Armstrong 627 ? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

jh1975 · 15th Apr 2021, 8:34 pm

I've been meaning to do this for years - lockdown gave me the opportunity. I started on boxing day and finished just the other day ...

Starting point: Armstrong 624 + Eclipse CD101
End point: guts of Eclipse transplanted into Armstrong cabinet

A bit of a squash but it works. Quite a lot of the original cabinet metal removed and modified, not least the front panel. The Eclipse PCB upon which the LCD display is mounted had to be chopped into three pieces: the display bit which was retained of course, the IR sensor which was located in the lower part of the cabinet (the remote is the only means of operating this thing), and the main control switches which were just chopped off.

The on-off switch is operated by a push-button made from the original 'Armstrong' illumination. I used a white LED to illuminate the resultant on/off switch.

Why Eclipse? Just because I had one in the loft. But then I ended up having to buy another off Ebay because I static-zapped the main board with careless handling in the repeated offering-up in getting the mounting arrangement right, and also found (later) that I had a lazy laser in my original unit. The main board had to be mounted at an angle and also involved a little bit of chopping of the CD transport frame.

So I'm quite pleased with this. It was my father in the 70's used to hanker after an Armstrong625 ('the one with peppermints on the front' he used to say). In the end he got a Trio Receiver (also now in my loft), and I was the one who later got the 621 etc. I ended up getting my father a 626 in later years - which had pride of place on his teak sideboard. (Yes, I still have it in my loft...)

If anyone wants the old components/boards from the 624, let me know.

And maybe I'm looking for another 62x to make into a cassette deck....

Marc

Nickthedentist · 15th Apr 2021, 9:24 pm

Bonkers, but looks beautiful so well done!

Eclipse CD players were pretty horrid. I persuaded dad to buy one in about 1993 but it was embarrassingly poorly built and unreliable. Richer Sounds replaced it under warranty but I never forgave myself for recommending he buy it, so traded it in for a Technics 310 which was barely any more expensive but in a different league in terms of build quality and ergonomics.

Radio Wrangler · 15th Apr 2021, 9:32 pm

One day, that's going to confuse the living daylights out of someone...

David

Trevor · 17th Apr 2021, 10:48 pm

It confused me Armstrong 627 ?
looks brilliant what a shame Armstrong wound up this may have been a future product
I also like the idea if a cassette deck
!!00% well done
Trev

audiomagpie · 17th Apr 2021, 11:14 pm

Wow, that looks so original!

I doff my cap to you Sir!

stevehertz · 18th Apr 2021, 7:47 am

Pm sent re parts.

chriswood1900 · 18th Apr 2021, 8:10 am

Very impressive build and a neat upgrade, I presume the cassette would need to use a draw mechanism to keep the form factor, possibly from one of the late better quality midi systems.
If you we feeling really adventurous you could build a streaming unit based on a Pi to complete the update.

Beobloke · 19th Apr 2021, 1:04 pm

I'm not usually a fan of this sort of thing but that looks really superb - like it was meant to be!

Go on, do a cassette deck - you know you want to....

ajs37 · 21st Apr 2021, 10:03 am

I like it! Well done Marc!
I have always liked Armstrong products - I seem to have quite a few - 2, 4, 5 and 6 series tuners and amps which I have collected over the years - but I don't think I would be competent enough to attempt anything like that
Andy

stevehertz · 21st Apr 2021, 10:23 am

Was that new front panel custom made or 'derived' from another unit?

jh1975 · 21st Apr 2021, 7:01 pm

Some kind comments here - thanks all.

The front panel is just a hacked-about 624. See pic below. I started by enlarging the existing slot (ex tuning dial), and then used some of that metal to make a dividing piece. The joints lines were filled, the old switch holes etc were filled, and the whole thing sprayed with Toolstation's satin black spray. The front of the CD drawer was reprofiled (car filler again) to match the angle of the panel. It's not quite right - maybe I'll have another go at it.

In response to Nick - yes the Eclipse main board is pretty shoddily built. They got quite a good write up when they were sold. I considered a NAD 5420 donor but the board was too big.

If it packs up, I'll just sit and look at it - that's half the pleasure with these old things ...

15th Apr 2021, 8:34 pm	#1
jh1975 Triode Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 11	Armstrong 627 ? I've been meaning to do this for years - lockdown gave me the opportunity. I started on boxing day and finished just the other day ... Starting point: Armstrong 624 + Eclipse CD101 End point: guts of Eclipse transplanted into Armstrong cabinet A bit of a squash but it works. Quite a lot of the original cabinet metal removed and modified, not least the front panel. The Eclipse PCB upon which the LCD display is mounted had to be chopped into three pieces: the display bit which was retained of course, the IR sensor which was located in the lower part of the cabinet (the remote is the only means of operating this thing), and the main control switches which were just chopped off. The on-off switch is operated by a push-button made from the original 'Armstrong' illumination. I used a white LED to illuminate the resultant on/off switch. Why Eclipse? Just because I had one in the loft. But then I ended up having to buy another off Ebay because I static-zapped the main board with careless handling in the repeated offering-up in getting the mounting arrangement right, and also found (later) that I had a lazy laser in my original unit. The main board had to be mounted at an angle and also involved a little bit of chopping of the CD transport frame. So I'm quite pleased with this. It was my father in the 70's used to hanker after an Armstrong625 ('the one with peppermints on the front' he used to say). In the end he got a Trio Receiver (also now in my loft), and I was the one who later got the 621 etc. I ended up getting my father a 626 in later years - which had pride of place on his teak sideboard. (Yes, I still have it in my loft...) If anyone wants the old components/boards from the 624, let me know. And maybe I'm looking for another 62x to make into a cassette deck.... Marc Attached Thumbnails

15th Apr 2021, 9:24 pm	#2
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,845	Re: Armstrong 627 ? Bonkers, but looks beautiful so well done! Eclipse CD players were pretty horrid. I persuaded dad to buy one in about 1993 but it was embarrassingly poorly built and unreliable. Richer Sounds replaced it under warranty but I never forgave myself for recommending he buy it, so traded it in for a Technics 310 which was barely any more expensive but in a different league in terms of build quality and ergonomics.

15th Apr 2021, 9:32 pm	#3
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,871	Re: Armstrong 627 ? One day, that's going to confuse the living daylights out of someone... David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

17th Apr 2021, 10:48 pm	#4
Trevor Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 1,082	Re: Armstrong 627 ? It confused me Armstrong 627 ? looks brilliant what a shame Armstrong wound up this may have been a future product I also like the idea if a cassette deck !!00% well done Trev

17th Apr 2021, 11:14 pm	#5
audiomagpie Heptode Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Rugby, Warwickshire, UK. Posts: 824	Re: Armstrong 627 ? Wow, that looks so original! I doff my cap to you Sir! __________________ Greg BVWS committee chairman

18th Apr 2021, 7:47 am	#6
stevehertz Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 8,831	Re: Armstrong 627 ? Pm sent re parts. __________________ A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever..

18th Apr 2021, 8:10 am	#7
chriswood1900 Octode Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dorridge, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 1,481	Re: Armstrong 627 ? Very impressive build and a neat upgrade, I presume the cassette would need to use a draw mechanism to keep the form factor, possibly from one of the late better quality midi systems. If you we feeling really adventurous you could build a streaming unit based on a Pi to complete the update. __________________ Chris Wood BVWS Member

19th Apr 2021, 1:04 pm	#8
Beobloke Heptode Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Southampton, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 821	Re: Armstrong 627 ? I'm not usually a fan of this sort of thing but that looks really superb - like it was meant to be! Go on, do a cassette deck - you know you want to....

21st Apr 2021, 10:03 am	#9
ajs37 Heptode Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 900	Re: Armstrong 627 ? I like it! Well done Marc! I have always liked Armstrong products - I seem to have quite a few - 2, 4, 5 and 6 series tuners and amps which I have collected over the years - but I don't think I would be competent enough to attempt anything like that Andy

21st Apr 2021, 10:23 am	#10
stevehertz Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 8,831	Re: Armstrong 627 ? Was that new front panel custom made or 'derived' from another unit? __________________ A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever..

21st Apr 2021, 7:01 pm	#11
jh1975 Triode Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 11	Re: Armstrong 627 ? Some kind comments here - thanks all. The front panel is just a hacked-about 624. See pic below. I started by enlarging the existing slot (ex tuning dial), and then used some of that metal to make a dividing piece. The joints lines were filled, the old switch holes etc were filled, and the whole thing sprayed with Toolstation's satin black spray. The front of the CD drawer was reprofiled (car filler again) to match the angle of the panel. It's not quite right - maybe I'll have another go at it. In response to Nick - yes the Eclipse main board is pretty shoddily built. They got quite a good write up when they were sold. I considered a NAD 5420 donor but the board was too big. If it packs up, I'll just sit and look at it - that's half the pleasure with these old things ... Attached Thumbnails