EKCO A144 and A104 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

M0TAW Tony · 1st Sep 2007, 11:53 am

Hi
Can one of the Ekco experts tell me the difference between the A104 and A144 models please. I downloaded the A104 Trader from Paul's service data site and it looks the same (cabinet and cct) as my newly aquired A144 but there has to be a difference

Tony

paulsherwin · 1st Sep 2007, 12:02 pm

I don't think there is any difference. The A144 is the later model and most survivors seem to be 144s. The 104 may have had a gold bezel around the tuning scale rather than the silver one on the 144.

I have recently restored a 144 so am reasonably clued up about them at the moment. I also have a scrap set so may be able to supply any replacement bits you need. Send me a PM if you need anything.

I'm a big fan of these sets - they sound wonderful for a reasonably priced mass market set, and the internal aerial performs very well.

Paul

Aerodyne · 1st Sep 2007, 12:11 pm

Yes, I like them too. Easy to work on. There is a possible problem with the plastic grille in that it can, under some circumstances, shrink and distort slightly, so that needs to be noted as replacing the grille with fabric poses a problem because of the thickness of the grille.
-Tony

screengrid · 1st Sep 2007, 12:14 pm

I too am a big fan of these radios.
I always thought it was the other way round.

All of the A144s I've seen have had a gold surround, all of the A104s have had a silver surround.

The A144 is defiantely the later model.
There was also a U109 which was the AC/DC version of the A104.
The A104 and the A144 have the same chassis; in my experience.

I prefer the A104, because I can't stand tacky fake gold bits on radios -yuk!

Maybe Eric did a mix-n-match?

Ofcourse, I'm not saying I'm right and Paul's wrong; just my experience!

With Ekco, everyone thinks of the famous classics, but they made some excellent radios after the war, the A274 being another.

paulsherwin · 1st Sep 2007, 12:40 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by screengrid

All of the A144s I've seen have had a gold surround, all of the A104s have had a silver surround.

Both my A144s have the silver bezel

Paul

M0TAW Tony · 1st Sep 2007, 1:33 pm

Thanks to all for advice & comments.
This A144 has a gold (well more of a bronze colour) bezel round the glass scale and looks to be in vg condition.
It works on all bands but with some audio distortion. I've been hoovering out the dust this morning and just removed the chassis from the cabinet. I notice that the frame aerial insulation (dcc?) has broken down in several areas and the meter shows a resistance of some 3-4 Ohms whereas the Trader says 18 ohms so it may be shorting out some of the windings.
The 32 +32uF can is marked Nov 52. Can't see whats on the 2 and 25uF yet.
Any advice on caps - was proposing to change all those above 0.001uF. And check the values of the resistors. Plus change the mains lead.
Tony

paulsherwin · 1st Sep 2007, 1:46 pm

I changed all waxies and electrolytics, but you may be lucky with the electrolytics. The waxies on the tagstrip near the O/P valve are quite fiddly to do. All the resistors were OK.

I needed a new UL41 too - only 2 NOS left in the spares box now

Your distortion may be That Capacitor or a bad UL41.

It would be worthwhile trying to fix the frame aerial as this does work quite well given that it's untuned.

Good luck, Paul

M0TAW Tony · 1st Sep 2007, 4:48 pm

Thanks Paul - I'll let you know how I get on
Tony

screengrid · 1st Sep 2007, 6:20 pm

My approach to repairing valve radios is I only want to fix them once.

So I change all wax caps, Hunts, etc. and all electrolytics. I don't even bother checking them any more.
I check all resistors and change any that have drifted or failed.

1st Sep 2007, 11:53 am	#1
M0TAW Tony Pentode Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Telford Posts: 104	EKCO A144 and A104 Hi Can one of the Ekco experts tell me the difference between the A104 and A144 models please. I downloaded the A104 Trader from Paul's service data site and it looks the same (cabinet and cct) as my newly aquired A144 but there has to be a difference Tony

1st Sep 2007, 12:02 pm	#2
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,930	Re: EKCO A144 and A104 I don't think there is any difference. The A144 is the later model and most survivors seem to be 144s. The 104 may have had a gold bezel around the tuning scale rather than the silver one on the 144. I have recently restored a 144 so am reasonably clued up about them at the moment. I also have a scrap set so may be able to supply any replacement bits you need. Send me a PM if you need anything. I'm a big fan of these sets - they sound wonderful for a reasonably priced mass market set, and the internal aerial performs very well. Paul

1st Sep 2007, 12:11 pm	#3
Aerodyne Octode Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Hampton Vale, Peterborough, UK. Posts: 1,698	Re: EKCO A144 and A104 Yes, I like them too. Easy to work on. There is a possible problem with the plastic grille in that it can, under some circumstances, shrink and distort slightly, so that needs to be noted as replacing the grille with fabric poses a problem because of the thickness of the grille. -Tony

1st Sep 2007, 12:14 pm	#4
screengrid Retired Dormant Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Eastbourne Posts: 39	Re: EKCO A144 and A104 I too am a big fan of these radios. I always thought it was the other way round. All of the A144s I've seen have had a gold surround, all of the A104s have had a silver surround. The A144 is defiantely the later model. There was also a U109 which was the AC/DC version of the A104. The A104 and the A144 have the same chassis; in my experience. I prefer the A104, because I can't stand tacky fake gold bits on radios -yuk! Maybe Eric did a mix-n-match? Ofcourse, I'm not saying I'm right and Paul's wrong; just my experience! With Ekco, everyone thinks of the famous classics, but they made some excellent radios after the war, the A274 being another. Last edited by screengrid; 1st Sep 2007 at 12:20 pm.

1st Sep 2007, 1:33 pm	#6
M0TAW Tony Pentode Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Telford Posts: 104	Re: EKCO A144 and A104 Thanks to all for advice & comments. This A144 has a gold (well more of a bronze colour) bezel round the glass scale and looks to be in vg condition. It works on all bands but with some audio distortion. I've been hoovering out the dust this morning and just removed the chassis from the cabinet. I notice that the frame aerial insulation (dcc?) has broken down in several areas and the meter shows a resistance of some 3-4 Ohms whereas the Trader says 18 ohms so it may be shorting out some of the windings. The 32 +32uF can is marked Nov 52. Can't see whats on the 2 and 25uF yet. Any advice on caps - was proposing to change all those above 0.001uF. And check the values of the resistors. Plus change the mains lead. Tony

1st Sep 2007, 1:46 pm	#7
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,930	Re: EKCO A144 and A104 I changed all waxies and electrolytics, but you may be lucky with the electrolytics. The waxies on the tagstrip near the O/P valve are quite fiddly to do. All the resistors were OK. I needed a new UL41 too - only 2 NOS left in the spares box now Your distortion may be That Capacitor or a bad UL41. It would be worthwhile trying to fix the frame aerial as this does work quite well given that it's untuned. Good luck, Paul

1st Sep 2007, 4:48 pm	#8
M0TAW Tony Pentode Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Telford Posts: 104	Re: EKCO A144 and A104 Thanks Paul - I'll let you know how I get on Tony

1st Sep 2007, 6:20 pm	#9
screengrid Retired Dormant Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Eastbourne Posts: 39	Re: EKCO A144 and A104 My approach to repairing valve radios is I only want to fix them once. So I change all wax caps, Hunts, etc. and all electrolytics. I don't even bother checking them any more. I check all resistors and change any that have drifted or failed.