Clock Radio with dead radio.

[crusher19860138]

I have come by an old Elf Tone Embassy flip clock radio, I am guessing from the late 70's/early 80's? The clock works fine, but the radio is dead. Turning the volume control to OFF causes a loud buzzing from the speaker, but there is no radio reception. I have placed another radio nearby and it appears the local oscillator is working.

I cannot find a schematic for this unit ,it looks like a cheap model from the time ,but would like to get the radio going as they are very thin on the ground nowadays, can anyone help please?

[usradcoll1]

The radio might be older that time frame. The flip clocks came out in the late 60's to early 70's. The clock movement is possibly a Japanese "Copal".

If there's a switch, that selects Radio and Alarm, make sure it's working. It might be part of the clock assembly.

[Martin Bush]

I have one of these. I can't help to fix it, but I'd be interested in the answer as mine too makes a loud buzzing noise. It resides in a box in the shed.

It cost 50p I think and if nothing else, looks good.

[paulsherwin]

They were mostly early to mid 70s, when the LED ones took over. Just treat it as a faulty AM/FM radio. The first thing to do, as always, is to give all the switches a good going over with Servisol. After that, look for bulging electrolytics.

[crusher19860138]

The radio dial markings have R1 at 1053/1089, R2 at 693/909, R3 at 1215,and R4 on LW,so it's definately post 23 Nov 1978.

[crusher19860138]

There is a buzz when the volume tag is touched,so the audio stage is ok.

Iam considering re-capping, there are no bulging ones, but they well may be faulty given the age of the unit.

[sexton_mallard]

I remember having a clock radio in the early 80s with a VFD display in which a buzzer sounded when the volume was switched to what was seemingly an off position. The buzzer may actually be the alarm. I can't recall the make or model, 'Templar' comes to mind.

[hamid_1]

I came across an ELFtone Embassy clock radio in a car boot sale last year. Didn't buy it, but noticed it looked just like the Nentone one I've had for years. See http://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/a...6&d=1311205080

The Binatone Digivox also uses the same cabinet and clock mechanism, but has VHF/FM radio as well as MW/LW. My Nentone is MW/LW only, but still has a small hole in the case for the VHF wire aerial. I guess they were all produced at the same factory in Hong Kong, just after 1978 judging by the station markers. One oddity is that BBC Radio 4 is shown in the wrong position ~245KHz on Long Wave. They must have been the last flip clock radios made before LEDs took over. Perhaps they were using up old stock. (I've come across a later VFD electronic clock radio using almost the same cabinet. The rotary time set knobs were replaced by a dimmer control and buttons on top.)

It's correct, when the volume control is turned to what appears to be the OFF position, it activates the buzzer, in case you want to wake up to the buzzer instead of the radio.

I'm afraid I can't help with a circuit diagram. The only problem I had with the radio was solved by cleaning the wavechange switch. Might be worth a try.

[crusher19860138]

These were made quite cheaply in Hong Kong at the time,and i would not have probably bought one back then,preferring a better known make,but today i will accept any flip clock radio regardless of make as they are so very thin on the ground nowadays.

[crusher19860138]

I have found several dry joints on the PCB which i have re-flowed with solder,the radio is working nicely now,MW/LW reception quite good although the audio quality is nothing to write home about!

[crusher19860138]

I would love to post a picture up of it but don't know how to do it,can anyone help?

[julie_m]

There is a sticky thread in FA&C.

[crusher19860138]

Managed it!

[crusher19860138]

I suppose this thread can be closed now as the radio is working ok.