.

27th Jul 2010, 01:25 PM	#2
ppppenguin Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: North London, N12 Posts: 6,775	Re: Pye VT4 You've got a good'un there. Cabinet looks nice. Bright tube. __________________ Jeffrey Borinsky www.borinsky.co.uk

27th Jul 2010, 02:14 PM	#3
murphyv310 Nonode Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kilmarnock Posts: 2,260	Re: Pye VT4 Hi Kevin. Indeed your VT4 is fitted with an electrostatic tube possibly a Mullard AW36-20 or a Mazda CME141, the results should be very good but you may not have any picture sift magnets, I might have a se here if you need them. Good Luck __________________ Cheers, Trevor

27th Jul 2010, 04:33 PM	#4
chipp1968 Nonode Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Somerset Posts: 2,617	Re: Pye VT4 That looks really good .Amazing some sets work after so long dormant.

27th Jul 2010, 05:19 PM	#5
murphyv310 Nonode Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kilmarnock Posts: 2,260	Re: Pye VT4 Hi Chipp. You are so right! some sets seem to need so much and others virtually nothing. I too go the HKS & Fernseh way, (go on plug it in) and most will show something, the Murphy V202CA that must have been sitting for years was so surprising with so many caps actually duff but the set still worked quite well. That's a nice VT4 Kevin has and should be an easy fix. __________________ Cheers, Trevor

27th Jul 2010, 06:38 PM	#6
Heatercathodeshort Nonode Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 2,473	Re: Pye VT4 You see Kevin, if the set you fiddling with catches wind of horrific 'Flash Gordon' looking lamp limiters and nasty transformers with knobs on, they simply give up the ghost and die of fright! Catch 'em unawares and they usually spill the beans before the implements of torture can be applied.... 'Plug 'em in and hear 'em scream! That is a beauty. As Trevor suggests the tube is an electrostatic type but will require a picture shift device. Looks aluminized too! Now for the ten gallon bucket full of caps and diodes. That is one of the fastest 'first lights' ever seen on this Forum. Cheers, John.