Kolster Brandes MP151/1 Rhapsody - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Northyorks1 · 16th Oct 2019, 8:31 pm

Spotted this little beauty on Facebook at the weekend. Couldnt resist it so bought it straight away, arrived today. Radio is in really nice all round condition. I am very much a novice and this is the first portable I have purchased. Not really sure where I am going with this, as it may be beyond my limited experience. I will give it a clean and polish and just give it a basic check over regarding resistors and capacitors. Can anyone recommend a replacement battery, any tips and info regarding this radio would be very wecome.

Ian

Northyorks1 · 16th Oct 2019, 8:33 pm

Just a few more pics.

crackle · 17th Oct 2019, 6:54 am

Be careful when polishing anywhere near the KB logo or the name on the back, the gold lettering will rub away easily.
There is some information on batteries, which you will need to make yourself from either 1.5v cells or 9v batteries, on my website and in the service document, also obtainable from my website..
http://www.kbmuseum.org.uk/kb_images...-1/mp151-1.htm
Mike

Northyorks1 · 17th Oct 2019, 1:05 pm

Thanks Mike. I had seen one of your previous posts which mentioned logos and you were making replacements. I plan to be very careful with it.

Ian

Northyorks1 · 24th Oct 2019, 6:38 pm

Can anyone offer any advice regarding capacitor replacement for the one pictured. It is in the Trader sheet as C14 0.1uf chassis isolator. Not planning to do it at the moment. I have had the chassis out and was just checking it over and I was just curious about this capacitor, as it is the first time I have come accross capacitors fitted this way.

Thanks Ian

McMurdo · 24th Oct 2019, 6:46 pm

i assume this is to isolate the user from the live chassis, are you planning on using it off the mains lead?

crackle · 24th Oct 2019, 7:14 pm

How odd, I dont remember seeing that. I have just checked a photo of my one and it too has the same arrangement. http://www.kbmuseum.org.uk/kb_images...1_chassis2.jpg
I didn't notice it because of the wax and fluff hiding the coil. I left it as it was in my radio as everything was working and my radios dont get used much.

My KB MP151/2 service manual shows this on the schematic but not on the component layout drawings.
The Trader sheet no. 1247, shows it as L6 & C14. L6 is described as modulation hum choke.
If you want to replace it, I would use the largest axial .1uF cap you can find and wind on a few turns of wire as in the original.

Mike

Northyorks1 · 24th Oct 2019, 8:57 pm

Yes Kevin eventually, if I get it to a working state. Wouldnt plan to use it much, just nice to have both options. I had checked the pics on your site Mike, and also the service sheet which did not show it as you say. So I got the trader sheet which shows it. I thought it may have to be done as original. Seem to be visiting the KB Museum quite a lot lately, very helpful and very interesting. I have taken a shine to KB lately, spotted a KB Romance online that was quite nice. It was collection only so out of my reach, probably for the best need to exercise a bit of self control. I have minimal experience with vintage radios, so just buy what takes my fancy in the best condition I can find.

Ian

crackle · 25th Oct 2019, 6:31 am

Yes the KB Romance, RP21, is a lovely looking radio, the salmon and white colours and gold lettering and black dial compliment each other beautifully.
You could just try the .1uF capacitor on its own.

Mike

Northyorks1 · 25th Oct 2019, 12:40 pm

Yes I will try a capacitor on its own. I also came across a post on another forum an American one relating to this where it describes wire wrapped around a capacitor in series then connected to ground. And it was described as a wavetrap to short out interfering signals, usually from the Maritime sevice. And it states that if the capacitor was fitted for this pupose it is no longer needed as apparently the Maritime service in America ceased operation decades ago. These are not my words I am just repeating what I have read.

Ian

16th Oct 2019, 8:31 pm	#1
Northyorks1 Heptode Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Saltburn, North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 623	Kolster Brandes MP151/1 Rhapsody Spotted this little beauty on Facebook at the weekend. Couldnt resist it so bought it straight away, arrived today. Radio is in really nice all round condition. I am very much a novice and this is the first portable I have purchased. Not really sure where I am going with this, as it may be beyond my limited experience. I will give it a clean and polish and just give it a basic check over regarding resistors and capacitors. Can anyone recommend a replacement battery, any tips and info regarding this radio would be very wecome. Ian Attached Thumbnails

16th Oct 2019, 8:33 pm	#2
Northyorks1 Heptode Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Saltburn, North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 623	Re: Kolster Brandes MP151/1 Rhapsody Just a few more pics. Attached Thumbnails

17th Oct 2019, 6:54 am	#3
crackle Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Basildon, Essex, UK. Posts: 4,100	Re: Kolster Brandes MP151/1 Rhapsody Be careful when polishing anywhere near the KB logo or the name on the back, the gold lettering will rub away easily. There is some information on batteries, which you will need to make yourself from either 1.5v cells or 9v batteries, on my website and in the service document, also obtainable from my website.. http://www.kbmuseum.org.uk/kb_images...-1/mp151-1.htm Mike

17th Oct 2019, 1:05 pm	#4
Northyorks1 Heptode Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Saltburn, North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 623	Re: Kolster Brandes MP151/1 Rhapsody Thanks Mike. I had seen one of your previous posts which mentioned logos and you were making replacements. I plan to be very careful with it. Ian

24th Oct 2019, 6:38 pm	#5
Northyorks1 Heptode Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Saltburn, North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 623	Re: Kolster Brandes MP151/1 Rhapsody Can anyone offer any advice regarding capacitor replacement for the one pictured. It is in the Trader sheet as C14 0.1uf chassis isolator. Not planning to do it at the moment. I have had the chassis out and was just checking it over and I was just curious about this capacitor, as it is the first time I have come accross capacitors fitted this way. Thanks Ian Attached Thumbnails

24th Oct 2019, 6:46 pm	#6
McMurdo Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 5,270	Re: Kolster Brandes MP151/1 Rhapsody i assume this is to isolate the user from the live chassis, are you planning on using it off the mains lead? __________________ Kevin

24th Oct 2019, 7:14 pm	#7
crackle Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Basildon, Essex, UK. Posts: 4,100	Re: Kolster Brandes MP151/1 Rhapsody How odd, I dont remember seeing that. I have just checked a photo of my one and it too has the same arrangement. http://www.kbmuseum.org.uk/kb_images...1_chassis2.jpg I didn't notice it because of the wax and fluff hiding the coil. I left it as it was in my radio as everything was working and my radios dont get used much. My KB MP151/2 service manual shows this on the schematic but not on the component layout drawings. The Trader sheet no. 1247, shows it as L6 & C14. L6 is described as modulation hum choke. If you want to replace it, I would use the largest axial .1uF cap you can find and wind on a few turns of wire as in the original. Mike

24th Oct 2019, 8:57 pm	#8
Northyorks1 Heptode Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Saltburn, North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 623	Re: Kolster Brandes MP151/1 Rhapsody Yes Kevin eventually, if I get it to a working state. Wouldnt plan to use it much, just nice to have both options. I had checked the pics on your site Mike, and also the service sheet which did not show it as you say. So I got the trader sheet which shows it. I thought it may have to be done as original. Seem to be visiting the KB Museum quite a lot lately, very helpful and very interesting. I have taken a shine to KB lately, spotted a KB Romance online that was quite nice. It was collection only so out of my reach, probably for the best need to exercise a bit of self control. I have minimal experience with vintage radios, so just buy what takes my fancy in the best condition I can find. Ian

25th Oct 2019, 6:31 am	#9
crackle Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Basildon, Essex, UK. Posts: 4,100	Re: Kolster Brandes MP151/1 Rhapsody Yes the KB Romance, RP21, is a lovely looking radio, the salmon and white colours and gold lettering and black dial compliment each other beautifully. You could just try the .1uF capacitor on its own. Mike

25th Oct 2019, 12:40 pm	#10
Northyorks1 Heptode Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Saltburn, North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 623	Re: Kolster Brandes MP151/1 Rhapsody Yes I will try a capacitor on its own. I also came across a post on another forum an American one relating to this where it describes wire wrapped around a capacitor in series then connected to ground. And it was described as a wavetrap to short out interfering signals, usually from the Maritime sevice. And it states that if the capacitor was fitted for this pupose it is no longer needed as apparently the Maritime service in America ceased operation decades ago. These are not my words I am just repeating what I have read. Ian