Desert island discs but 8 favourite sets - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Stephen Naunton · 31st Oct 2013, 10:30 pm

So you can only take 8 sets from your collection what will they be.
1 I'm a transistor man really but a bush dac90a is a must really,the nice dial light and warm valve sound are great of a winters evening.
2 A hacker black knight for supreme fm sound on classic fm.
3 A hacker sovereign 3,perhaps hackers finest hour,such fine full sound on all wavebands.
4 A roberts rambler,great for test match special during the summer on the patio with a glass of something.
5 My Hacker super sovereign,such a weighty solid and substantial thing. The main lounge radio.
6 A bush tr130,the ultimate builders radio,great when doing DIY,so much volume and the ability to take a few knocks.
7 A roberts ric2,good little kitchen or bathroom radio,easy to use and nice 70's retro look.
8 Hacker rp10 in red,produced in 1960 mw/lw only but a fine sound with plenty of volume.
So the final question you can take only one(this is difficult,getting it down to eight was bad enough) but it has to be the super sovereign always the one I come back to.

Herald1360 · 1st Nov 2013, 1:52 pm

Are you also allowed a PV array to power them from?

On a desert island, I would guess a shortwave capable set would be usable, anything else would just be decorative......

Or make one of the sets a clockwork type so you could use it to power the others as required

Radio Wrangler · 1st Nov 2013, 7:38 pm

You might also want to take a multimeter, toolbox and some spares.

Does this count against your baggage limit?

David

Herald1360 · 1st Nov 2013, 9:04 pm

If you've got that lot, you wouldn't have to stay marooned for long- a homebrewed TX from the bits should eventually raise awareness of your plight!

Radio Wrangler · 1st Nov 2013, 9:18 pm

Plight? what plight? you're assuming he doesn't want to stay marooned.

And is anyone who can read CW monitoring 500 or 2182?

David

Phil G4SPZ · 2nd Nov 2013, 12:24 am

Selected from a very long list, here are my personal 8 favourites, with reasons...

Philips 634A "Ovaltiney" (remarkable performance for a TRF)
Bush AC91 (cooler running than the other Bush variants)
Bush TR82C (simply a classic)
Marconiphone 559 (or many other big Marconi/HMV late-30s sets)
Wartime Civilian Receiver (elegant circuit design)
Roberts R200 (compact classic)
Bang & Olufsen Beolit 700 (superb audio)
Eddystone 870A (compact all-wave performer)

None of the above are practical on a desert island without access to mains power (or a large stash of PP9s and D-cells) so perhaps I should have included a first-generation Baygen clockwork radio with short-wave coverage.

This is an important point - Desert Island Discs originated in an era when a mechanical gramophone and eight records would have provided viable entertainment on a desert island, at least until the stock of needles - or the records - wore out

ianj · 2nd Nov 2013, 12:41 pm

My Saba Frieburg 125 stereo vollautomatic
I think then....my little Degen 1103 comm.reciever(modern little Chinese all bander with bfo,amazing!)
My GEC Sonata music centre
My little Galaxy phone,the radio Tunein app is amazing
Errrr....ummmm..
Thats it!
A never ending mains supply of course...(and gin )

peter_scott · 4th Nov 2013, 10:21 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radio Wrangler

You might also want to take a multimeter, toolbox and some spares.
Does this count against your baggage limit?

If you fore go the Bible and Shakespeare I'm sure you'd be permitted those as your luxuries.

Peter

Hybrid tellies · 4th Nov 2013, 12:56 pm

After considerable thought here is my list.
My ITT Tiny Super for its small size but good performance and good battery life.
My Bush TR130 for its excellent AM performance and rugged build quality.
My Hacker Hunter RP38A for its superb sound quality.
My Grundig YB400 instead of the larger Satellite 700 for its short wave coverage performance and compact size. Also a good radio for DXing.
My Philips DA1200 personal FM/DAB/DAB+ radio for the RDS and possible DAB dx.
My Philips mp4 player in case the desert island is out of range of all radio stations.
My early Allinco wideband scanner which I always take on holiday.
My now vintage iPhone 3GS just in case there is coverage and a wi fi link. But even if there is n't the compass might come in useful.
I think this just about covers everything to enjoy a nice long extended break.

31st Oct 2013, 10:30 pm	#1
Stephen Naunton Tetrode Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Chelmsford, Essex, UK. Posts: 54	Desert island discs but 8 favourite sets So you can only take 8 sets from your collection what will they be. 1 I'm a transistor man really but a bush dac90a is a must really,the nice dial light and warm valve sound are great of a winters evening. 2 A hacker black knight for supreme fm sound on classic fm. 3 A hacker sovereign 3,perhaps hackers finest hour,such fine full sound on all wavebands. 4 A roberts rambler,great for test match special during the summer on the patio with a glass of something. 5 My Hacker super sovereign,such a weighty solid and substantial thing. The main lounge radio. 6 A bush tr130,the ultimate builders radio,great when doing DIY,so much volume and the ability to take a few knocks. 7 A roberts ric2,good little kitchen or bathroom radio,easy to use and nice 70's retro look. 8 Hacker rp10 in red,produced in 1960 mw/lw only but a fine sound with plenty of volume. So the final question you can take only one(this is difficult,getting it down to eight was bad enough) but it has to be the super sovereign always the one I come back to.

1st Nov 2013, 1:52 pm	#2
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,536	Re: Desert island discs but 8 favourite sets Are you also allowed a PV array to power them from? On a desert island, I would guess a shortwave capable set would be usable, anything else would just be decorative...... Or make one of the sets a clockwork type so you could use it to power the others as required __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O

1st Nov 2013, 7:38 pm	#3
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,902	Re: Desert island discs but 8 favourite sets You might also want to take a multimeter, toolbox and some spares. Does this count against your baggage limit? David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

1st Nov 2013, 9:04 pm	#4
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,536	Re: Desert island discs but 8 favourite sets If you've got that lot, you wouldn't have to stay marooned for long- a homebrewed TX from the bits should eventually raise awareness of your plight! __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O

1st Nov 2013, 9:18 pm	#5
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,902	Re: Desert island discs but 8 favourite sets Plight? what plight? you're assuming he doesn't want to stay marooned. And is anyone who can read CW monitoring 500 or 2182? David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

2nd Nov 2013, 12:24 am	#6
Phil G4SPZ Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 4,748	Re: Desert island discs but 8 favourite sets Selected from a very long list, here are my personal 8 favourites, with reasons... Philips 634A "Ovaltiney" (remarkable performance for a TRF) Bush AC91 (cooler running than the other Bush variants) Bush TR82C (simply a classic) Marconiphone 559 (or many other big Marconi/HMV late-30s sets) Wartime Civilian Receiver (elegant circuit design) Roberts R200 (compact classic) Bang & Olufsen Beolit 700 (superb audio) Eddystone 870A (compact all-wave performer) None of the above are practical on a desert island without access to mains power (or a large stash of PP9s and D-cells) so perhaps I should have included a first-generation Baygen clockwork radio with short-wave coverage. This is an important point - Desert Island Discs originated in an era when a mechanical gramophone and eight records would have provided viable entertainment on a desert island, at least until the stock of needles - or the records - wore out __________________ Phil Optimist [n]: One who is not in possession of the full facts

2nd Nov 2013, 12:41 pm	#7
ianj Heptode Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cheltenham Spa, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 525	Re: Desert island discs but 8 favourite sets My Saba Frieburg 125 stereo vollautomatic I think then....my little Degen 1103 comm.reciever(modern little Chinese all bander with bfo,amazing!) My GEC Sonata music centre My little Galaxy phone,the radio Tunein app is amazing Errrr....ummmm.. Thats it! A never ending mains supply of course...(and gin )

4th Nov 2013, 12:56 pm	#9
Hybrid tellies Nonode Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: 1966-1976 Coverack in Cornwall and Helston Cornwall. 1976-present Bristol/Bath area. Posts: 2,967	Re: Desert island discs but 8 favourite sets After considerable thought here is my list. My ITT Tiny Super for its small size but good performance and good battery life. My Bush TR130 for its excellent AM performance and rugged build quality. My Hacker Hunter RP38A for its superb sound quality. My Grundig YB400 instead of the larger Satellite 700 for its short wave coverage performance and compact size. Also a good radio for DXing. My Philips DA1200 personal FM/DAB/DAB+ radio for the RDS and possible DAB dx. My Philips mp4 player in case the desert island is out of range of all radio stations. My early Allinco wideband scanner which I always take on holiday. My now vintage iPhone 3GS just in case there is coverage and a wi fi link. But even if there is n't the compass might come in useful. I think this just about covers everything to enjoy a nice long extended break. __________________ Simon BVWS member