What's this? and who wants it? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Bryan M · 17th Oct 2021, 11:40 am

Appears to be a multistage divider or multiplier, beautifully made, 9 valves. £10, collection much preferred.

Bryan

17th Oct 2021, 12:03 pm

May we have a front view please?

Bryan M · 17th Oct 2021, 4:18 pm

The 'front' view is rather boring. Two other views added to show inner details.
Bryan

Radio Tech · 17th Oct 2021, 4:35 pm

Hi Bryan

I think this is some sort of sig gen, if not then the spares on it are very useful to me.

Ken

Radio Wrangler · 17th Oct 2021, 5:02 pm

Multistage, yes. And with a range switch which selects which stage goes on to whatever comes next. The little white stub shaft looks to drive that precision pot via worm reduction, and I guess drives the capacitors similarly. So the front panel is missing and goes on those nice hex spacers. THe bigger shaft seems to be for the wafer switch. So that's the range switch. The tuning shaft must have a reduction drive to a scale and pointer, maybe a string driven pointer?

Guessing.... the biggest variable C section as a VFO. Then a multiplier. Then the two medium sized variable C tuning a buffer/filter to select a harmonic. Then another multiplier. Then the two small variable C tuning a buffer/filter for the upper band.
So, over 3 octaves of range.

THis could be a sig gen, or perhaps an exciter for a wide range transmitter. Construction is expensive which means military or test-gear (maybe both?)

Interesting. As said, some nice bits!

David

Julesomega · 17th Oct 2021, 5:45 pm

I'd love it but I don't need it

Even more, I'd love to know what it's out of

VT FUSE · 17th Oct 2021, 8:13 pm

Hello Bryan

I would very much like this as I like to study high quality designs in order to pick up tips for my own lesser builds. There are a good number of nice ( read exquisite ) parts that could find their way into a little regenerodyne Rx.
Might you consider courier rather than collection if nobody else can collect? Happy to pay cost plus a little more for the effort!
Regards
Mike

Bazz4CQJ · 17th Oct 2021, 11:05 pm

During WWII, the US Airforce flew some sets, something like "B342" or similar and I wondered about that initially, but I'm sure the construction is UK. Could some of those sets have been developed for UK use?

The metalwork has a slight whiff of the ADVANCE signal gens for the military.

B

unitelex · 18th Oct 2021, 2:21 pm

Looks like late 1960s era

Chris

Radio1950 · 18th Oct 2021, 7:45 pm

Could we have the valve lineup please?
Might give a clue.
Might be a wide range test receiver?
That mustard poly cap rules out Metrix.
English or Australian, mid 1950s?

Bryan M · 20th Oct 2021, 8:07 am

Establishing the valve line-up is a challenge too far for me, but a couple of the more accessible ones are ECC81 and 5654 (EF95?). Removing them is difficult and replacing them very difficult.

So to the second part of the title. A coin toss awards it to VTFUSE - PM sent.

Thanks for all your interest.

Bryan

camallison · 20th Oct 2021, 9:28 am

That looks VERY familiar, but I can't for the life of me think why. Definitely military, and quite likely test equipment based, or airborne wireless from 1960s to mid 70s.

Colin

17th Oct 2021, 11:40 am	#1
Bryan M Pentode Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Brightlingsea, nr. Colchester, Essex, UK. Posts: 206	What's this? and who wants it? Appears to be a multistage divider or multiplier, beautifully made, 9 valves. £10, collection much preferred. Bryan Attached Thumbnails

17th Oct 2021, 12:03 pm	#2
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Re: What's this? and who wants it? May we have a front view please?

17th Oct 2021, 4:18 pm	#3
Bryan M Pentode Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Brightlingsea, nr. Colchester, Essex, UK. Posts: 206	Re: What's this? and who wants it? The 'front' view is rather boring. Two other views added to show inner details. Bryan Attached Thumbnails

17th Oct 2021, 4:35 pm	#4
Radio Tech Octode Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Bocking, near Braintree, Essex, UK. Posts: 1,856	Re: What's this? and who wants it? Hi Bryan I think this is some sort of sig gen, if not then the spares on it are very useful to me. Ken

17th Oct 2021, 5:02 pm	#5
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 19,782	Re: What's this? and who wants it? Multistage, yes. And with a range switch which selects which stage goes on to whatever comes next. The little white stub shaft looks to drive that precision pot via worm reduction, and I guess drives the capacitors similarly. So the front panel is missing and goes on those nice hex spacers. THe bigger shaft seems to be for the wafer switch. So that's the range switch. The tuning shaft must have a reduction drive to a scale and pointer, maybe a string driven pointer? Guessing.... the biggest variable C section as a VFO. Then a multiplier. Then the two medium sized variable C tuning a buffer/filter to select a harmonic. Then another multiplier. Then the two small variable C tuning a buffer/filter for the upper band. So, over 3 octaves of range. THis could be a sig gen, or perhaps an exciter for a wide range transmitter. Construction is expensive which means military or test-gear (maybe both?) Interesting. As said, some nice bits! David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

17th Oct 2021, 5:45 pm	#6
Julesomega Octode Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 1,610	Re: What's this? and who wants it? I'd love it but I don't need it Even more, I'd love to know what it's out of __________________ - Julian It's good here

17th Oct 2021, 8:13 pm	#7
VT FUSE Hexode Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Malvern, Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 276	Re: What's this? and who wants it? Hello Bryan I would very much like this as I like to study high quality designs in order to pick up tips for my own lesser builds. There are a good number of nice ( read exquisite ) parts that could find their way into a little regenerodyne Rx. Might you consider courier rather than collection if nobody else can collect? Happy to pay cost plus a little more for the effort! Regards Mike Last edited by VT FUSE; 17th Oct 2021 at 8:36 pm.

17th Oct 2021, 11:05 pm	#8
Bazz4CQJ Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 3,800	Re: What's this? and who wants it? During WWII, the US Airforce flew some sets, something like "B342" or similar and I wondered about that initially, but I'm sure the construction is UK. Could some of those sets have been developed for UK use? The metalwork has a slight whiff of the ADVANCE signal gens for the military. B __________________ Data beats opinions most times... that's my opinion, though I have no data on that.

18th Oct 2021, 2:21 pm	#9
unitelex Hexode Join Date: May 2005 Location: Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 453	Re: What's this? and who wants it? Looks like late 1960s era Chris

18th Oct 2021, 7:45 pm	#10
Radio1950 Hexode Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Buderim, Queensland, Australia. Posts: 428	Re: What's this? and who wants it? Could we have the valve lineup please? Might give a clue. Might be a wide range test receiver? That mustard poly cap rules out Metrix. English or Australian, mid 1950s? Last edited by Radio1950; 18th Oct 2021 at 8:10 pm.

20th Oct 2021, 8:07 am	#11
Bryan M Pentode Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Brightlingsea, nr. Colchester, Essex, UK. Posts: 206	Re: What's this? and who wants it? Establishing the valve line-up is a challenge too far for me, but a couple of the more accessible ones are ECC81 and 5654 (EF95?). Removing them is difficult and replacing them very difficult. So to the second part of the title. A coin toss awards it to VTFUSE - PM sent. Thanks for all your interest. Bryan

20th Oct 2021, 9:28 am	#12
camallison Heptode Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Yarm, North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 532	Re: What's this? and who wants it? That looks VERY familiar, but I can't for the life of me think why. Definitely military, and quite likely test equipment based, or airborne wireless from 1960s to mid 70s. Colin