UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum (https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/index.php)
-   Vintage Amateur and Military Radio (https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=13)
-   -   Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please (https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?t=148037)

Trauma56 11th Jul 2018 1:45 am

Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please
 
5 Attachment(s)
Newbie Here. Background in everything, master of none. Found this wooden box at a local charity shop. Noted it was a shortwave receiver. It's just a nice thing of old. Got it home slid out the chassis. And oh my, the lower part has been destroyed by a battery mishap. The upper chassis, with the valves and capacitors are aged but unaffected by the corrosion. (so it seems?)I would like to repair?? There are no manufacture details to be found on the case, or in the case. Beside these numbers on the upper chassis. 4P 195? Any help in identifying this radio would be much appreciated.

Regards, Joe

G6Tanuki 11th Jul 2018 10:14 am

Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please
 
The valves look like "Hivac" midgets, which were produced in the late-1930s.

See http://g3ynh.info/valves/old/Data-Bo...vac/index.html

Station X 11th Jul 2018 10:18 am

Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please
 
Hello and welcome to the forums.

I'm not able to identify the set in question, but it is not a short wave receiver, as it only covers long and medium waves.

Can you tell us what valves are fitted please, as this may aid identification.

ms660 11th Jul 2018 10:28 am

Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please
 
Frame antenna and other antenna inputs?

Lawrence.

paulsherwin 11th Jul 2018 10:42 am

Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please
 
I don't think it's military. It has the look of a piece of test equipment but the electronics appear to be a conventional TRF broadcast receiver with reaction, albeit with some extra controls. Could it have been used in a school or college?

Trauma56 11th Jul 2018 10:55 am

Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please
 
Valves: AC XD 20v, HIVac XSG 20v, AC XY 20v.

There seems to be an Antenna built into the box door?

Thanks all for your reply's.

Question? Would I be able to use a AC/DC adapter/desktop power supply, to provide power to it. How many amp's, and voltage would be required? I know I need to go through it and check/replace wiring. Test caps and such. What else should check, before applying any power??

Thanks again.

Gridiron 11th Jul 2018 11:20 am

Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please
 
This is a portable receiver for use by yachtsmen, they were sold by Captain O.M.Watts, I think there is an article on it either in a BVWS Bulletin or a Radio Bygones. I posted about another receiver supplied by this company on this website some years ago.

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=112749

Mike.

HamishBoxer 11th Jul 2018 11:42 am

Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please
 
No adapter easily available.Possibly 2V or 1.5 LT needed and 100--120V for HT.

PS I have Not checked what these valves need for LT.

PPS Quick check possibly 2 Volts for heaters.

David Simpson 11th Jul 2018 12:05 pm

Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please
 
Speaking as a collector/restorer of old maritime equipment, I reckon you've got a nice old rare gem. Well worth your while restoring the base of the lovely cabinet. The whole wooden casing will varnish/polish up a dream. It looks like it might have a DF facility. Possibly by moving the detachable lid cum antenna. I think you'll find that they are 2.0V Filament valves, not 20V.
If I were you I'd follow up Mike's info & acquire a circuit diagram. The 2V Heater supply would've come from an Exide 2V Rechargeable Glass Cell. HT from an Ever Ready or Vidor Dry Battery. The XSG's Filament, for example, would draw 80mA from a 2.0V Cell, it's Anode would need 50V HT & draw 0.4mA, Screen would need 30V HT. The other valves(cant find any info in my AVO VDM, or Bernards), would be something similar. So bench supply-wise, you'd need 2V from a DC PSU & an HT PSU to give up to 100V DC. Many folk these days make up HT Battery Packs out of PP3 rechargeable batteries & fit them inside replica Ever Ready or Vidor cardboard packaging. I think you can easily download their profiles & print onto thin cardboard.

Regards, David

Trauma56 11th Jul 2018 5:36 pm

Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please
 
Thanks so much for everyones replies, and info. Knowing who manufactured the radio will help sorting out parts, and wiring diagrams. I'll keep you updated as I progress with the restoration. I'm sure to have a thousand questions.

Kind regards to all. Joe

Craig Sawyers 11th Jul 2018 5:37 pm

Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please
 
They are all Hivac. The XD2.0 is a 2V heater triode (4 pin), and XY2.0 is a 2V heater pentode (5 pin), XSG is a 2V heater pentode (4 pin).

They are all listed in the AVO VCM163 manual. But that also has set up data for the other AVO valve testers too.

Craig

Trauma56 11th Jul 2018 6:16 pm

Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please
 
Thanks Craig, I'll look into getting that manual.

Joe

Craig Sawyers 12th Jul 2018 11:25 am

Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please
 
An OCR version of the VCM163 data manual is here https://frank.pocnet.net/instruments...R-20150222.pdf

And the original source of that here

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=114306

newlite4 12th Jul 2018 11:34 am

Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please
 
What a fantastic find Joe, I wish the charity shops over here in Bath had stuff like that!
Well Done,
Neil


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 9:40 am.

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2002 - 2023, Paul Stenning.