Couplates - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

short wave · 26th Apr 2018, 3:12 pm

Couplates, do you know what they are? (I didn`t despite having an interest in radios for 35 years +). While watching a video (link below) I was forced to “Google” it (other search engines are available!). Had you heard of them ? Or as the YouTube creator is American is it just an American term/word usage?
Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOywIR3Vafg (9-06 and 10-50)

HamishBoxer · 26th Apr 2018, 3:23 pm

So why did I write this? The idea was born out of the observed lack of PEC device information available, and my fear that less information may be available in the future. I want to evolve this page in an attempt to gather and publish information on these devices that it might help vintage equipment restoration and repair enthusiasts.

Manufacturers' nomenclature:

Centralab - Couplate
Sprague - Bulplate
Aerovox - PEC (Printed or Packaged Electronic Circuit)

Found this if it helps.

HamishBoxer · 26th Apr 2018, 3:25 pm

PS I love "the toob in the tooner" bit!

Paul_RK · 26th Apr 2018, 4:24 pm

A new term to me, though I've known the phenomenon for at least 45 years after an early encounter with an Ever Ready Sky Queen II. There's nothing in the printed OED between "coupla" (slang for "couple of") and "couple" itself, so perhaps the word hasn't had much currency on this side of the broad Atlantic.

Paul

boxdoctor · 27th Apr 2018, 11:20 am

I recall an ad, possibly by RCA in an American publication (could have been a late 30s early 40s ARRL handbook) for "Couplates". The selling features were to simplify wiring of the receiver or amp., and to enable a more compact assembly to be achieved.
The one featured had the components for an R-C coupled amplifying stage viz: anode load resistor, coupling capacitor, next stage grid leak. I think what would be referred to today as thick film technology.
"Couplate" may be a registered trade mark, maybe more could be found searching from that angle.
Quite a lot of early electronic organs used a similar technology for the numeous frequency dividers used in them each of which was an identical (usually a two-transistor bistable) circuit. Tony

Scottart · 28th Apr 2018, 9:19 am

I've quite a few US 'tube' / valve battery radios from the 1950's with couplets incorporated into the AF R-C amplifying circuits - certainly makes the wiring simpler

Stephen

m0cemdave · 28th Apr 2018, 6:31 pm

They are used in Heathkit Monitor Scopes, where the circuit diagram describes them as PEC phase shift networks.

G6Tanuki · 28th Apr 2018, 6:35 pm

I guess they could be seen as an evolutionary 'half-way stage' reducing assembly-costs for those manufacturers who didn't want to fully commit to PCBs and automated component-insertion.

26th Apr 2018, 3:12 pm	#1
short wave Pentode Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 246	Couplates Couplates, do you know what they are? (I didn`t despite having an interest in radios for 35 years +). While watching a video (link below) I was forced to “Google” it (other search engines are available!). Had you heard of them ? Or as the YouTube creator is American is it just an American term/word usage? Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOywIR3Vafg (9-06 and 10-50)

26th Apr 2018, 3:23 pm	#2
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,932	Re: Couplates So why did I write this? The idea was born out of the observed lack of PEC device information available, and my fear that less information may be available in the future. I want to evolve this page in an attempt to gather and publish information on these devices that it might help vintage equipment restoration and repair enthusiasts. Manufacturers' nomenclature: Centralab - Couplate Sprague - Bulplate Aerovox - PEC (Printed or Packaged Electronic Circuit) Found this if it helps. __________________ G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S

26th Apr 2018, 3:25 pm	#3
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,932	Re: Couplates PS I love "the toob in the tooner" bit! __________________ G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S

26th Apr 2018, 4:24 pm	#4
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,255	Re: Couplates A new term to me, though I've known the phenomenon for at least 45 years after an early encounter with an Ever Ready Sky Queen II. There's nothing in the printed OED between "coupla" (slang for "couple of") and "couple" itself, so perhaps the word hasn't had much currency on this side of the broad Atlantic. Paul

27th Apr 2018, 11:20 am	#5
boxdoctor Rest in Peace Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ripley, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 785	Re: Couplates I recall an ad, possibly by RCA in an American publication (could have been a late 30s early 40s ARRL handbook) for "Couplates". The selling features were to simplify wiring of the receiver or amp., and to enable a more compact assembly to be achieved. The one featured had the components for an R-C coupled amplifying stage viz: anode load resistor, coupling capacitor, next stage grid leak. I think what would be referred to today as thick film technology. "Couplate" may be a registered trade mark, maybe more could be found searching from that angle. Quite a lot of early electronic organs used a similar technology for the numeous frequency dividers used in them each of which was an identical (usually a two-transistor bistable) circuit. Tony Last edited by boxdoctor; 27th Apr 2018 at 11:25 am.

28th Apr 2018, 9:19 am	#6
Scottart Pentode Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: London, UK. Posts: 205	Re: Couplates I've quite a few US 'tube' / valve battery radios from the 1950's with couplets incorporated into the AF R-C amplifying circuits - certainly makes the wiring simpler Stephen Attached Thumbnails

28th Apr 2018, 6:31 pm	#7
m0cemdave Octode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, UK. Posts: 1,219	Re: Couplates They are used in Heathkit Monitor Scopes, where the circuit diagram describes them as PEC phase shift networks.

28th Apr 2018, 6:35 pm	#8
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 13,996	Re: Couplates I guess they could be seen as an evolutionary 'half-way stage' reducing assembly-costs for those manufacturers who didn't want to fully commit to PCBs and automated component-insertion.