Bush AC41 (1954) - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

mark pirate · 30th Nov 2008, 5:18 pm

Hi all, this is the first of two sets I picked up for £7! both looked very sorry for themselves. I started on this one as I love bush sets

.

Internally, this set has been untouched from new, and retains all it's original valves (the date on the electrolytic is May '54).

The mains lead had been cut off so I removed the chassis and replaced this. After a few checks, I powered it up slowly via my Variac and up it came very lively with plenty of volume.

After a couple of minutes, however, suddenly it lost audio. After checking with a meter it had lost HT due to the failure of the 1.5k smoothing resistor. After replacing this, I also replaced the 50uF decoupler cap and a couple of waxies that had seen better days.

Next I gave the chassis a good clean and removed the tuning scale backplate and cleaned fifty-four years of dust out, followed by a polish with T-cut.

I had to replace both dial lamps, then reassembled the set. On powering it up it was performing perfectly, so I turned my attention to the cabinet.

The cabinet had suffered a few scratches and was grubby. After my success using T-cut on my little Pye console set, I gave this set the same treatment, it certainly works!

The cabinet, although not perfect, has come up very well indeed. I cleaned the knobs up with washing up liquid and a toothbrush, and the tuning scale with 'Windowlene'. The speaker cloth is in very good condition so needed no attention.

I am generally well pleased with this set, it performs well and has
a lovely warm tone. It uses the same circuit (and chassis) as the earlier AC31, but in my opinion is a nicer looking set.

Mark

newlite4 · 1st Dec 2008, 3:25 pm

Nice job Mark. That chassis is so clean and shiny, it is positively glowing

. The cabinet looks good too, especially nice to have the transfer label intact on top.
Neil

Tazman1966 · 1st Dec 2008, 9:20 pm

Hi Mark.

That really is a nice looking set and a nice write up too

.

When Sara and I went for a long weekend to Jersey in September, there was one of these sets in the cafe at the "Jersey War Tunnels", a fantastic exhibition of the occupation of the Channel Islands in WW2. I couldn't resist taking a couple of pictures of the radio. The pudding next to it wasn't real by the way

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I didn't ask if it still worked in case they just plugged it in

Regards,

Steve_P · 1st Dec 2008, 9:43 pm

It probably would actually. Good sets these and another one preserved for years to come.

Cheers,

Steve P.

richrussell · 3rd Dec 2008, 10:27 am

That cabinet's come up nicely. Reminds me that I ought to make an effort on the very poor condition DAC34 I picked up at a car boot sale for £4.

Apart from a dead output transformer and dodgy UL41 (almost certainly due to the failure of That Capacitor), the set works well and sounds excellent. Looks like the same chassis too (though with a UBC41 in the unused chassis hole).

I still need to make a back panel for it as well.

30th Nov 2008, 5:18 pm	#1
mark pirate Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK Posts: 5,185	Bush AC41 (1954) Hi all, this is the first of two sets I picked up for £7! both looked very sorry for themselves. I started on this one as I love bush sets . Internally, this set has been untouched from new, and retains all it's original valves (the date on the electrolytic is May '54). The mains lead had been cut off so I removed the chassis and replaced this. After a few checks, I powered it up slowly via my Variac and up it came very lively with plenty of volume. After a couple of minutes, however, suddenly it lost audio. After checking with a meter it had lost HT due to the failure of the 1.5k smoothing resistor. After replacing this, I also replaced the 50uF decoupler cap and a couple of waxies that had seen better days. Next I gave the chassis a good clean and removed the tuning scale backplate and cleaned fifty-four years of dust out, followed by a polish with T-cut. I had to replace both dial lamps, then reassembled the set. On powering it up it was performing perfectly, so I turned my attention to the cabinet. The cabinet had suffered a few scratches and was grubby. After my success using T-cut on my little Pye console set, I gave this set the same treatment, it certainly works! The cabinet, although not perfect, has come up very well indeed. I cleaned the knobs up with washing up liquid and a toothbrush, and the tuning scale with 'Windowlene'. The speaker cloth is in very good condition so needed no attention. I am generally well pleased with this set, it performs well and has a lovely warm tone. It uses the same circuit (and chassis) as the earlier AC31, but in my opinion is a nicer looking set. Mark Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Darren-UK; 1st Dec 2008 at 3:44 pm. Reason: FKB problem fixed.

1st Dec 2008, 3:25 pm	#2
newlite4 Octode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,805	Re: Bush AC41 (1954) Nice job Mark. That chassis is so clean and shiny, it is positively glowing . The cabinet looks good too, especially nice to have the transfer label intact on top. Neil __________________ preserving the recent past, for the distant future.

1st Dec 2008, 9:20 pm	#3
Tazman1966 Nonode Join Date: May 2006 Location: St Albans, Herts, UK. Posts: 2,193	Re: Bush AC41 (1954) Hi Mark. That really is a nice looking set and a nice write up too. When Sara and I went for a long weekend to Jersey in September, there was one of these sets in the cafe at the "Jersey War Tunnels", a fantastic exhibition of the occupation of the Channel Islands in WW2. I couldn't resist taking a couple of pictures of the radio. The pudding next to it wasn't real by the way I didn't ask if it still worked in case they just plugged it in Regards, __________________ All the very best, Tas

1st Dec 2008, 9:43 pm	#4
Steve_P Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6,644	Re: Bush AC41 (1954) It probably would actually. Good sets these and another one preserved for years to come. Cheers, Steve P. __________________ If we've always had it, why is the Car Boot open? You're not sneaking another Old TV in are you...?

3rd Dec 2008, 10:27 am	#5
richrussell Heptode Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Selby, North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 979	Re: Bush AC41 (1954) That cabinet's come up nicely. Reminds me that I ought to make an effort on the very poor condition DAC34 I picked up at a car boot sale for £4. Apart from a dead output transformer and dodgy UL41 (almost certainly due to the failure of That Capacitor), the set works well and sounds excellent. Looks like the same chassis too (though with a UBC41 in the unused chassis hole). I still need to make a back panel for it as well.