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Old 15th Nov 2019, 4:34 pm   #1
leslie5555
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Default Ace Record Player Valves

Upon opening up this player I found the valves had fallen out of their bases.
In the photo the red one looks like it may have been connected to a wire at the top, does any one know what this should be connected to?
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Old 15th Nov 2019, 5:10 pm   #2
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Default Re: Ace Record Player Valves

Yes it will have a loose wire in there that connects to the clip that is round the cap. If it is an EF37 / EF39, it is the Grid 1 (input grid), so has to be connected to something...
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Old 15th Nov 2019, 6:00 pm   #3
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Default Re: Ace Record Player Valves

They are rather earlier valves than the BSR UA14 record changer fitted.
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Old 15th Nov 2019, 6:21 pm   #4
Edward Huggins
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Default Re: Ace Record Player Valves

I'm finding it hard to comprehend how these valves could have ever been part of the 1960s ACE player in the photograph in the OP's original Post?
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Old 15th Nov 2019, 7:11 pm   #5
leslie5555
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Default Re: Ace Record Player Valves

I must admit I did google these valves and it came up with they are from around the 1940s so I was surprised to find them in this player.
Maybe this player has been modified at some point.
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Old 15th Nov 2019, 7:16 pm   #6
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Default Re: Ace Record Player Valves

It would be interesting to see the valve bases, any chance of a picture or two?
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Old 15th Nov 2019, 8:19 pm   #7
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Default Re: Ace Record Player Valves

I would guess that someone has pinched the original valves to sell on and just slung a couple of old random radio valves inside the case to pretend it's complete, a proper picture (or two) of the innards and outside of the unit will confirm.
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Old 15th Nov 2019, 8:48 pm   #8
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Default Re: Ace Record Player Valves

here some pcs of the amp
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Old 15th Nov 2019, 9:09 pm   #9
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Default Re: Ace Record Player Valves

Well, they do look like octal sockets and I can see a random wire which 'might' have gone to a top cap.

Can you confirm that those valves actually fit those sockets?

Edit: If the other valve is a 6V6(G) then they could be original, but very unusual in something of this apparent age and type.
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Old 15th Nov 2019, 9:53 pm   #10
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Default Re: Ace Record Player Valves

The red valve (EF37?) appears to still have the top-cap clip attached, but its wire is broken away.
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Old 15th Nov 2019, 9:58 pm   #11
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Default Re: Ace Record Player Valves

Quote:
Originally Posted by G6Tanuki View Post
The red valve (EF37?) appears to still have the top-cap clip attached, but its wire is broken away.
Yes exactly
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Old 15th Nov 2019, 10:00 pm   #12
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Default Re: Ace Record Player Valves

Quote:
Originally Posted by Techman View Post
Well, they do look like octal sockets and I can see a random wire which 'might' have gone to a top cap.

Can you confirm that those valves actually fit those sockets?

Edit: If the other valve is a 6V6(G) then they could be original, but very unusual in something of this apparent age and type.
I will attempt to refit the valves tomorrow morning
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Old 15th Nov 2019, 10:06 pm   #13
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Default Re: Ace Record Player Valves

It does appear to be quite a rare machine, I have looked on the tinternet and come up with nothing.
I have had it so long I can't remember when or where I obtained it from
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Old 15th Nov 2019, 10:09 pm   #14
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Default Re: Ace Record Player Valves

The other valve looks like an EL33. It does seem odd to use these valves in such a late machine. Perhaps the manufacturer came across a quantity of them very cheaply, or the player has been modified or retro fitted with the amp
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Old 15th Nov 2019, 10:12 pm   #15
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Default Re: Ace Record Player Valves

If it turns out that they are the correct valves, then a quick re-connection of the top cap wire and replacement of "that capacitor" and you might have a good working unit.
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Old 15th Nov 2019, 11:49 pm   #16
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Default Re: Ace Record Player Valves

Very weird to have a 1950s/60's selenium rectifier with those valves!
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Old 16th Nov 2019, 12:03 pm   #17
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Default Re: Ace Record Player Valves

The amplifier looks like a bitsa to me, check to see if it's a live chassis job, the Radio Spares capacitor looks to be an original fit.

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Old 16th Nov 2019, 12:37 pm   #18
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Default Re: Ace Record Player Valves

I don't think it's 'live chassis', but nothing should be taken for granted at this stage.

There's clearly a mains transformer.

The twisted yellow wires go from the on/off switch directly to it.

The only other wires that can be seen going from this side of the switch are the twisted red and black wires that would seem to feed the record deck.

The mains comes into the switch via the cotton covered rubber three core mains lead.

The amplifier would seem to be original, although very unusual and as said, the selenium rectifier is a little unusual with this type of valve setup.

The rectifier could be duff, but a good engineer will measure the HT voltage as one of the first tests on powering up. Due to this rectifier possibly plonking full HT on the smoothing can on switch on (if it's still good, that is), I would recommend careful powering up via a Variac or lamp limiter in this particular case, while monitoring the HT voltage at the smoothing can.
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Old 16th Nov 2019, 1:31 pm   #19
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Default Re: Ace Record Player Valves

It is an unusual set up. I have refitted the valves and connected the stray wire to the top of the red valve.
I was going to power it up using my lamp limiter but I put my digital multimeter across the live and neutral pins on the round pin plug that is fitted and upon switching on I'm not getting any resistance reading whatsoever, the plug is not fused, so a bit more investigation in needed.
Another odd thing is that of the three knobs the first two from the left both have a "click" like an on/off switch.
Anyway I am going to remove the amp to carry out more checks I may post some more photos once I have removed it.
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Old 16th Nov 2019, 1:38 pm   #20
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Default Re: Ace Record Player Valves

The on/off switch is probably open circuit - a very common problem which I come across all the time - check it out. If it's O/C, then just bypass it for the time being.

The other pot on your amp has an on/off switch which is not being used, so indicates that this pot has been replaced at some time, or that the amplifier is in fact made up from random parts after all.
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