PYE AC4D restore help - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

thejazzageuk · 15th Jun 2022, 9:20 pm

I saw this rather nice Pye radio in an antique shop in Llangollen recently and decided to give it a new home.

As you see from the pics, its a bit tired and a few bits are missing. I'm trying to decide whether to just restore the cabinet to look nice, or whether to try to get it working again.

I'm leaning towards the former, in which case I guess I need to:

1) remove the chassis from the cabinet
2) sand the cabinet
3) re-varnish the cabinet (Spray lacquor?)
4) find suitable speaker cloth and fit
5) Try to locate missing knobs.

Has anyone here restored this or similar cabinet before? Any advice/ comments gratefull recieved. I would love to know who owned this throughout its life...

Ed_Dinning · 16th Jun 2022, 8:34 pm

Hi, I've done Pye G, & S sets, of a similar style and age before, well worth the effort.
Main thing to watch out for is the ganged cap, typically made of monkey metal and quite fragile.
Built a bit like a meccano set complete with chain drive

Ed

thejazzageuk · 22nd Jun 2022, 5:27 pm

Thank you Ed_Dinning
Did you do a cosmetic refurb and get them working?
Not quite sure what you mean by the ganged cap- is it visible on my photo?

I've now removed the chassis and started to sand the case. I plan to do this very lightly then spray with clear laquour. If anyone has advice for this process please let me know.

I've also ordered some new grill fabric from the US- see photo.

Still not sure whether to attempt to get it functioning- the chassis does not seem too bad so it may be possible. There are 3 valves missing, an MH4 and 2 off S4VB valves. I've oredered an MH4, but the S4VB valves seem very expensive- is there an alternative?

Ed_Dinning · 22nd Jun 2022, 9:17 pm

Hi , yes a friend did the cabinets and I did the elec tronics, for one of then I had to make a ply back.
I think mine were a fairly light colour, so your scheme should work OK

From memory the ganged cap or tuning cap was inside a box and had a chain drive from the tuning knob. Not directly visible on your photo.

There should be some near equivalents to the S4VB. Try searching the forum with that number

Ed

thejazzageuk · 6th Aug 2022, 3:18 pm

Thanks.
I have now sanded and restored the cabinet, and fitted the new speaker grill cloth. Here is how it looks so far.
Next step I'm thinking of getting it back to working order, likely to be a long project though. I will try to keep posting photos as I go along.

Silicon · 6th Aug 2022, 9:06 pm

The back view of that set looks interesting.

Have you considered making the back from toughened glass or clear acrylic?

Some ventilation holes would be needed.

Gridiron · 6th Aug 2022, 11:00 pm

I repaired the set I have some time ago (AC4D also called the Twintriple ), can't remember all the details now, but it was not designed with servicing in mind as with other sets of this period (1930), everything in different compartments with covers held on with lots of screws. I remember some of the high value wirewound resistors being o/c. The tuning condensers are not chain driven in this set, being mounted horizontally at the front top of the set, not visible in the photos (in front of the screening).
Mike.

15th Jun 2022, 9:20 pm	#1
thejazzageuk Pentode Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Carmarthen, Wales, UK. Posts: 238	PYE AC4D restore help I saw this rather nice Pye radio in an antique shop in Llangollen recently and decided to give it a new home. As you see from the pics, its a bit tired and a few bits are missing. I'm trying to decide whether to just restore the cabinet to look nice, or whether to try to get it working again. I'm leaning towards the former, in which case I guess I need to: 1) remove the chassis from the cabinet 2) sand the cabinet 3) re-varnish the cabinet (Spray lacquor?) 4) find suitable speaker cloth and fit 5) Try to locate missing knobs. Has anyone here restored this or similar cabinet before? Any advice/ comments gratefull recieved. I would love to know who owned this throughout its life... Attached Thumbnails

16th Jun 2022, 8:34 pm	#2
Ed_Dinning Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK. Posts: 8,194	Re: PYE AC4D restore help Hi, I've done Pye G, & S sets, of a similar style and age before, well worth the effort. Main thing to watch out for is the ganged cap, typically made of monkey metal and quite fragile. Built a bit like a meccano set complete with chain drive Ed

22nd Jun 2022, 5:27 pm	#3
thejazzageuk Pentode Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Carmarthen, Wales, UK. Posts: 238	Re: PYE AC4D restore help Thank you Ed_Dinning Did you do a cosmetic refurb and get them working? Not quite sure what you mean by the ganged cap- is it visible on my photo? I've now removed the chassis and started to sand the case. I plan to do this very lightly then spray with clear laquour. If anyone has advice for this process please let me know. I've also ordered some new grill fabric from the US- see photo. Still not sure whether to attempt to get it functioning- the chassis does not seem too bad so it may be possible. There are 3 valves missing, an MH4 and 2 off S4VB valves. I've oredered an MH4, but the S4VB valves seem very expensive- is there an alternative? Attached Thumbnails

22nd Jun 2022, 9:17 pm	#4
Ed_Dinning Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK. Posts: 8,194	Re: PYE AC4D restore help Hi , yes a friend did the cabinets and I did the elec tronics, for one of then I had to make a ply back. I think mine were a fairly light colour, so your scheme should work OK From memory the ganged cap or tuning cap was inside a box and had a chain drive from the tuning knob. Not directly visible on your photo. There should be some near equivalents to the S4VB. Try searching the forum with that number Ed

6th Aug 2022, 3:18 pm	#5
thejazzageuk Pentode Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Carmarthen, Wales, UK. Posts: 238	Re: PYE AC4D restore help Thanks. I have now sanded and restored the cabinet, and fitted the new speaker grill cloth. Here is how it looks so far. Next step I'm thinking of getting it back to working order, likely to be a long project though. I will try to keep posting photos as I go along. Attached Thumbnails

6th Aug 2022, 9:06 pm	#6
Silicon Nonode Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Coulsdon, London, UK. Posts: 2,162	Re: PYE AC4D restore help The back view of that set looks interesting. Have you considered making the back from toughened glass or clear acrylic? Some ventilation holes would be needed.

6th Aug 2022, 11:00 pm	#7
Gridiron Heptode Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: West Midlands, UK. Posts: 662	Re: PYE AC4D restore help I repaired the set I have some time ago (AC4D also called the Twintriple ), can't remember all the details now, but it was not designed with servicing in mind as with other sets of this period (1930), everything in different compartments with covers held on with lots of screws. I remember some of the high value wirewound resistors being o/c. The tuning condensers are not chain driven in this set, being mounted horizontally at the front top of the set, not visible in the photos (in front of the screening). Mike.