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Success Stories If you have successfully repaired or restored a piece of equipment, why not write up what you did and post details here. Particularly if it was interesting, unusual or challenging. PLEASE DO NOT POST REQUESTS FOR HELP HERE! |
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2nd Jul 2019, 6:11 pm | #1 |
Heptode
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Croxley Green, Hertfordshire, UK.
Posts: 979
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Bush SAC 31 (1936) Almost lost forever.
This set was destine for the skip, on the off-chance the owner called around my place on the way to see if I wanted it for spares.
The set had been in his loft for countless decades and looked in appalling condition, I couldn't say no, I felt sorry for it......so it found a new home. This was about 15 years ago, at that time I was quite content in doing up the cabinets and having old radios that didn't work but just nice to look at because I hadn't got a clue how to fix them. The case was completely stripped and some of the missing veneer replaced it came up very nicely. It then sat in the corner silently until (fast forward) a few days ago when I thought I'd have ago at breathing life into it again. I must admit when I had a look inside I'd forgotten how rough it looked, the chassis quite rusty and a lot of crumbling insulation on the wires. I replaced the worst ones (going up to the speaker) and put on a new mains lead. What completely surprised me with this set is there are absolutely no wax capacitors, this is a new one on me! Just a wax box with 2 electrolytic caps inside (8+8) and a tubular paper 25uf. I decided to replace the box but left the paper one as it looked in good condition. The variable capacitor was all lose, I manged to secure that and replace the broken tuning cord, luckily that was a simple affair. The speaker needed some attention but again all went well. I powered it up and it actually worked, and not sounding too bad either, I think it must be a fairly cheap set for the day, the quality of construction and sound certainly don't match Murphy sets of the same period. But I like the set, I've been gradually breaking it in, had it on for half an hour today with no problems.
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Clive |
2nd Jul 2019, 7:16 pm | #2 |
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Congleton, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 609
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Re: Bush SAC 31 (1936) Almost lost forever.
That's a really nice looking set, I like the speaker aperture more than the one on my SAC35. The internals look similar, so I have to wonder isn't the block on the right of the last photo a bank of PIO caps? I had thought so with my set & they appeared to have spewed everywhere too.
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3rd Jul 2019, 7:12 am | #3 |
Heptode
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Croxley Green, Hertfordshire, UK.
Posts: 979
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Re: Bush SAC 31 (1936) Almost lost forever.
So that's were they are! What are PIO caps and should I replace them?
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Clive |
3rd Jul 2019, 10:33 am | #4 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK.
Posts: 2,820
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Re: Bush SAC 31 (1936) Almost lost forever.
Just a guess, PIO = Paper In Oil?
Lovely looking set, the underside of the chassis reminds me of the Ekco RS3 I restored last year, that had 3 large cans underneath, containing various coils. Regards Lloyd |
3rd Jul 2019, 11:33 am | #5 |
Heptode
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Croxley Green, Hertfordshire, UK.
Posts: 979
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Re: Bush SAC 31 (1936) Almost lost forever.
Thanks for that, I think you're right, I was wondering why that area was slightly oily. I guess they are still functioning ok as the set is still performing well.....at least at the moment!
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Clive |
3rd Jul 2019, 12:18 pm | #6 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK.
Posts: 8,935
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Re: Bush SAC 31 (1936) Almost lost forever.
Great job and those caps certainly will not get any moisture in them.
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G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S |
3rd Jul 2019, 6:28 pm | #7 |
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Congleton, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 609
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Re: Bush SAC 31 (1936) Almost lost forever.
Yes paper in oil, I haven't looked that closely at what their functions are but if they're working OK for you & don't have any coupling function I'll be tempted to keep mine in-situ as well. I was thinking of restuffing them but perhaps they've stood the test of time after all?
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3rd Jul 2019, 9:17 pm | #8 | |
Guest
Posts: n/a
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Re: Bush SAC 31 (1936) Almost lost forever.
I do like the angled tuning scale, very Murphy.
Quote:
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5th Jul 2019, 4:31 pm | #9 |
Pentode
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Mission Viejo, California, USA
Posts: 144
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Re: Bush SAC 31 (1936) Almost lost forever.
Interesting. My Bush SAC21 seems to have the same chassis.
That 25MFD at 25VDC cathode capacitor for the audio output is surely leaky. |
5th Jul 2019, 5:32 pm | #10 | |
Heptode
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Croxley Green, Hertfordshire, UK.
Posts: 979
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Re: Bush SAC 31 (1936) Almost lost forever.
Quote:
BTW I've just looked up a SAC21, it looks like the same radio but in a diferent cabinet, I wonder why they did that!
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Clive |
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6th Jul 2019, 9:53 pm | #11 |
Pentode
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Mission Viejo, California, USA
Posts: 144
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Re: Bush SAC 31 (1936) Almost lost forever.
Both cabinet designs are attractive / handsome / good-looking. Perhaps to appeal to different tastes, to hedge their bet on which would sell better, or to obtain cabients from two different suppliers?
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22nd Jul 2019, 12:48 pm | #12 |
Heptode
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Croxley Green, Hertfordshire, UK.
Posts: 979
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Re: Bush SAC 31 (1936) Almost lost forever.
I checked the said capacitor and it had indeed failed, so it's been replaced, I cant say the radio performs any better but my mind is put to rest, thanks.
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Clive |