Ferranti 145/146 cardboard box electrolytic - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Voxophone · 8th Dec 2016, 4:42 pm

Just a quick one. Does anyone have a decent picture of the box shaped electrolytic smoothing cap (two sections labelled C27 and 28 on the Trader sheet) from a Ferranti 145 or 146? I’m currently restoring a 145 and would like to recreate the original look if I can, however someone has previously installed RS replacements.

In particular I can’t seem to find out where the wires come out of the box. In C19 they both come out of the same corner, but C19 is only one section.

Cheers

Liam

Tractionist · 10th Dec 2016, 1:20 am

Hmmmm ....

The answer is "no" - but I do possess a 146 that I restored years ago. If I get some time, I'll pull the chassis out and take the necessary photographs ..... but I can't see me doing it this side of Christmas.

From recollection ... the 'box' was labelled "Ferranti Drylytics" ..............

music-centre · 12th Dec 2016, 11:10 am

Hello Liam,
I am working on a 146 at present so if you need any more let me know.
Regards,
Steve.

Voxophone · 12th Dec 2016, 3:36 pm

Thanks! Those are very useful. The side view of the two stacked caps is what I was missing. Would it be possible to take rough length * width * depth measurements of the two boxes? I’ve previously scaled the length from other pictures at about 10.5-11 cm but so far I haven’t got a clear idea of the cross sections. I’ll try printing your pictures and giving it another try.

Am I right in thinking from your first picture that all 3 wires from the bigger cap come out from the left hand end? (Two in the upper left corner, one in the lower).

Thanks again.

Liam

music-centre · 14th Dec 2016, 12:02 am

Hi,
Both of the boxes are approximately 12cm long, the small one is just over 2cm x 2cm and the larger is 3.5cm x 4cm.

On the larger one the wires all come out on the same end on the side that is away from the chassis (so the side against the small box and the round cap) and there are 2 wires out of one corner and a single one from the other - hope that makes sense!
Cheers,
Steve.

Voxophone · 14th Dec 2016, 4:58 pm

Thanks. I'll try building something to those dimensions. Haven't found anything which matches the appearance yet. The best lookalike would be a block of C4 explosive as it almost looks like a bomb hidden in a radio! Probably safer to use a cardbard box...

I'm also hoping to re-stuff the two cylindrical caps, which I do have on my set. Unfortunately drilling them out is like drilling through concrete. Heating the wax doesn't help much and the insides crumble out like cinder toffee. Hopefully I can hollow them out without damaging the printed tubes.

Will post how I get on in case anyone else is mad enough to try this.

Cheers

Liam

8th Dec 2016, 4:42 pm	#1
Voxophone Hexode Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 340	Ferranti 145/146 cardboard box electrolytic Just a quick one. Does anyone have a decent picture of the box shaped electrolytic smoothing cap (two sections labelled C27 and 28 on the Trader sheet) from a Ferranti 145 or 146? I’m currently restoring a 145 and would like to recreate the original look if I can, however someone has previously installed RS replacements. In particular I can’t seem to find out where the wires come out of the box. In C19 they both come out of the same corner, but C19 is only one section. Cheers Liam

10th Dec 2016, 1:20 am	#2
Tractionist Heptode Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 875	Re: Ferranti 145/146 cardboard box electrolytic Hmmmm .... The answer is "no" - but I do possess a 146 that I restored years ago. If I get some time, I'll pull the chassis out and take the necessary photographs ..... but I can't see me doing it this side of Christmas. From recollection ... the 'box' was labelled "Ferranti Drylytics" .............. __________________ Red to red, black to black. Throw the switch and stand well back!

12th Dec 2016, 11:10 am	#3
music-centre Heptode Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK. Posts: 687	Re: Ferranti 145/146 cardboard box electrolytic Hello Liam, I am working on a 146 at present so if you need any more let me know. Regards, Steve. Attached Thumbnails

12th Dec 2016, 3:36 pm	#4
Voxophone Hexode Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 340	Re: Ferranti 145/146 cardboard box electrolytic Thanks! Those are very useful. The side view of the two stacked caps is what I was missing. Would it be possible to take rough length * width * depth measurements of the two boxes? I’ve previously scaled the length from other pictures at about 10.5-11 cm but so far I haven’t got a clear idea of the cross sections. I’ll try printing your pictures and giving it another try. Am I right in thinking from your first picture that all 3 wires from the bigger cap come out from the left hand end? (Two in the upper left corner, one in the lower). Thanks again. Liam

14th Dec 2016, 12:02 am	#5
music-centre Heptode Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK. Posts: 687	Re: Ferranti 145/146 cardboard box electrolytic Hi, Both of the boxes are approximately 12cm long, the small one is just over 2cm x 2cm and the larger is 3.5cm x 4cm. On the larger one the wires all come out on the same end on the side that is away from the chassis (so the side against the small box and the round cap) and there are 2 wires out of one corner and a single one from the other - hope that makes sense! Cheers, Steve. Attached Thumbnails

14th Dec 2016, 4:58 pm	#6
Voxophone Hexode Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 340	Re: Ferranti 145/146 cardboard box electrolytic Thanks. I'll try building something to those dimensions. Haven't found anything which matches the appearance yet. The best lookalike would be a block of C4 explosive as it almost looks like a bomb hidden in a radio! Probably safer to use a cardbard box... I'm also hoping to re-stuff the two cylindrical caps, which I do have on my set. Unfortunately drilling them out is like drilling through concrete. Heating the wax doesn't help much and the insides crumble out like cinder toffee. Hopefully I can hollow them out without damaging the printed tubes. Will post how I get on in case anyone else is mad enough to try this. Cheers Liam Last edited by Voxophone; 14th Dec 2016 at 5:06 pm.