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Vintage Test Gear and Workshop Equipment For discussions about vintage test gear and workshop equipment such as coil winders. |
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10th Jul 2019, 4:13 pm | #1 |
Nonode
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Aberdeen, UK.
Posts: 2,858
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Pye Service Workshop Rack
A birthday present (found local on Gumtree)from my youngest son - this beast plus other stuff(AVO7,"Channel" - Burnham on Sea- Attenuator Box ?,Taylor 81A Universal Meter, Evershed Safety OhmMeter 5Q/317).
This rack is 15" wide x 8.5" deep x 28.5" high. Seemingly a shed find from a deceased post-war TV engineer. Are these racks still usable ? Regards, David |
10th Jul 2019, 6:21 pm | #2 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Wellington, New Zealand.
Posts: 653
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Re: Pye Service Workshop Rack
Looking at it and guessing it seems to be an audio frequency generator, a rf one (or some sort of wobbulator if it's for TV), current and voltage meters plus various switches to select one or the other. If so I don't see why it should not be usable after a look inside and replacement of any wax caps.
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10th Jul 2019, 6:29 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 14,007
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Re: Pye Service Workshop Rack
What's the little thing with the perforated metal cover and the 2 knobs on the front?
"Channel Electronic Industries" in Burnham-on-Sea made Band-III TV converters in the 1950s. |
10th Jul 2019, 6:59 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK.
Posts: 8,935
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Re: Pye Service Workshop Rack
Band 3 converter ,same as mine plus I have the Pye Service Rack which I need to fire up.
There was a back article on same in the BVWS Bulletin.
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G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S |
10th Jul 2019, 8:57 pm | #5 |
Nonode
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Aberdeen, UK.
Posts: 2,858
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Re: Pye Service Workshop Rack
From what I can see, its a multimeter plus an AF Sig Gen & an RF Sig Gen. Socket for an external modulation supply.
David, do you have the manual &/or circuit diagram for yours ? Regards, David |
10th Jul 2019, 9:28 pm | #6 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 9,642
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Re: Pye Service Workshop Rack
A couple of members have one, and would probably be able to help: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=49098
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12th Jul 2019, 3:02 pm | #7 |
Nonode
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Aberdeen, UK.
Posts: 2,858
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Re: Pye Service Workshop Rack
Many thanks Bill for the link. Should be getting some documentation soon.
Seemingly others have baulked at delving into this beastie. Guess I'm going to be a glutton for punishment. Thought I could have had a wee rest after repairing & calib. a CT160, but not so. Also - back to restoring vintage wooden cased t/eq. - the Taylor 81A, but will open a new thread when I can acquire a circuit diagram or manual. Regards, David |
12th Jul 2019, 3:36 pm | #8 |
Octode
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Falmouth, Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 1,991
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Re: Pye Service Workshop Rack
I may have a couple of pye connectors if you need them.
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Stephen _________"It`s only an old telly" ___ |
16th Jul 2019, 4:34 pm | #9 |
Nonode
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Aberdeen, UK.
Posts: 2,858
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Re: Pye Service Workshop Rack
Many thanks to Alan Beckett for the Manual copy. I guess these must have been the bee's knees back in 1946, but my oh my - what a weight. I'm going to try & think of a way to support the chassis & front panel, so that I can temporarily remove some of the heavy steel panelling.
Regards, David |
16th Jul 2019, 5:05 pm | #10 |
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Congleton, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 609
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Re: Pye Service Workshop Rack
They certainly are heavy, I have the "portable" (well, it has a handle!) signal generator section similar to the one in the service rack & they're one heck of a solidly built bit of kit. I was highly impressed with the quality of mine & even more so when I recommissioned it after many years in a damp shed (replaced a few waxies and fettled the damaged meter, nothing else) only for it to work right off the bat and be superbly accurate! Built well & truly to last a lifetime.
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17th Jul 2019, 3:54 pm | #11 |
Nonode
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Aberdeen, UK.
Posts: 2,858
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Re: Pye Service Workshop Rack
Well - what a difference in weight. Spent about 1 1/2hrs removing metalwork & the mains T/F. The front panel & one side remain. Dead easy now to get at everything. I've made temp. PSU connections to a loom of eight wires, but hopefully I'll be able to fit an IO Plug & Socket upon reconnecting. A smaller loom of three wires might lend itself to a small Jones Plug & Skt.
The two long black strips down either side of the front panel are in fact solid brass, secured internally by two 4BA bolts each inside. They reveal the main C/S 2BA's which secure the front panel. The T/F is secured by six dome headed 2BA nuts at the bottom of the side plate. So hopefully, the two other Forum folk with one of these will have a go at delving inside. Really - its just a heap of 2 & 4BA nuts & bolts holding everything together. No big deal. Regards, David Last edited by David Simpson; 17th Jul 2019 at 3:57 pm. Reason: Add'l info |
22nd Jul 2019, 7:48 am | #12 |
Nonode
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Aberdeen, UK.
Posts: 2,858
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Re: Pye Service Workshop Rack
Well, The whole caboodle works! RF Sig Gen, AF Mod, Audio WM, Component tester, DC Test Voltages. Draws under 300mA from the mains - rock steady. The 3 meters work fine at the correct fsd.
But what to do with it ? I've already got all its facilities from other items of test gear. And I've definitely no bench space spare for it. Me thinks it would be ideal for someone setting out in vintage radio pursuits. So think I'll offer it free to Forum folk - on a collection only basis, or local delivery. Otherwise - I guess breaking it up for spares. I've got the operators manual for it, and circuit diagram. Regards, David |
22nd Jul 2019, 8:27 am | #13 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK.
Posts: 8,935
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Re: Pye Service Workshop Rack
Is there any chance of a copy of the manuals David please?
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G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S |
22nd Jul 2019, 10:58 am | #14 |
Nonode
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Aberdeen, UK.
Posts: 2,858
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Re: Pye Service Workshop Rack
No problem David. I'll get them scanned next time I'm at the local chemist who have an A3 scanner.
Regards, David |
22nd Jul 2019, 11:11 am | #15 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK.
Posts: 8,935
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Re: Pye Service Workshop Rack
Many Thanks.
Best Regards, David PS let me know what I owe
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G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S |
22nd Jul 2019, 2:05 pm | #16 |
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Congleton, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 609
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Re: Pye Service Workshop Rack
Good stuff, I had a feeling it'd work with minimal effort. Really hope someone can collect and make use of it though, would be a crying shame for it to be broken up for spares without even being faulty.
If I was closer I'd have jumped at it & made space on one side of the bench for it, even though I would likely have been garrotted by SWMBO! |