Vortexion WVA - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Bumblebee · 17th Jun 2011, 7:11 pm

Hi All, I would like to tell you about the success story of an Vortexion WVA. I was given this from my friend Phil, another forum member. Phil told me it was in need of a rewiring, so I knew I had a bit of a challenge, which I like. It has taken a fair few hours or rather months, as I also had a Grundig TK46 on the go at the same time. I had to Replace all the old rubber wiring in the ampilfier, and on the deck which was perished. The plastic wiring was all aok. First I rewired the the mains transformer, and then the output transformer. All the capacitors were changed, I restuffed all the old electrolytics.The operating switch had been replaced at some point, but it looks like it maybe a different type to that, that was originally fitted. At this point I still didnt know if it would work. After many hours of work, I finally finished with the rewiring. Now for ''let me see if it works''. I was expecting it to blow up, take off and fly out of my shed over Wolverley and into Kidderminster. I was very happy that it did work, and it worked well, sounded good and even recorded. So I left it for awhile. I wanted to get on with the Grundig I was also doing. I got back onto the Vortexion 2 weeks ago. All I had to do now was recover the case. I did a bit of a modification too. The front part of the case (speaker) had at some point in it's life been stood in water and had started to go rotten. So I replaced the front part of the case with some new plywood. I cleaned all the aluminium grill's using Flash kitchen cleaner. I cut a larger hole for the speaker, and cut out a peice of felt and placed it inbetween the speaker and grill (original hole was just a slit). I then recovered it with black leathercloth. I polished up the old chrom catches and hinges. I also so replaced the side panel (where the mains lead fits into it's socket) with a stainless steel one that I made, the original one was bakalite or something like it. I was tempted to to respray the deck and amplifier top panel, but I havent got any sort of software to make decals. So I T-cuted all the paint work which came out really well for old paint. I then fitted new rubber grumits into the screw hole for mounting the deck in to the case, and glued the old rubber one onto the backs of them. I fitted the Amp section and the deck back in the case, and fitted new rubber feet onto the case, gave the case a quick polish and tryed it out. It sound's really nice now that is all back in the case. I'm really pleased with it. So the challenge, turned in to a nice working again Reel to Reel. I have attached some photo's and will post another 3 if I can. All the best. And thank you for reading.
Mark. (Bumblebee)

Bumblebee · 17th Jun 2011, 7:25 pm

Here are another 3 Photo's.

Andrewausfa · 17th Jun 2011, 9:43 pm

That's a very nice restoration, I think I'd fail at re-covering something!

Andrew

ms660 · 17th Jun 2011, 10:09 pm

That covering looks A1....definately makes it..well done.

Lawrence.

"He who waits for roast duck to fly in to his mouth waits a long time"

Phil G4SPZ · 18th Jun 2011, 10:02 pm

Well done, Mark. Having seen the Vortexion with my own eyes yesterday and heard it playing, the photos don't do it justice! A really comprehensive restoration, and I am so pleased that the machine has gone to such a good home.

Best regards,

Phil

Brian R Pateman · 18th Jun 2011, 10:20 pm

A quite excellent job, it looks as good as new.

I'm sure that it sounds as good as it looks. Having used one many years ago I know that these were built like a battleship, and weighed almost as much!

wd40addict · 21st Jun 2011, 11:24 am

Looks excellent!

What glue did you use to stick the Rexine down?

Regards,

Paul

Bumblebee · 21st Jun 2011, 4:13 pm

Thank you for the nice comments.

Paul I use PVA. I make two different mixes. One is about 50/50, which I use on the leathercloth after I've cut it to size (well just a bit bigger. I found that it shrunk the first time I ever did recovering) I give the covering two coats letting it dry inbetween using a roller. When the covering has dryed it's pre shrunk. I also coat the case with the same mix. Than when it's all dryed I use a thicker mix about 75% pva 25% water and using a roller I put a coat on the case only then stick covering on removing any any air bubbles. I then wait for pva to dry off. Then I concentrate on cutting in all the edges which can take me ages.
All the best.
Mark.

whyperion · 26th Aug 2011, 1:22 pm

What is the socket on the left hand side of the bulgin mains socket used for - a power in/out for some kind of auxillary or different power input plug fitting ?

Steve_P · 26th Aug 2011, 7:24 pm

That is excellent, inside and out. Well done with it.

Cheers,

Steve P.

17th Jun 2011, 7:11 pm	#1
Bumblebee Pentode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wolverley, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 102	Vortexion WVA Hi All, I would like to tell you about the success story of an Vortexion WVA. I was given this from my friend Phil, another forum member. Phil told me it was in need of a rewiring, so I knew I had a bit of a challenge, which I like. It has taken a fair few hours or rather months, as I also had a Grundig TK46 on the go at the same time. I had to Replace all the old rubber wiring in the ampilfier, and on the deck which was perished. The plastic wiring was all aok. First I rewired the the mains transformer, and then the output transformer. All the capacitors were changed, I restuffed all the old electrolytics.The operating switch had been replaced at some point, but it looks like it maybe a different type to that, that was originally fitted. At this point I still didnt know if it would work. After many hours of work, I finally finished with the rewiring. Now for ''let me see if it works''. I was expecting it to blow up, take off and fly out of my shed over Wolverley and into Kidderminster. I was very happy that it did work, and it worked well, sounded good and even recorded. So I left it for awhile. I wanted to get on with the Grundig I was also doing. I got back onto the Vortexion 2 weeks ago. All I had to do now was recover the case. I did a bit of a modification too. The front part of the case (speaker) had at some point in it's life been stood in water and had started to go rotten. So I replaced the front part of the case with some new plywood. I cleaned all the aluminium grill's using Flash kitchen cleaner. I cut a larger hole for the speaker, and cut out a peice of felt and placed it inbetween the speaker and grill (original hole was just a slit). I then recovered it with black leathercloth. I polished up the old chrom catches and hinges. I also so replaced the side panel (where the mains lead fits into it's socket) with a stainless steel one that I made, the original one was bakalite or something like it. I was tempted to to respray the deck and amplifier top panel, but I havent got any sort of software to make decals. So I T-cuted all the paint work which came out really well for old paint. I then fitted new rubber grumits into the screw hole for mounting the deck in to the case, and glued the old rubber one onto the backs of them. I fitted the Amp section and the deck back in the case, and fitted new rubber feet onto the case, gave the case a quick polish and tryed it out. It sound's really nice now that is all back in the case. I'm really pleased with it. So the challenge, turned in to a nice working again Reel to Reel. I have attached some photo's and will post another 3 if I can. All the best. And thank you for reading. Mark. (Bumblebee) Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Bumblebee; 17th Jun 2011 at 7:21 pm. Reason: Added words.

17th Jun 2011, 7:25 pm	#2
Bumblebee Pentode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wolverley, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 102	Re: Vortexion WVA Here are another 3 Photo's. Attached Thumbnails

17th Jun 2011, 9:43 pm	#3
Andrewausfa Octode Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: St Ives, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 1,180	Re: Vortexion WVA That's a very nice restoration, I think I'd fail at re-covering something! Andrew __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life. Or they should do. BVWS Member

17th Jun 2011, 10:09 pm	#4
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Vortexion WVA That covering looks A1....definately makes it..well done. Lawrence. "He who waits for roast duck to fly in to his mouth waits a long time"

18th Jun 2011, 10:02 pm	#5
Phil G4SPZ Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 4,748	Re: Vortexion WVA Well done, Mark. Having seen the Vortexion with my own eyes yesterday and heard it playing, the photos don't do it justice! A really comprehensive restoration, and I am so pleased that the machine has gone to such a good home. Best regards, Phil __________________ Phil Optimist [n]: One who is not in possession of the full facts

18th Jun 2011, 10:20 pm	#6
Brian R Pateman Nonode Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Western Lake District, Cumbria (CA20) - UK Posts: 2,136	Re: Vortexion WVA A quite excellent job, it looks as good as new. I'm sure that it sounds as good as it looks. Having used one many years ago I know that these were built like a battleship, and weighed almost as much! __________________ Brian

21st Jun 2011, 11:24 am	#7
wd40addict Octode Join Date: May 2009 Location: Stevenage, Herts. UK. Posts: 1,518	Re: Vortexion WVA Looks excellent! What glue did you use to stick the Rexine down? Regards, Paul

21st Jun 2011, 4:13 pm	#8
Bumblebee Pentode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wolverley, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 102	Re: Vortexion WVA Thank you for the nice comments. Paul I use PVA. I make two different mixes. One is about 50/50, which I use on the leathercloth after I've cut it to size (well just a bit bigger. I found that it shrunk the first time I ever did recovering) I give the covering two coats letting it dry inbetween using a roller. When the covering has dryed it's pre shrunk. I also coat the case with the same mix. Than when it's all dryed I use a thicker mix about 75% pva 25% water and using a roller I put a coat on the case only then stick covering on removing any any air bubbles. I then wait for pva to dry off. Then I concentrate on cutting in all the edges which can take me ages. All the best. Mark.

26th Aug 2011, 1:22 pm	#9
whyperion Hexode Join Date: May 2005 Location: London 90% , Northwest England 10% Posts: 386	Re: Vortexion WVA What is the socket on the left hand side of the bulgin mains socket used for - a power in/out for some kind of auxillary or different power input plug fitting ?

26th Aug 2011, 7:24 pm	#10
Steve_P Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6,644	Re: Vortexion WVA That is excellent, inside and out. Well done with it. Cheers, Steve P. __________________ If we've always had it, why is the Car Boot open? You're not sneaking another Old TV in are you...?