Builders' rubbish. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Heatercathodeshort · 15th Sep 2012, 1:14 pm

A mate recently rescued a number of radio receivers from the back of a builders pick up truck. He was clearing the house prior to work and discovered them in the building. It was just by chance that he was attending a service call next door and spied them! He asked the builder if he could have them and was informed that five minutes later they would have been on their way to the tip.

They say that if you wait long enough, what your looking for will turn up. I have amassed quite a collection over the years but do not have a BUSH DAC90. I have looked around for a while now as I have the DAC90A and many of it's variants but not the humble DAC 90.

Well I have one now and a super example it is too. A cream/white version with no cracks and a very nice back. It has an ECH35 fitted in place of the .2amp CCH35 but I don't expect the performance can have been much reduced as it appears to have been in place for many years. The DAC90 as good as it is, appears to be quite lethal with the tags of the mains dropper so close to the holes in the card back especially as the heat has made a small hole in the worst position possible. Thank goodness most of these are in the hands of responsible collectors! They are definitely not safe in the hands of the general public today.

The Roberts R66 is a cracker only missing a knob. I expect it fell off when being 'loaded' into the truck!
The Dutch Philips Philetta includes VHF! 127 or 220v only but very neat.
The battered VHF 90A has a crack along the base but they seem to suffer from cabinet damage. I have one with the complete top missing.
There is also a very small RGD FM only model and a couple I have not yet been able to investigate.

Keep looking in those builders skips but make sure you obtain permission from whoever's responsible for the skip.

Regards, John.

ekcobeach · 15th Sep 2012, 2:26 pm

Nice finds John. Couldn't happen to a nicer chap. Colin.

Peter.N. · 15th Sep 2012, 2:32 pm

That's the way to do it.

Peter

Nickthedentist · 15th Sep 2012, 5:01 pm

All classics. Thank goodness they didn't get damaged en route!

Well done for saving them.

Nick.

G8VAT Wolfman · 15th Sep 2012, 6:00 pm

What a lucky break, all look in decent condition too, sounds, sorry looks like the previous owner was a bit of a collector too.

Well done that man..

Heatercathodeshort · 16th Sep 2012, 12:28 pm

I did wonder that Graham. There were probably a lot more as other guys had been working in the house before this chap. The same old story I'm afraid but at least a few have been saved. Regards, John.

Hunts smoothing bomb · 16th Sep 2012, 8:09 pm

Well done John, a few more saved!
I quite like the styling of the Philetta, looks very neat

Cheers

kalee20 · 16th Sep 2012, 10:44 pm

Well done - yes I share your opinions on the DAC90 though rumour has it that it performs slightly better than the DAC90a despite getting stinking hot. As I have one on the to-do pile, some day I'll find out.

The Philetta is another set that gets stinking hot, in its rather small cabinet. And it too is a fairly high-spec radio - yes, VHF as well as LW / MW and SW; two independent tuning drives; gram pick-up input. I have one that I used in my student days, and a good companion it was too. Cross your fingers it does not need much attention - components are stacked several deep under the chassis.

Congratulations on the find! Hope your mate gave the builder a tip for a few drinks!

Heatercathodeshort · 17th Sep 2012, 8:55 am

Just a quick update. Roberts R66 to my surprise performed 100% on switch on. Philetta is dead. DAC90 hums like fury due to O/C smoothing. VHF90A lights up but no H.T. They all look completely untouched so should be nice toys to play with during the dark evenings. A quick shot of the Philips with the back removed and its general appearance.
Yes Kalee, it certainly is tight packed. I don't think I have ever seen so many components in such a small radio. It appears to be original and I think this is the first time the back has been removed. I really don't want to disturb this one but will investigate and maybe open a new thread in the months ahead. Regards, John. P.S. The builder was sorted. He is still working at the same location.

15th Sep 2012, 1:14 pm	#1
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Builders' rubbish. A mate recently rescued a number of radio receivers from the back of a builders pick up truck. He was clearing the house prior to work and discovered them in the building. It was just by chance that he was attending a service call next door and spied them! He asked the builder if he could have them and was informed that five minutes later they would have been on their way to the tip. They say that if you wait long enough, what your looking for will turn up. I have amassed quite a collection over the years but do not have a BUSH DAC90. I have looked around for a while now as I have the DAC90A and many of it's variants but not the humble DAC 90. Well I have one now and a super example it is too. A cream/white version with no cracks and a very nice back. It has an ECH35 fitted in place of the .2amp CCH35 but I don't expect the performance can have been much reduced as it appears to have been in place for many years. The DAC90 as good as it is, appears to be quite lethal with the tags of the mains dropper so close to the holes in the card back especially as the heat has made a small hole in the worst position possible. Thank goodness most of these are in the hands of responsible collectors! They are definitely not safe in the hands of the general public today. The Roberts R66 is a cracker only missing a knob. I expect it fell off when being 'loaded' into the truck! The Dutch Philips Philetta includes VHF! 127 or 220v only but very neat. The battered VHF 90A has a crack along the base but they seem to suffer from cabinet damage. I have one with the complete top missing. There is also a very small RGD FM only model and a couple I have not yet been able to investigate. Keep looking in those builders skips but make sure you obtain permission from whoever's responsible for the skip. Regards, John. Attached Thumbnails

15th Sep 2012, 2:26 pm	#2
ekcobeach Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wilmington, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 230	Re: Builders rubbish. Nice finds John. Couldn't happen to a nicer chap. Colin.

15th Sep 2012, 2:32 pm	#3
Peter.N. Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Charmouth, Dorset, UK. Posts: 3,601	Re: Builders rubbish. That's the way to do it. Peter

15th Sep 2012, 5:01 pm	#4
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,864	Re: Builders' rubbish. All classics. Thank goodness they didn't get damaged en route! Well done for saving them. Nick.

15th Sep 2012, 6:00 pm	#5
G8VAT Wolfman Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 293	Re: Builders' rubbish. What a lucky break, all look in decent condition too, sounds, sorry looks like the previous owner was a bit of a collector too. Well done that man..

16th Sep 2012, 12:28 pm	#6
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: Builders' rubbish. I did wonder that Graham. There were probably a lot more as other guys had been working in the house before this chap. The same old story I'm afraid but at least a few have been saved. Regards, John.

16th Sep 2012, 8:09 pm	#7
Hunts smoothing bomb Octode Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wimborne, Dorset, UK. Posts: 1,407	Re: Builders' rubbish. Well done John, a few more saved! I quite like the styling of the Philetta, looks very neat Cheers __________________ Lee

16th Sep 2012, 10:44 pm	#8
kalee20 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lynton, N. Devon, UK. Posts: 7,088	Re: Builders' rubbish. Well done - yes I share your opinions on the DAC90 though rumour has it that it performs slightly better than the DAC90a despite getting stinking hot. As I have one on the to-do pile, some day I'll find out. The Philetta is another set that gets stinking hot, in its rather small cabinet. And it too is a fairly high-spec radio - yes, VHF as well as LW / MW and SW; two independent tuning drives; gram pick-up input. I have one that I used in my student days, and a good companion it was too. Cross your fingers it does not need much attention - components are stacked several deep under the chassis. Congratulations on the find! Hope your mate gave the builder a tip for a few drinks!

17th Sep 2012, 8:55 am	#9
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: Builders' rubbish. Just a quick update. Roberts R66 to my surprise performed 100% on switch on. Philetta is dead. DAC90 hums like fury due to O/C smoothing. VHF90A lights up but no H.T. They all look completely untouched so should be nice toys to play with during the dark evenings. A quick shot of the Philips with the back removed and its general appearance. Yes Kalee, it certainly is tight packed. I don't think I have ever seen so many components in such a small radio. It appears to be original and I think this is the first time the back has been removed. I really don't want to disturb this one but will investigate and maybe open a new thread in the months ahead. Regards, John. P.S. The builder was sorted. He is still working at the same location. Attached Thumbnails