Identification of Ekco Item Required - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

davidbi · 17th Jan 2023, 2:34 pm

Can anyone please identify the item pictured in attachments.
Thanks

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Nickthedentist · 17th Jan 2023, 3:32 pm

I've got no idea what it is! But it looks like the plug might fit this, or similar:

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/ekco_sound_vs101.html

Station X · 17th Jan 2023, 3:37 pm

Echo sounder transducer?

ms660 · 17th Jan 2023, 3:43 pm

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=186301

Lawrence.

Nickthedentist · 17th Jan 2023, 3:47 pm

Well done Lawrence (again!).

Radiomuseum's listing which I posted is rather confusing, and implies that the brand is Ekco and the model range is Sound, which is not really the case (as far as I understand it).

wd40addict · 18th Jan 2023, 1:40 pm

The Victor was unusual among its peers due to the sound scanning method employed: Instead of being scanned on a drum / flywheel (which was someone's patent) the film was just drawn over a sound gate with stabilisation before and after. In reality this probably gave worse wow & flutter than competitors, but meant the optical soundhead could be removed.

Originally this was probably just a maintenance feature, but it came in very handy when magnetic sound appeared in the early 50s as it allowed for easy substitution with the unit pictured above. Ekco seem to have taken on the distribution of the Victor for a while and obviously provided the electronic know-how for the recording apparatus.

The disadvantage is you can have optical or magnetic sound, but not both at the same time. When the first purpose built machines appeared such as the Bell & Howell 202 (USA) and its UK cousin the 630 they could handle both simultaneously.

davidbi · 20th Jan 2023, 11:28 pm

Thank you for replies, it has solved a problem.
Thread can now be closed.

17th Jan 2023, 2:34 pm	#1
davidbi Tetrode Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Norfolk, UK. Posts: 71	Identification of Ekco Item Required Can anyone please identify the item pictured in attachments. Thanks

17th Jan 2023, 3:32 pm	#2
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,837	Re: Identification of Ekco Item Required I've got no idea what it is! But it looks like the plug might fit this, or similar: https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/ekco_sound_vs101.html

17th Jan 2023, 3:37 pm	#3
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,286	Re: Identification of Ekco Item Required Echo sounder transducer? __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

17th Jan 2023, 3:43 pm	#4
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Identification of Ekco Item Required https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=186301 Lawrence.

17th Jan 2023, 3:47 pm	#5
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,837	Re: Identification of Ekco Item Required Well done Lawrence (again!). Radiomuseum's listing which I posted is rather confusing, and implies that the brand is Ekco and the model range is Sound, which is not really the case (as far as I understand it).

18th Jan 2023, 1:40 pm	#6
wd40addict Octode Join Date: May 2009 Location: Stevenage, Herts. UK. Posts: 1,518	Re: Identification of Ekco Item Required The Victor was unusual among its peers due to the sound scanning method employed: Instead of being scanned on a drum / flywheel (which was someone's patent) the film was just drawn over a sound gate with stabilisation before and after. In reality this probably gave worse wow & flutter than competitors, but meant the optical soundhead could be removed. Originally this was probably just a maintenance feature, but it came in very handy when magnetic sound appeared in the early 50s as it allowed for easy substitution with the unit pictured above. Ekco seem to have taken on the distribution of the Victor for a while and obviously provided the electronic know-how for the recording apparatus. The disadvantage is you can have optical or magnetic sound, but not both at the same time. When the first purpose built machines appeared such as the Bell & Howell 202 (USA) and its UK cousin the 630 they could handle both simultaneously. Last edited by wd40addict; 18th Jan 2023 at 1:47 pm.

20th Jan 2023, 11:28 pm	#7
davidbi Tetrode Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Norfolk, UK. Posts: 71	Re: Identification of Ekco Item Required Thank you for replies, it has solved a problem. Thread can now be closed.