Bush MB60 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Keith_B · 14th Jun 2008, 2:42 pm

Hi.
At the recent NCVF I bought a Bush MB60. The dealer said it was working. It had a somewhat tatty mains lead but the case was marked but not chipped. So for £25 I thought bargain. When I got it home I switched on after several preliminary checks. Alas after several seconds of buzzing all went quiet. I could still hear some slight noise from the speaker. I could see several of the Hunts capacitors had cracks so decided to replace them. I enquired on the forum as to what capacitors were the favourite to use & went along with the advice from Howard & Paul & got some capacitors from Justradios.com. Meanwhile I removed the chassis & cleaned the case. I had some red shoe polish which Clarks Shoes make to bring up the red rexine. I removed the dial by using the string method. After two weeks the capacitors arrived - Hoorah!! I replaced the capacitors over the course of 4 one hour sessions. When I switched on (the chassis on an insulated board) initially just a quiet buzz. Brought the case down & realized the volume was on low. Put my probe on the volume control & got a good loud buzzing. Turned the volume up & got some radio station. Selected MW and adjusted the tuning & tuned into Classic Gold. Sound was very good. Ran the radio for several hours. Replaced the chassis in its case. Sensitivity was good & volume was good. I am really pleased with this radio. I already have Tr82C & D, VTR103, TR82/97 & last Christmas the TR82DAB, so this now means I have all the generations of this style of case.

Keith

ajs37 · 14th Jun 2008, 7:00 pm

Well done Keith - these are indeed lovely radios (I have one or two myself) - was the mains lead original?

You may have to collect a few more to get the whole set though - TR82B (brass fittings like the MB60) and the export model(s) ETR92 - which has shortwave and medium wave - I dare say there are others as well (one with a 208 waveband as well - or is that the TR82D?)
Cheers
Andy

Keith_B · 14th Jun 2008, 7:07 pm

Yes the lead is original, but the end that goes in the radio is split. I have tied some string around the base of it so when I remove it the string takes the strain. I will keep an eye out for some of the TR82 variations.

Keith_B · 18th Jun 2008, 7:07 pm

Here are some pictures showing the new capacitors and the radio with its "family".

howard · 18th Jun 2008, 7:34 pm

Hello Keith,

Pics at last

That's a nice collection, and I've never seen a TR82DAB set before. The MB60 is my favorite out of those, I daresay it's yours too.

Howard

Keith_B · 20th Jun 2008, 10:19 pm

I have been searching for an MB60 for ages. When I got it working I was really surprised at the quality of the sound, and the sensitivity. Yes the MB60 is my favourite.

Keith

phase_splitter · 20th Jun 2008, 10:32 pm

An excellent job, Keith.
I've repaired quite a few MB60s and they're very nice radios.
Looking at your pics, and working frommemory, I think yours is the later version.
They've got an extra stage of IF, which seems to improve quality of reception considerably, surprisingly; even.

Might be worth checking the MR as they can go HR resulting in low HT.

Keith_B · 21st Jun 2008, 3:00 pm

Yes it is the later version. The circuit is in a different layout to that of the early version. The circuit is almost identical though. I down loaded the service manual from Paul Stenning's website (Good service) which gave all the component locations for early & late versions.
By the way what is the MR ?

GJR 11L · 21st Jun 2008, 3:03 pm

Metal rectifier, and there are two of those in an MB60.

I love mine, not having the lead didn't bother me as I always run it on its batteries, very usable sets these are.

phase_splitter · 22nd Jun 2008, 10:39 am

Sorry, when I posted massage no7 I was still being moderated, so didn't get the chance to edit it after posting.
It should have been:-
..............yours is the later version. [New paragraph]
They've got an extra stage of IF, ................................

Although the layout of the two versions is, from memory, slightly diferrent, the circuit is the same.
Yes, MR=metal rectifier. There are two, but the one that gives the most trouble is the one on the HT rail.

Apologies for the confusion.

ajs37 · 22nd Jun 2008, 8:21 pm

I love the picture of the "family"!
well done Keith!

Cheers
Andy

14th Jun 2008, 2:42 pm	#1
Keith_B Tetrode Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 86	Bush MB60 Hi. At the recent NCVF I bought a Bush MB60. The dealer said it was working. It had a somewhat tatty mains lead but the case was marked but not chipped. So for £25 I thought bargain. When I got it home I switched on after several preliminary checks. Alas after several seconds of buzzing all went quiet. I could still hear some slight noise from the speaker. I could see several of the Hunts capacitors had cracks so decided to replace them. I enquired on the forum as to what capacitors were the favourite to use & went along with the advice from Howard & Paul & got some capacitors from Justradios.com. Meanwhile I removed the chassis & cleaned the case. I had some red shoe polish which Clarks Shoes make to bring up the red rexine. I removed the dial by using the string method. After two weeks the capacitors arrived - Hoorah!! I replaced the capacitors over the course of 4 one hour sessions. When I switched on (the chassis on an insulated board) initially just a quiet buzz. Brought the case down & realized the volume was on low. Put my probe on the volume control & got a good loud buzzing. Turned the volume up & got some radio station. Selected MW and adjusted the tuning & tuned into Classic Gold. Sound was very good. Ran the radio for several hours. Replaced the chassis in its case. Sensitivity was good & volume was good. I am really pleased with this radio. I already have Tr82C & D, VTR103, TR82/97 & last Christmas the TR82DAB, so this now means I have all the generations of this style of case. Keith

14th Jun 2008, 7:00 pm	#2
ajs37 Heptode Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 900	Re: Bush MB60 Well done Keith - these are indeed lovely radios (I have one or two myself) - was the mains lead original? You may have to collect a few more to get the whole set though - TR82B (brass fittings like the MB60) and the export model(s) ETR92 - which has shortwave and medium wave - I dare say there are others as well (one with a 208 waveband as well - or is that the TR82D?) Cheers Andy

14th Jun 2008, 7:07 pm	#3
Keith_B Tetrode Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 86	Re: Bush MB60 Yes the lead is original, but the end that goes in the radio is split. I have tied some string around the base of it so when I remove it the string takes the strain. I will keep an eye out for some of the TR82 variations.

18th Jun 2008, 7:07 pm	#4
Keith_B Tetrode Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 86	Re: Bush MB60 Here are some pictures showing the new capacitors and the radio with its "family". Attached Thumbnails

18th Jun 2008, 7:34 pm	#5
howard Nonode Join Date: May 2005 Location: Godalming, Surrey, UK. Posts: 2,593	Re: Bush MB60 Hello Keith, Pics at last That's a nice collection, and I've never seen a TR82DAB set before. The MB60 is my favorite out of those, I daresay it's yours too. Howard

20th Jun 2008, 10:19 pm	#6
Keith_B Tetrode Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 86	Re: Bush MB60 I have been searching for an MB60 for ages. When I got it working I was really surprised at the quality of the sound, and the sensitivity. Yes the MB60 is my favourite. Keith

20th Jun 2008, 10:32 pm	#7
phase_splitter Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: East Sussex Posts: 25	Re: Bush MB60 An excellent job, Keith. I've repaired quite a few MB60s and they're very nice radios. Looking at your pics, and working frommemory, I think yours is the later version. They've got an extra stage of IF, which seems to improve quality of reception considerably, surprisingly; even. Might be worth checking the MR as they can go HR resulting in low HT.

21st Jun 2008, 3:00 pm	#8
Keith_B Tetrode Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 86	Re: Bush MB60 Yes it is the later version. The circuit is in a different layout to that of the early version. The circuit is almost identical though. I down loaded the service manual from Paul Stenning's website (Good service) which gave all the component locations for early & late versions. By the way what is the MR ?

21st Jun 2008, 3:03 pm	#9
GJR 11L Heptode Join Date: May 2004 Location: Ellington, Northumberland, UK. Posts: 815	Re: Bush MB60 Metal rectifier, and there are two of those in an MB60. I love mine, not having the lead didn't bother me as I always run it on its batteries, very usable sets these are. __________________ John.

22nd Jun 2008, 10:39 am	#10
phase_splitter Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: East Sussex Posts: 25	Re: Bush MB60 Sorry, when I posted massage no7 I was still being moderated, so didn't get the chance to edit it after posting. It should have been:- ..............yours is the later version. [New paragraph] They've got an extra stage of IF, ................................ Although the layout of the two versions is, from memory, slightly diferrent, the circuit is the same. Yes, MR=metal rectifier. There are two, but the one that gives the most trouble is the one on the HT rail. Apologies for the confusion.

22nd Jun 2008, 8:21 pm	#11
ajs37 Heptode Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 900	Re: Bush MB60 I love the picture of the "family"! well done Keith! Cheers Andy