S G Brown H1 horn loudspeaker. - Page 2 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

wireful3 · 23rd Oct 2013, 9:31 am

Hello Pedro, This is very good news. There is nothing wrong with the speaker. It is quiet because it was intended to work with valves. You will have found that the adjusting screw needs very careful setting to get the loudest sound.

If this is loud enough to hear there is nothing else you need to do. To make it louder you will need a transformer. This will not be easy to find but you could look on the internet for a valve radio output transformer. An easier answer is to use a step down transformer intended to reduce the mains voltage to about 6volts. The actual value need not be exact.

I don't know whether there are any suppliers of electronic components in Portugal but what you need is a very low power transformer. The higher power would work but they cost more. Maplin in the UK have some that would do if they supply to Portugal. If you want to try them, the component worth trying is - Mains Transformer N65JB.

The transformer will have four leads, two intended to connect to the mains and two for the output. To use it with the speaker the output leads (that may be thicker) are connected to the phone lead and the mains leads are connected to the speaker. I have not tried this myself but other people have said that although it is not as good as the proper transformer, it works and is a lot easier than trying to find a valve output transformer.

Regards

RadioBlues · 22nd Jan 2014, 7:11 pm

I bring news!
After a long long time, I've been slowly restoring the brown horn loudspeaker and it's almost finished!
I also made it compatible with normal mp3/mp4 devices so that you can just plug it in and play a vintage-like music.
I have just one question for maybe the ones that also restored such piece or others who might know:

What kindof paint do I need to paint the "BROWN" simbol that's on the horn? (as you can see on the first pictures I posted before).

Regards
Pedro

Mr Moose · 22nd Jan 2014, 8:34 pm

Hello,

The "Brown" symbol is silver if the horn is black like yours.
(If the horn is brown then the symbol is gold)

I think they were actually transfers (decals) but paint would be ok.

Yours, Richard

RadioBlues · 22nd Jan 2014, 11:27 pm

Greetings
Well, I painted mine Black, but apparently the symbol was gold, so maybe it was brown...(although it looked like it was black)
should I paint mine golden or silver in your opinion? (it looks good in golden though haha)
And actually what I was asking was what kind of paint. Any would do?

Regards,
Pedro

23rd Jan 2014, 3:30 pm

When it comes to colours I use what I like, it is mine afterall. https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=65905

RadioBlues · 26th Jan 2014, 1:36 am

another question, is it possible to increase the volume using an amplifier togethere with the transformer?

Cobaltblue · 26th Jan 2014, 1:57 am

Hi Pedro

Most horn speakers have an adjustment to keep the "reed" off of the permanent magnet but close to it.

If the reed is stuck to the magnet or too far from it it will be quiet.

Horn speakers are very sensitive.

I am not familiar with the H1 but would suspect the adjustment is behind the horn from the pictures you have posted.

Its also possible that the magnets have become weak.

If this is the case a little Neodymium magnet may restore the performance.

These Horn speakers will always be nasal and tinny but such was audio in the 1920.s but quiet they should not be!

Cheers Mike T

RadioBlues · 26th Jan 2014, 11:18 am

Hi Mike,

Well, I ajusted the reed to make the sound loudest, but still, I believe it could be better.
I suspect, as you said, that it might be because of the magnet. Any advice on how to add the neodyium magnet? do I just "drop it in"?

Best Regards,
Pedro

Cobaltblue · 26th Jan 2014, 12:17 pm

Hi Pedro

You can usually get away with just attaching it to the existing Magnet or pole piece you may need to experiment a little.

Make sure that the existing magnets are correctly assembled if there is more than one.

I bought an Amplion that had been restored and found that the magnets had been put in NS SN, instead of NS, NS thus reducing the flux in the area of the diaphragm to zero! and it was sold as working but it was an easy fix.

Cheers

Mike T

26th Jan 2014, 12:47 pm

Try this... https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=65735

RadioBlues · 26th Jan 2014, 1:13 pm

Thank you Mike and Merlin, I'll get right to it and as soon as I have some results I'll post the update.

Best regards,
Pedro

23rd Oct 2013, 9:31 am	#21
wireful3 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 808	Re: S G Brown H1 horn loudspeaker. Hello Pedro, This is very good news. There is nothing wrong with the speaker. It is quiet because it was intended to work with valves. You will have found that the adjusting screw needs very careful setting to get the loudest sound. If this is loud enough to hear there is nothing else you need to do. To make it louder you will need a transformer. This will not be easy to find but you could look on the internet for a valve radio output transformer. An easier answer is to use a step down transformer intended to reduce the mains voltage to about 6volts. The actual value need not be exact. I don't know whether there are any suppliers of electronic components in Portugal but what you need is a very low power transformer. The higher power would work but they cost more. Maplin in the UK have some that would do if they supply to Portugal. If you want to try them, the component worth trying is - Mains Transformer N65JB. The transformer will have four leads, two intended to connect to the mains and two for the output. To use it with the speaker the output leads (that may be thicker) are connected to the phone lead and the mains leads are connected to the speaker. I have not tried this myself but other people have said that although it is not as good as the proper transformer, it works and is a lot easier than trying to find a valve output transformer. Regards

22nd Jan 2014, 7:11 pm	#22
RadioBlues Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Maia, Portugal Posts: 15	Re: S G Brown H1 horn loudspeaker. I bring news! After a long long time, I've been slowly restoring the brown horn loudspeaker and it's almost finished! I also made it compatible with normal mp3/mp4 devices so that you can just plug it in and play a vintage-like music. I have just one question for maybe the ones that also restored such piece or others who might know: What kindof paint do I need to paint the "BROWN" simbol that's on the horn? (as you can see on the first pictures I posted before). Regards Pedro

22nd Jan 2014, 8:34 pm	#23
Mr Moose Octode Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 1,043	Re: S G Brown H1 horn loudspeaker. Hello, The "Brown" symbol is silver if the horn is black like yours. (If the horn is brown then the symbol is gold) I think they were actually transfers (decals) but paint would be ok. Yours, Richard

22nd Jan 2014, 11:27 pm	#24
RadioBlues Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Maia, Portugal Posts: 15	Re: S G Brown H1 horn loudspeaker. Greetings Well, I painted mine Black, but apparently the symbol was gold, so maybe it was brown...(although it looked like it was black) should I paint mine golden or silver in your opinion? (it looks good in golden though haha) And actually what I was asking was what kind of paint. Any would do? Regards, Pedro

23rd Jan 2014, 3:30 pm	#25
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Re: S G Brown H1 horn loudspeaker. When it comes to colours I use what I like, it is mine afterall. https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=65905

26th Jan 2014, 1:36 am	#26
RadioBlues Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Maia, Portugal Posts: 15	Re: S G Brown H1 horn loudspeaker. another question, is it possible to increase the volume using an amplifier togethere with the transformer?

26th Jan 2014, 1:57 am	#27
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,878	Re: S G Brown H1 horn loudspeaker. Hi Pedro Most horn speakers have an adjustment to keep the "reed" off of the permanent magnet but close to it. If the reed is stuck to the magnet or too far from it it will be quiet. Horn speakers are very sensitive. I am not familiar with the H1 but would suspect the adjustment is behind the horn from the pictures you have posted. Its also possible that the magnets have become weak. If this is the case a little Neodymium magnet may restore the performance. These Horn speakers will always be nasal and tinny but such was audio in the 1920.s but quiet they should not be! Cheers Mike T __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk

26th Jan 2014, 11:18 am	#28
RadioBlues Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Maia, Portugal Posts: 15	Re: S G Brown H1 horn loudspeaker. Hi Mike, Well, I ajusted the reed to make the sound loudest, but still, I believe it could be better. I suspect, as you said, that it might be because of the magnet. Any advice on how to add the neodyium magnet? do I just "drop it in"? Best Regards, Pedro

26th Jan 2014, 12:17 pm	#29
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,878	Re: S G Brown H1 horn loudspeaker. Hi Pedro You can usually get away with just attaching it to the existing Magnet or pole piece you may need to experiment a little. Make sure that the existing magnets are correctly assembled if there is more than one. I bought an Amplion that had been restored and found that the magnets had been put in NS SN, instead of NS, NS thus reducing the flux in the area of the diaphragm to zero! and it was sold as working but it was an easy fix. Cheers Mike T __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk

26th Jan 2014, 12:47 pm	#30
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Re: S G Brown H1 horn loudspeaker. Try this... https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=65735

26th Jan 2014, 1:13 pm	#31
RadioBlues Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Maia, Portugal Posts: 15	Re: S G Brown H1 horn loudspeaker. Thank you Mike and Merlin, I'll get right to it and as soon as I have some results I'll post the update. Best regards, Pedro