Bush VHF61. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

ThePillenwerfer · 7th Jan 2012, 6:00 pm

I bought a Bush VHF61 at November's Golborne bash as it was one of the few specific models that I'd had on my wish list.

It worked on MW, albeit not very well, but that was all.

The first thing I had to was replace some of the wiring as getting the chassis out of the case had caused so much insulation to fall off that it wasn't in a fit state to run even for test purposes.

Re-capping improved MW but VHF was still a dead loss. The obvious suspect was the ECC85 but I hadn't got a replacement – it was annoying as I could have got one at Golborne and, in fact, did get a UCC85.

Another possibility was low HT and it was indeed down. As this was proving to be the most hum-free AC set I have I was inclined to exonerate the smoothers so accused the rectifier of idleness.

I also have a non-working Ekco which tries to kill me by sticking HT on its Gram socket so I borrowed the EZ80 out of that.

There was now HT in abundance but still no VHF.

The Ekco had also only worked on AM before developing its murderous intentions so I wasn't optimistic about the health of that ECC85 but there was nothing to loose by trying it.

It half worked in that only the stations at the top of the band could be received.

I checked the HT and resistors inside the VHF tuner unit and all seemed well.

Next time I tried it it would work down about as far as Radio Four and things gradually improved until I could get Radio 2. It still wouldn't go down as far as Radio Sheffield (88.6 Mc/s) but I don't want that anyway.

The magic eye was brighter than I'd expected but wasn't closing very well. Changing a few resistors improved that.

It continued to un-reliable on VHF but then I was given a replacement valve and all has been very well since.

The case has polished up well with Brasso and beeswax and the speaker cloth has washed up like new. I did this in a solution of PoundLand oxygenating crystals. I then folded it in a towel and went over it with the rolling pin a couple of times to get most of the water out.

It's continued to behave and sees regular use.

- Joe

Colourstar · 7th Jan 2012, 6:10 pm

Great work there Joe, good to see one of the sets from our Golborne adventure revived!

Well worth the hassle of washing the grille cloth, as this can really let a radio down if it's grubby. Those VHF61s really are stylish and look fantastic when cleaned up, as you have proved. I like the conservative British appearance with a few flashy bits of American-style trim; a bit like the radio equivalent of a mid 1950s Hillman Minx!

Steve J

Hybrid tellies · 7th Jan 2012, 8:13 pm

These are nice little iconic sets and sound very good for their size. Yours really has come up nicely.

Tim · 7th Jan 2012, 9:24 pm

Nice job and another one saved! These are my favorite valve set.

Leon Crampin · 7th Jan 2012, 9:35 pm

Well done - these sets are a great favourite with me too. I have two of them, both restored but one is fitted with a 6CH6 output valve with minor modifications. I think this is the better sounding set, but there are other variables of course.

The build standard is best-period Bush, so about as good as you will find. The AM performance is poor, caused largely by the insane external aerial bottom coupling arrangement to a fixed (non rotatable) ferrite rod. It gives the worst possible performance of all - poor external coupling with noise added from the fixed rod. FM sensitivity is really good with the "extra" IF stage.

Try this set with a good external 'speaker sometime - it then ranks amongst the best. There is room in the cabinet for a bigger 'speaker + electrostatic tweeter as in the VHF64, but I'm not keen on spoiling originality.

Switch bank insulation breakdown is the only real killer of these sets, otherwise they're perfect for daily use with cheap valve replacements and a separate mains switch to avoid potentiometer wear.

Leon.

julie_m · 8th Jan 2012, 1:33 pm

Lovely set, and a nice job you've done with it.

Bassette · 8th Jan 2012, 5:27 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThePillenwerfer

I bought a Bush VHF61 at November's Golborne bash as it was one of the few specific models that I'd had on my wish list.

It worked on MW, albeit not very well, but that was all.

The first thing I had to was replace some of the wiring as getting the chassis out of the case had caused so much insulation to fall off that it wasn't in a fit state to run even for test purposes.

Re-capping improved MW but VHF was still a dead loss. The obvious suspect was the ECC85 but I hadn't got a replacement – it was annoying as I could have got one at Golborne and, in fact, did get a UCC85.

Another possibility was low HT and it was indeed down. As this was proving to be the most hum-free AC set I have I was inclined to exonerate the smoothers so accused the rectifier of idleness.

I also have a non-working Ekco which tries to kill me by sticking HT on its Gram socket so I borrowed the EZ80 out of that.

There was now HT in abundance but still no VHF.

The Ekco had also only worked on AM before developing its murderous intentions so I wasn't optimistic about the health of that ECC85 but there was nothing to loose by trying it.

It half worked in that only the stations at the top of the band could be received.

I checked the HT and resistors inside the VHF tuner unit and all seemed well.

Next time I tried it it would work down about as far as Radio Four and things gradually improved until I could get Radio 2. It still wouldn't go down as far as Radio Sheffield (88.6 Mc/s) but I don't want that anyway.

The magic eye was brighter than I'd expected but wasn't closing very well. Changing a few resistors improved that.

It continued to un-reliable on VHF but then I was given a replacement valve and all has been very well since.

The case has polished up well with Brasso and beeswax and the speaker cloth has washed up like new. I did this in a solution of PoundLand oxygenating crystals. I then folded it in a towel and went over it with the rolling pin a couple of times to get most of the water out.

It's continued to behave and sees regular use.

- Joe

Hi Joe

Yes it is a wonderful refurbishment I do hope I can come close to that condition when I eventually make contact with a 61. I am tracking one now
on Ebay trouble is I live in Bath and the seller in Doncaster.

Anyway I will get my hands on one hopefully soon.

Terry

tedzed1 · 9th Jan 2012, 12:34 am

Hello Joe, Nice set, and yours has come up really nice,
I basically cut my teeth on one of these,

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=51237

It's still in the bedroom and gets used most nights.

7th Jan 2012, 6:00 pm	#1
ThePillenwerfer Octode Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,453	Bush VHF61. I bought a Bush VHF61 at November's Golborne bash as it was one of the few specific models that I'd had on my wish list. It worked on MW, albeit not very well, but that was all. The first thing I had to was replace some of the wiring as getting the chassis out of the case had caused so much insulation to fall off that it wasn't in a fit state to run even for test purposes. Re-capping improved MW but VHF was still a dead loss. The obvious suspect was the ECC85 but I hadn't got a replacement – it was annoying as I could have got one at Golborne and, in fact, did get a UCC85. Another possibility was low HT and it was indeed down. As this was proving to be the most hum-free AC set I have I was inclined to exonerate the smoothers so accused the rectifier of idleness. I also have a non-working Ekco which tries to kill me by sticking HT on its Gram socket so I borrowed the EZ80 out of that. There was now HT in abundance but still no VHF. The Ekco had also only worked on AM before developing its murderous intentions so I wasn't optimistic about the health of that ECC85 but there was nothing to loose by trying it. It half worked in that only the stations at the top of the band could be received. I checked the HT and resistors inside the VHF tuner unit and all seemed well. Next time I tried it it would work down about as far as Radio Four and things gradually improved until I could get Radio 2. It still wouldn't go down as far as Radio Sheffield (88.6 Mc/s) but I don't want that anyway. The magic eye was brighter than I'd expected but wasn't closing very well. Changing a few resistors improved that. It continued to un-reliable on VHF but then I was given a replacement valve and all has been very well since. The case has polished up well with Brasso and beeswax and the speaker cloth has washed up like new. I did this in a solution of PoundLand oxygenating crystals. I then folded it in a towel and went over it with the rolling pin a couple of times to get most of the water out. It's continued to behave and sees regular use. - Joe Attached Thumbnails __________________ "Experts are only good at one thing: explaining why something will not work!"

7th Jan 2012, 6:10 pm	#2
Colourstar Octode Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ilkeston, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 1,398	Re: Bush VHF61. Great work there Joe, good to see one of the sets from our Golborne adventure revived! Well worth the hassle of washing the grille cloth, as this can really let a radio down if it's grubby. Those VHF61s really are stylish and look fantastic when cleaned up, as you have proved. I like the conservative British appearance with a few flashy bits of American-style trim; a bit like the radio equivalent of a mid 1950s Hillman Minx! Steve J

7th Jan 2012, 8:13 pm	#3
Hybrid tellies Nonode Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: 1966-1976 Coverack in Cornwall and Helston Cornwall. 1976-present Bristol/Bath area. Posts: 2,967	Re: Bush VHF61. These are nice little iconic sets and sound very good for their size. Yours really has come up nicely. __________________ Simon BVWS member

7th Jan 2012, 9:24 pm	#4
Tim Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 3,310	Re: Bush VHF61. Nice job and another one saved! These are my favorite valve set. __________________ "Nothing is as dangerous as being too modern;one is apt to grow old fashioned quite suddenly."

7th Jan 2012, 9:35 pm	#5
Leon Crampin Octode Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Surrey, UK. Posts: 1,874	Re: Bush VHF61. Well done - these sets are a great favourite with me too. I have two of them, both restored but one is fitted with a 6CH6 output valve with minor modifications. I think this is the better sounding set, but there are other variables of course. The build standard is best-period Bush, so about as good as you will find. The AM performance is poor, caused largely by the insane external aerial bottom coupling arrangement to a fixed (non rotatable) ferrite rod. It gives the worst possible performance of all - poor external coupling with noise added from the fixed rod. FM sensitivity is really good with the "extra" IF stage. Try this set with a good external 'speaker sometime - it then ranks amongst the best. There is room in the cabinet for a bigger 'speaker + electrostatic tweeter as in the VHF64, but I'm not keen on spoiling originality. Switch bank insulation breakdown is the only real killer of these sets, otherwise they're perfect for daily use with cheap valve replacements and a separate mains switch to avoid potentiometer wear. Leon.

8th Jan 2012, 1:33 pm	#6
julie_m Dekatron Join Date: May 2008 Location: Derby, UK. Posts: 7,735	Re: Bush VHF61. Lovely set, and a nice job you've done with it. __________________ If I have seen further than others, it is because I was standing on a pile of failed experiments.

9th Jan 2012, 12:34 am	#8
tedzed1 Hexode Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Tamworth, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 320	Re: Bush VHF61. Hello Joe, Nice set, and yours has come up really nice, I basically cut my teeth on one of these, https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=51237 It's still in the bedroom and gets used most nights. __________________ Cheers Paul.