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Old 2nd Dec 2021, 7:26 pm   #21
Radio Scotland
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Default Re: Another Pilot Little Maestro restoration project.

Quote:
Originally Posted by FERNSEH View Post
Resistance between the HT rail and chassis is >1Megohms.


DFWB.
I'm getting around 13 ohms between the positive of C14 and the chassis when V1 (6A8) is plugged in. Infinite resistance with it removed.

And around 50 ohms across the volume pot when its in its centre notch position, Meter connected across the two outside pins of the pot.

Could you check the above when you have time ?
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Old 8th Dec 2021, 10:22 pm   #22
FERNSEH
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Default Re: Another Pilot Little Maestro restoration project.

Work continues on my Little Maestro. The heater supply capacitor has been relocated under the chassis. Opportunity to make a new bracket.
The dual HT smoothing capacitor has been replaced with one of the correct size.
The 25mfd 25volt cathode bypass capacitor for the 26A6 output valve was found to be perfect and has been refitted in it's original position.
The volume control is utterly useless and will be replaced with one with a double-pole on-off switch.
The Brimar 1D6 HT rectifier valve has been retained for the time being. There might be a possibly it is the original factory fitted valve.

DFWB.
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Old 8th Dec 2021, 10:30 pm   #23
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Default Re: Another Pilot Little Maestro restoration project.

Hi David.
That looks like a bracket you have used to hold the motor run cap.
Have you given up on adaptor plates?
Nice job though and a good result.
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Old 8th Dec 2021, 10:37 pm   #24
FERNSEH
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Default Re: Another Pilot Little Maestro restoration project.

Hi Trevor,
it makes a change to make a bracket. I was hoping to fit the heater capacitor alongside the HT electrolytic capacitors but there wasn't sufficient space for it.
In fact I'm also making two small brackets to secure the chassis reinforcement frame in the 24" KB "Queens Speech" TV.

DFWB.
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Old 9th Dec 2021, 4:22 pm   #25
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Default Re: Another Pilot Little Maestro restoration project.

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Hi David.
That looks like a bracket you have used to hold the motor run cap.
Have you given up on adaptor plates?
Nice job though and a good result.
Hi Trevor there is time for an adaptor plate before this one is signed off
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Old 10th Dec 2021, 12:02 pm   #26
FERNSEH
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Default Re: Another Pilot Little Maestro restoration project.

This early Little Maestro has an intermediate frequency of 451Kc/s.
Yesterday evening the signal generator was connected to the receiver and it was found the IF was closer to 460Kc/s. The IF transformer trimmers were readjusted to 451Kc/s. The result from doing these adjustments is hardly any improvement in selectivity and sensitivity but now BBC Radio 4 on 603Kc/s is now closer to the correct position on the tuning scale, 500 metres.
This set has no medium wave padder adjustment and relies on the specially shaped tuning capacitor plates for tracking.
The HF end of the medium waveband can be accurately adjusted by the trimmers attached to the tuning capacitor.

DFWB.
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Old 27th Dec 2021, 7:19 pm   #27
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Default Re: Another Pilot Little Maestro restoration project.

That mains transformer can be put to good use in a future radio construction project.
With 238 volts supplied to the primary, the output from the tapped secondary gives 80, 87 and 205 volts.
The "soap dishes" were de-rusted and given a coat of VHT silver paint.

DFWB.
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Old 29th Dec 2021, 9:26 am   #28
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Default Re: Another Pilot Little Maestro restoration project.

I am interested in the cabinet work you are planning - will you cover that here? What did you use to strip the cabinet when you affixed the top piece?

I have a radio where it looks like an external heat source caused some burning and delamination of the plywood cabinet. If that could be tidied up it could look quite respectable.
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Old 29th Dec 2021, 9:09 pm   #29
FERNSEH
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Default Re: Another Pilot Little Maestro restoration project.

Sandpaper was used to remove the lacquer from the cabinet surfaces.
A new strip of veneer was applied to the top edge of the cabinet front.
The four rounded corners were re-veneered. The wood loudspeaker grill was glued back into position.
French polish applied to the surfaces. That's all that was done to the cabinet.

DFWB.
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Old 30th Dec 2021, 9:04 pm   #30
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Default Re: Another Pilot Little Maestro restoration project.

I am very impressed, how did you flatten the remaining veneers?
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Old 30th Dec 2021, 10:21 pm   #31
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Default Re: Another Pilot Little Maestro restoration project.

An ordinary electric iron. Was watching a chap YouTube making making high-end record player plinths and from time to time the electric iron was used to correct minor imperfections. Inserting small pieces veneer and correcting splits on veneer surfaces.

DFWB.
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Old 2nd Jan 2022, 1:27 pm   #32
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Default Re: Another Pilot Little Maestro restoration project.

Hi FERNSEH,
I restored a similar radio about 12 months ago and although the chassis was in a much better state than yours, the case was not. Not only did it have lots of veneer missing but it also had very deep gouges. In the end I filled the holes with wood filler and re-veneered the whole radio with American oak. It was quite tricky, but I managed it using a Stanley knife, wood glue and steam from a kettle for the curved corners.
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Old 2nd Jan 2022, 3:30 pm   #33
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Default Re: Another Pilot Little Maestro restoration project.

Wow! Lovely job.
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Old 2nd Jan 2022, 3:46 pm   #34
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Default Re: Another Pilot Little Maestro restoration project.

Seconded - looks great!
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Old 2nd Jan 2022, 3:51 pm   #35
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Default Re: Another Pilot Little Maestro restoration project.

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Originally Posted by superjust View Post
Hi FERNSEH,
I restored a similar radio about 12 months ago and although the chassis was in a much better state than yours, the case was not. Not only did it have lots of veneer missing but it also had very deep gouges. In the end I filled the holes with wood filler and re-veneered the whole radio with American oak. It was quite tricky, but I managed it using a Stanley knife, wood glue and steam from a kettle for the curved corners.
That's handsome! Well done.
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