Which PYE Black Box is this? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

'LIVEWIRE?' · 9th Apr 2010, 10:01 pm

The amplifier is a BBH Mk2, but the rcord deck fitted is an early BSR 'Monarch' 3 speed Autochanger with the overarm on the opposite side to the Pickup arm, and a rotary knob for speed change, the 'Off-Man-Auto' knob being concentric with this. The deck plate is cream, with gold color* PU arm and overarm like the later UA8.

(*According to this PC's spellchecker, the U.S. spelling is the correct one!)

Audio1950 · 9th Apr 2010, 10:37 pm

Sounds like the BSR UA6 changer, if it has a cream baseplate, and concentric control knobs. Could someone in the past have put a later arm (from a UA8) on it? Are they interchangeable, does anyone know? Would a photo be possible, them we can say definately if this is the case.

Barry

'LIVEWIRE?' · 14th Apr 2010, 10:24 am

Barry, I must have been half asleep when I typed my first post- the PU arm is CREAM with a gold 'Pye' trademark on top at the pivot end, so the deck is a UA6. My only excuse is that the player is in another place, so wasn't within sight when I posed the question!!

murphyv310 · 14th Apr 2010, 10:45 am

Hi.
It sounds like the second model with the ultra linear amp and will date from late 1955 up to '58 possibly.
Does it look like this one

'LIVEWIRE?' · 14th Apr 2010, 11:52 am

Trevor- THose pictures are spot-on. It is the MkII version with the Ultra Linear Amplifier(BBH2 )which has an ECC83 and two EL42s, with an EZ40 rectifier valve. At some point the original cartridge was replaced with an ACOS GP93, so, once I've replaced the Hunts Capacitors, and several out of tolerance resistors it should sound great.

9th Apr 2010, 10:01 pm	#1
'LIVEWIRE?' Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.W. Oxfordshire(Chipping Norton) Posts: 7,306	Which PYE Black Box is this? The amplifier is a BBH Mk2, but the rcord deck fitted is an early BSR 'Monarch' 3 speed Autochanger with the overarm on the opposite side to the Pickup arm, and a rotary knob for speed change, the 'Off-Man-Auto' knob being concentric with this. The deck plate is cream, with gold color* PU arm and overarm like the later UA8. (According to this PC's spellchecker, the U.S. spelling is the correct one!) Last edited by 'LIVEWIRE?'; 9th Apr 2010 at 10:07 pm. Reason: To correct errors in spelling and description*

9th Apr 2010, 10:37 pm	#2
Audio1950 Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Whittlesey, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 3,763	Re: Which PYE Black Box is this? Sounds like the BSR UA6 changer, if it has a cream baseplate, and concentric control knobs. Could someone in the past have put a later arm (from a UA8) on it? Are they interchangeable, does anyone know? Would a photo be possible, them we can say definately if this is the case. Barry

14th Apr 2010, 10:24 am	#3
'LIVEWIRE?' Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.W. Oxfordshire(Chipping Norton) Posts: 7,306	Re: Which PYE Black Box is this? Barry, I must have been half asleep when I typed my first post- the PU arm is CREAM with a gold 'Pye' trademark on top at the pivot end, so the deck is a UA6. My only excuse is that the player is in another place, so wasn't within sight when I posed the question!!

14th Apr 2010, 10:45 am	#4
murphyv310 Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, UK. Posts: 5,422	Re: Which PYE Black Box is this? Hi. It sounds like the second model with the ultra linear amp and will date from late 1955 up to '58 possibly. Does it look like this one Attached Thumbnails __________________ Cheers, Trevor. MM0KJJ. RSGB, GQRP, WACRAL, K&LARC. Member

14th Apr 2010, 11:52 am	#5
'LIVEWIRE?' Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.W. Oxfordshire(Chipping Norton) Posts: 7,306	Re: Which PYE Black Box is this? Trevor- THose pictures are spot-on. It is the MkII version with the Ultra Linear Amplifier(BBH2 )which has an ECC83 and two EL42s, with an EZ40 rectifier valve. At some point the original cartridge was replaced with an ACOS GP93, so, once I've replaced the Hunts Capacitors, and several out of tolerance resistors it should sound great.