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Old 18th Jun 2020, 10:36 am   #1
stacman
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Default Old A.C Farnell catalogue

Having a clearout, a lot of people are!, Found this old Farnell catalogue,
Just a few pics from it to peruse, did any of you guys, buy/use any of the things?
As an aside, I live in Sheffield, never knew they had a branch here,
Fascinating stuff,
Regards, Alan.
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Old 18th Jun 2020, 10:52 am   #2
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Default Re: Old A.C Farnell catalogue

A few more pics.....
Regards, Alan
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Old 18th Jun 2020, 10:56 am   #3
BRASSBITS
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Default Re: Old A.C Farnell catalogue

remember them well.
we had an account with them back in the 70s / 80s ( Sheffield branch )
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Old 18th Jun 2020, 4:29 pm   #4
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Default Re: Old A.C Farnell catalogue

As an aside, I have one of those Burgess soldering gun sets somewhere. Never could get it hot enough to melt solder (it heated up somewhat, so it's not an open-circuit somewhere). Maybe I'll give it another go sometime...
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Old 18th Jun 2020, 7:45 pm   #5
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Default Re: Old A.C Farnell catalogue

That could be something as basic as a poor connection between the bit loop and the gun itself. The bit forms a near short across the low voltage secondary of the gun's internal transformer (think 2V secondary and 50A bit current ish for a 100W gun). Any sign of a loose or dirty connection and it's game over in the heat stakes.
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Old 18th Jun 2020, 8:08 pm   #6
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Default Re: Old A.C Farnell catalogue

Those hifi amplifiers have featured before: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?p=598273
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Old 18th Jun 2020, 10:26 pm   #7
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Default Re: Old A.C Farnell catalogue

Farnells were based in Leeds....FEC (farnell electronic components) were based at Armley / Canal st and AC Farnell (Audio) were on Kirkstall road. FEC had a great customer counter... but as with all things....moved, changed.. AC Farnell closed. I seem to remember they were brothers... one had the ACF and the other FEC..... I did some work for one of the relatives in the 90's......he was supplying TV Monitors to book makers shops and other users.
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Old 18th Jun 2020, 11:45 pm   #8
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Default Re: Old A.C Farnell catalogue

Quote:
Originally Posted by stacman View Post
Having a clearout, a lot of people are!, Found this old Farnell catalogue,
Just a few pics from it to peruse, did any of you guys, buy/use any of the things?
As an aside, I live in Sheffield, never knew they had a branch here,
Fascinating stuff,
Regards, Alan.
From 1989 I parked for over 24 years less than a hundred yards from their location. I wonder when they closed?

Peter.
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Old 18th Jun 2020, 11:49 pm   #9
m0cemdave
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Default Re: Old A.C Farnell catalogue

I remember visiting their new, large warehouse next to a main railway line in Leeds in the early 70's. I think the land had previously been railway sidings. Was that Canal Road?

I still have parts of a 1972 loose-leaf catalogue, kept for the very useful product data.

The statement that a radio mic licence could be granted (for a fee) by the GPO "except for frivolous requirements" is quite entertaining...

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Old 18th Jun 2020, 11:56 pm   #10
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Default Re: Old A.C Farnell catalogue

Still there: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fa...7!4d-1.5799688
The front entrance was one of the sets used for the police station in A touch of Frost.
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Old 18th Jun 2020, 11:59 pm   #11
m0cemdave
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Default Re: Old A.C Farnell catalogue

Oh yes, that's the place. The area hadn't been built up in those days, I seem to remember the warehouse had a lot of space around it.
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Old 19th Jun 2020, 5:02 pm   #12
TonyDuell
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Default Re: Old A.C Farnell catalogue

Quote:
Originally Posted by Herald1360 View Post
That could be something as basic as a poor connection between the bit loop and the gun itself. The bit forms a near short across the low voltage secondary of the gun's internal transformer (think 2V secondary and 50A bit current ish for a 100W gun). Any sign of a loose or dirty connection and it's game over in the heat stakes.
The Burgess soldering gun is not a 'normal' loop element/bit. The shaft is effectively a high current coaxial cable, the outer metal tube screws into a bracket conected to one side of the transformer secondary. There's a metal rod down the middle insulated by glass fibre sleeving that presses on a contact connected ot the other end of the transformer secondary. The bit screws into the end of the outer sleeve, the inner rod slides inside the back end of the bit, I guess the resistance of the bit metal is the 'element'.

And yes I have cleaned all the contacts. But I last looked at it about 35 years ago, so it's time for me to dig it out again and investigate some more.

I hadn't realised until I read this thread that A.C. Farnell and Farnell components were separate companies. I notice that 'Points on Pickups' was published by the former.

One or other company (I guess) also had their own line of test gear, or at least badged test gear. I have a Farnell PM1 phase meter somewhere.
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Old 20th Jun 2020, 1:54 am   #13
m0cemdave
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Default Re: Old A.C Farnell catalogue

Farnell Instruments had their own factory (at Wetherby I think). A friend of mine at University did his sandwich year there in the early 70's. I recall he wasn't impressed by the way it was run... obviously his first experience of British Mangement!
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Old 29th Jun 2020, 9:41 pm   #14
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Default Re: Old A.C Farnell catalogue

Yes "Farnell Instruments" were at wetherby at Sandbeck Way . (I worked there for a time)
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