Lotus SG4 portable
 

We've just inherited one of the above, there's a few edges of the box covering that's perished over time (it's been in a garage for donkeys....). thought people might want to have a looksy.
If I ever got anyone to get it working again, are there modern versions of the batteries they use to use about?

Re: Lotus SG4 portable
 

Nice set.

Yes the 2V lead acid accumulator can be replaced by a Cyclon or similar.

https://batterygroup.co.uk/Batteries...battery-E-cell

The HT battery can be made up by series connecting a load of PP3's (you will probably need 15 or 16 assuming the HT is 120V and use a lower tap as necessary for the detector.

And the Grid Bias Battery can be made up from 6 series connected AAA batteries as you will need to select a suitable tap.

Make them up into suitable scanned cases and they will look the business

Cheers

Mike T

Re: Lotus SG4 portable
 

thanks for that mike, I looked the lotus up last night, the battery looks like 1 big pin board like the telephone exchange women use to work, so that's 3 batteries inside the 1 case ?
attached some photos of the working parts of the old girl......

Re: Lotus SG4 portable
 

I guess your looking at this picture you can see 3 Batteries

The Big one is the HT (in Red) these often had multiple taps making them suitable for many different sets and valve types.

The Blue one is the Grid Bias it looks as if this has two taps in use.

Lastly the green is the LT accumulator usually a Gel type in portable sets.

Cheers

Mike T

Re: Lotus SG4 portable
 

aye that's the one(or 3)...... were Lotus top middle or bottom of the range equipment back in the day? When I first saw the case I thought it was going to be a gramaphone, but was quite surprised when it was opened.....

Re: Lotus SG4 portable
 

Before you go any further, you need to check the continuity of the inter-valve transformer and speaker coil as these often fail in suitcase portables due to the battery fumes rotting the copper wire. For a price they can be rewound but it's best to know up front what you are getting into.

Re: Lotus SG4 portable
 

The fixed resistors also may require checking and the blue painted Dubilier cap will probably be very leaky.

Re: Lotus SG4 portable
 

tar muchly, yeah I will get a person that is old technology savy to give it a look over as I am a novices novice when it comes to W/T stuffs......I've not even looked at the speaker innards tbh.....the latches would they have been some sort of chrome or just silver painted (the drawings of them they look light coloured) ?

Re: Lotus SG4 portable
 

Possibly nickel plated given its age. Unlikely to be just painted at any rate.

Re: Lotus SG4 portable
 

What would be the best DIY way of returning the latches etc to their former glory?

Re: Lotus SG4 portable
 

I think you have to be careful not to destroy the 'patina' of this radio. It looks to be in an excellent state for its age, and could be devalued by overdoing the renovation.

It is worth thinking about your long term strategy, and seeing if there is a market for this one. Sometimes it is more fun to pick up wrecks, in the knowledge that one can learn without the responsibility of having something that is irreplaceable!

Re: Lotus SG4 portable
 

the clasps/hinges condition at the moment.

Re: Lotus SG4 portable
 

My little "Receiver Specifications and Prices" books are currently in hiding, but I'd say middle or just above from the sets I've seen. They were quite a small company and didn't go in for any very ambitious designs, but build quality was solid and they didn't generally skimp on cabinets and finish. Bear in mind that suitcase portables as a class of radios were mainly the preserve of the fairly well heeled. Few would have chosen one as their sole household set, even where mains electricity wasn't available: and period ads often show them in use out and about, at a time when there were only around a million cars in the UK. I suspect they've survived better than table or floor-standing models of the period on account of their being relatively easy to close up, put away in cupboard or attic and forget about.

Paul

Re: Lotus SG4 portable
 

tar muchly Paul....