Acorn valveholders wanted

[jimscoper]

After 2 acorn valveholders for 5+2 pin valves. Specifically the 954 type.

Any state considered. Have worked out how to make them, but its a bit of a faff.

[Bazz4CQJ]

Trying to be helpful, do you know that the originals have a bit of a reputation for being hard to work with? There was a significant mortality rate getting valves in or out of them.

The pins are made of an alloys that will take tin-lead solder quite happily; I practiced on some 954's that were already bust. I have one project on my "to do" list with a 954, and that will not make use of a holder!

B

[Ed_Dinning]

Some of the smaller crimp sockets are a neat fit on these pins, If soldered (no crimpers needed) and sleeved the are a neat fit onto the valve pins without any thermal or mechanical stress. The valve can be supported in a large rubber grommet

Ed

[Bazz4CQJ]

Originally Posted by Ed_Dinning

Some of the smaller crimp sockets are a neat fit on these pins, If soldered (no crimpers needed) and sleeved the are a neat fit onto the valve pins without any thermal or mechanical stress. The valve can be supported in a large rubber grommet

Ed

But to get the flexibilty to use sockets, don't you need some minimum length of flexible wire to allow connection, and that's a problem if you want to take advantage of using Acorns at VHF/UHF?

I'm thinking about placing the Acorn in a hole on a PCB such that its pins are just above the board and connecting them by wires of ~5mm through the board.

Very interesting valves!

B

[jimscoper]

Thanks all. Using crimpers or some sort of tubular connector seems a good idea. I have tried with a ring of paxolin and clips made from opposite springs from a 0.15" edge connector. That seems to work OK - but a bit of a faf.

[DerekG0VDV]

Good morning
If you still want Acorn valve holders.I have a pair of Bulgin British " micro loss" unused you can have for £5. I am interested to know wat your project is.
Derek G0VDV

[jimscoper]

Hi Derek,
I would be interested in those. Send a PM with the Ts&Cs.

The project is a Jason-type FM tuner using the acorns in the front end and some wire ended EF91 types I picked up. And home-wound IF transformers. I have some proper EF91s for the audio amplifier.

Slight concern that the acorns/EF91 might be a bit marginal on gain - but a cheap MMIC pre-amp might solve that.

Rgrds

[Diabolical Artificer]

I've used chopped up choc block connectors for powering odd valves.

Andy.

[Bazz4CQJ]

It would be good if someone could post a picture of the British Acorn bases; are they significantly different from the more common US ones?

B

[Rileyman]

I'm not sure how I came by my Acorns and their holders , but I do remember using them in the 1950s . Identity unknown but reading clockwise from the heater pins the hard-to-see legends are :-

CFK 49376 F

Hope this helps .

Laurie .

P.S. They may (just possibly) have come from Mr. Field's emporium in Nantwich .

[Bazz4CQJ]

Thanks for that picture Laurie. I think the CFK ones are the American ones I've seen pictures of before. I wonder if the Bulgin ones are the same or different?

B

[Radio1950]

Consider using individual socket pins from a 7 or 9 pin valve socket.
Hold the 954 body in some form of grommet or similar.
Have used this method in making a GDO in the late 1950s.
It is very gentle on the glass to pin area.

[David G4EBT]

One in stock at Mullard Magic:

https://mullard.org/collections/comp...6-acorn-valves

Neat homebrew Acorn Valveholder by forum member Bob, 'Variometer', (a retired Ships' Radio Officer), sadly not active on the forum for more than three years now:

https://vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?t=29222

Acorn TRF by the same member with a coil inside and upturned Humbrol modelling paint tin:

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?p=187084

The 'Acorn 1' receiver finished:

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...079#post187079

A couple of other items that might interest - the first from a BVWS Bulletin:

Page 8 – ‘A Boyhood Ambition’ – RCS Kit repro:

https://www.bvws.org.uk/publications...letin_28_1.pdf

RCS Kit:

http://vintageradio.me.uk/kits/rcsport.htm

There - lots of lockdown fun to be going on with!

[Bazz4CQJ]

This is my GDO project which is under construction. The Acorn will be the last thing to be connected, and the picture shows a defunct one in place just for illustration. The aim was to keep the (soldered) connections fairly short.

B

[jimscoper]

Thanks all. I am going with Derek's kind offer. Will find out whether Bulgin fits.....

I got an acorn based kit shortwave set way back. Worked pretty well. will see if my new finds still operate.

Like the GDO very much.