UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Aga Baltic AH37. Need help identifying old capacitor from 1930s radio

Mrgroovy · 5th Oct 2018, 10:04 am

Hi. This is my first post here, so let me briefly introduce myself. I just recently found an interest in vintage tube radios and have already started collecting a quite few old pieces. I have two years formal education from vocational school in electronics almost twenty years ago, so my skills are a bit rusty to say the least. I live in Norway.

So then,

I recently bought an old radio from Swedish company Aga Baltic. It is a cathedral type radio with 4 tubes in it. The model is AH37 and according to my research it was manufactured in 1932. I have not found any schematics. I've cleaned it up inside, changed the bad wires and connected a new three prong cord. All 4 tube lights up and there is even sound (albeit weak) coming from it. I also swapped out a 10uF electrolytic cap which was the only electrolytic cap I could positively identify. When powered up there is quite a loud hum coming from the power transformer. I thought that changing the electrolytic cap might eliminate this, but it wasn't all that easy. The 10uF electrolytic is hooked up to what seems like a centre tap (ground right?) from the power supply. Some of the other connections (pardon me for not being absolutely accurate here) from the power transformer goes to what seems to be a multi-sectioned capacitor of unknown brand. There is a logo on it which could be the letters HS or SH? I don't know. There is a total of three of these caps underneath the chassis, all from the same manufacturer, with the largest one directly connected to the power transformer. I suspect it to be bad since both sides of the metal can around it is bulging out. The can is labelled 1+2+4+2 1500V - and 0,1UF 500V - . I guess the straight line (-) after the 1500/500V means DC as opposed to ~/AC?

Can anyone tell me something about this? What type of capacitor is it really? It is easy to find a replacement? I don't mind using single replacement caps; it is probably the only option, but I really don't know what kind of capacitors I should use.

Thanks!

5th Oct 2018, 10:04 am	#1
Mrgroovy Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 61	Aga Baltic AH37. Need help identifying old capacitor from 1930s radio Hi. This is my first post here, so let me briefly introduce myself. I just recently found an interest in vintage tube radios and have already started collecting a quite few old pieces. I have two years formal education from vocational school in electronics almost twenty years ago, so my skills are a bit rusty to say the least. I live in Norway. So then, I recently bought an old radio from Swedish company Aga Baltic. It is a cathedral type radio with 4 tubes in it. The model is AH37 and according to my research it was manufactured in 1932. I have not found any schematics. I've cleaned it up inside, changed the bad wires and connected a new three prong cord. All 4 tube lights up and there is even sound (albeit weak) coming from it. I also swapped out a 10uF electrolytic cap which was the only electrolytic cap I could positively identify. When powered up there is quite a loud hum coming from the power transformer. I thought that changing the electrolytic cap might eliminate this, but it wasn't all that easy. The 10uF electrolytic is hooked up to what seems like a centre tap (ground right?) from the power supply. Some of the other connections (pardon me for not being absolutely accurate here) from the power transformer goes to what seems to be a multi-sectioned capacitor of unknown brand. There is a logo on it which could be the letters HS or SH? I don't know. There is a total of three of these caps underneath the chassis, all from the same manufacturer, with the largest one directly connected to the power transformer. I suspect it to be bad since both sides of the metal can around it is bulging out. The can is labelled 1+2+4+2 1500V - and 0,1UF 500V - . I guess the straight line (-) after the 1500/500V means DC as opposed to ~/AC? Can anyone tell me something about this? What type of capacitor is it really? It is easy to find a replacement? I don't mind using single replacement caps; it is probably the only option, but I really don't know what kind of capacitors I should use. Thanks! Attached Thumbnails