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Old 7th Jun 2020, 10:33 am   #1
coopzone
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Default Cossor 463A (464) Restore

Hi,

I've just acquired a Cossor 463A 3 band radio. From around 1945. It's in pretty poor shape, for example the casing has been about 40% eaten by woodworm! That's no exaggeration either.

I can't find many details about it, but it's looks identical to the 464 - so I'm working from the trade sheet 775 for it.

So far only done a few preliminary checks and inspections, most of the wiring will need attention, although this model has what appears to be paper caps they are not wax covered - I'm probably going to replace them anyway. They are in card tubes with black tar at the ends.

Output transformer seems good, until tested live anyway. The speaker looks like it might be a gonner - badly damaged cone.

Valves untested so far.

Mains transformer looks ok.

My biggest problem is going to be the dial glass, the paint is now face powder - one blow or touch and is gone. I have managed to scan what was left and attach a picture.

I was hoping someone may have a better scan of it?

thanks

Derek
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Old 7th Jun 2020, 10:46 am   #2
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Default Re: Cosser 463A (464) Restore

Richards Radio has a nicely restored example.

http://www.richardsradios.co.uk/cossor_463.html

I sent a dial scan to FIXITNOW partially restored.

You're welcome to the scan as it is it's not too bad

Drop me a PM with Mail address I will send scan.

I have probably got a speaker somewhere but it's chaos on the spares front at the moment.

Cheers

Mike T
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Old 7th Jun 2020, 2:50 pm   #3
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Default Re: Cossor 463A (464) Restore

Quote:
Originally Posted by coopzone View Post
although this model has what appears to be paper caps they are not wax covered - I'm probably going to replace them anyway. They are in card tubes with black tar at the ends.
Physical encapsulations (and make) are immaterial. Paper is paper, with the all too well known leakage problems.
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Old 7th Jun 2020, 5:27 pm   #4
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Default Re: Cossor 463A (464) Restore

Very true about the caps, I have now replaced most of them, still a couple to go - but that will have to wait until tomorrow now.

I have had to replace the two smoothing caps (in one can) they would not re-form fully, but I though I'd give them a go. but no good the voltage started to drop aftter 30-40 seconds and then they started to get warmer and warmer. Power off! I hate it when electrolytic caps blow, they make such a mess.

The reservoir cap re-formed like a trooper and is running OK.

Few wires replaced, mainly power to output transformer etc.

The main switch would not turn off. Mostly I find they won't turn on? but not this one. I removed it, stripped it down and clean it. now back to working OK.

So far, it works, but seems a bit quiet. I'm not using a very good speaker so maybe I'll try another. The original was too badly damaged to be of use.

Next the last caps and then checking the resistors, followed by more wires to replace.

It's all good fun.

Derek
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Old 7th Jun 2020, 5:32 pm   #5
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Default Re: Cossor 463A (464) Restore

I 'restored' (got working!) a 464 last year, I didn't even know they did a wood version. Let's have some pics! Are you doing the cabinet?
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Old 7th Jun 2020, 6:08 pm   #6
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Default Re: Cossor 463A (464) Restore

You can see a pic if you follow the link in post #2

Cheers

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Old 7th Jun 2020, 6:14 pm   #7
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Default Re: Cossor 463A (464) Restore

Here you go , i'm not that good at cabinet stuff. But i may give it a go.

As you can see mr and mrs woodworm (and a whole family) have had a good time.

Also the laminates are parting company with each other

And the laminate is well past it's best.

If i have a go, i'll try this:

woodworm treatment, clue the laminates. remove some of the old laminate and re-laminate it, then re finish it.

Derek.

PS. by laminate i probably mean veneer in my previous post!, oops - like a said not very good at this wood stuff
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Old 7th Jun 2020, 7:05 pm   #8
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Default Re: Cossor 463A (464) Restore

crikey, bit wormy! Speaker cloth looks original though.
I'd be tempted to re-veneer the worst side, touch up the other bits and then fill, stain, polish.

Nothing to lose when they've been made a meal out of.

PS Make sure the tenants are evicted, nothing worse than seeing a new hole in a recently restored cabinet.
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Old 8th Jun 2020, 12:23 pm   #9
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Default Re: Cossor 463A (464) Restore

Hi Derek, sand it down, then cuprinol woodworm killer, lots of it, soak the wood and try to inject the holes and you will probably need to treat it a couple of times (letting it dry in between). The side wherr the veneer is broken you're better off removing it all and glueing a new panel. Make sure you apply even pressure with when you attach veneer, or it may go wavy. Dark oak naphta stain and fill the woodworm holes using a dark wax stick. Its not beyond redemption.

Coincidentally I just bought a cossor 464 (bakelite) yesterday which will need some work so I have something to look forward to when I finish the Strad. I've wanted one for a while and the wife approves of the looks (always a bonus); for some reason the curves remind me of the front of an old Ford Anglia.

Good luck, post some after pictures and remember that you can never over-treat woodworm.

Gabriel
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Old 8th Jun 2020, 4:02 pm   #10
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Default Re: Cossor 463A (464) Restore

The case may have to wait a week or so, low on funds!

I done some more work on the chassis;

Re - wired all the rubber cables inside the screening. Thats fun!

The shortwave oscillator coil had two breaks in the coil, impressive considering it only has 6 1/2 turns anyway! It took quite a bit of effort to unsolder, unscrew and remove the coil. Then rewind the coil. Then replace and re-solder back in place. I have still to re-align this stage, but that can wait until i do a full alignment. But at least it works.

Interestingly the shortwave coil was badly soldered at the factory (i assume) the ground end of the main coil was dry joint and moved in and out the junction.

Also noticed a similar problem on the smoothing resistor on the top of the chassis. Simelar in so much has it had NO solder at all! it was. just through the hole and wrapped round ready for soldering. Again it must have been this way from the factory.

So be warned, cossor did not have very good quality control (or maybe the person who did this had a birthday pub night before work!), watch out for bad connections!

Derek
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Old 9th Jun 2020, 5:53 pm   #11
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Default Re: Cossor 463A (464) Restore

Yet another dry joint!

And u have just replaced the valve socket for the osc/mixer, it was crackling every time i touched anywhere near it. After removal it looks like it may have been tracking / arching between a couple of pins.

Derek
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Old 9th Jun 2020, 6:07 pm   #12
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Default Re: Cossor 463A (464) Restore

Does anyone know what the veneer wood type should be for this radio?
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Old 9th Jun 2020, 6:17 pm   #13
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Default Re: Cossor 463A (464) Restore

Probably Walnut https://www.browndogbanjos.co.uk/wal...RoCvpYQAvD_BwE and
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Old 9th Jun 2020, 6:31 pm   #14
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Default Re: Cossor 463A (464) Restore

It's hard to say from the pictures, but if the grain is coarse it's probably oak veneer. If it's close, walnut veneer.
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Old 23rd Jun 2020, 5:00 pm   #15
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Default Update Cossor 463A 3 band radio

Hello,

I am still working on this cossor 463A radio. Electrically it's now working fine.

The casing has been mostly rebuilt, this was my first attempt at anything like this - so it's not brilliant but at least it's now able to be used and does not look like a Swiss cheese anymore.

I've added some photos of the progress.

Still todo

the waveband knob decided it was going to disintegrate today, so i will be looking for a new one of those! (old one glued back together - but long term prospects are not good!)

It appears, on re-assembly, that the front glass had two layers. One on the radio chassis with the scale on it etc. The other in the metal frame on the front
. With the point between the two? Does this right right, i'm only working on what i see with this supposition.

Anyway the front glass has gone, so i have currently put the pointer behind the chassis glass, so the lamp provides a 'shadow' to mark the frequency - it works but i'm going to have to find someone to cut a new glass at some point.

Derek
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Old 23rd Jun 2020, 6:39 pm   #16
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Default Re: Update Cossor 463A 3 band radio

Quote:
Originally Posted by coopzone View Post

Anyway the front glass has gone, so i have currently put the pointer behind the chassis glass, so the lamp provides a 'shadow' to mark the frequency - it works but i'm going to have to find someone to cut a new glass at some point.

Derek
The front "glass" on these sets was a moulded piece of celluloid and it shrinks and falls out.

you can mould a piece of thin perspex or just cut a flat piece to shape and glue it into place.

Cheers

Mike T
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Old 24th Jun 2020, 9:11 am   #17
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Default Re: Update Cossor 463A 3 band radio

Thanks Mike,

I will give that a go.

Looks like some photos missing from first post, so here they are.

Derek
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Last edited by coopzone; 24th Jun 2020 at 9:16 am.
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