Brownie No 3 Crystal Set parts

[David Simpson]

Wanted please, the missing parts for a sad looking 1927 Brownie No 3.
(1) Cat's Whisker - crystal, shaft & glass. Or complete assembly.
(2) MW/LW c/o Switch
(3) Coil
(4) Phone Condenser

Terminals are missing, but I've got spares. The mounting holes for the C/W are 52mm(a titty over 2") apart. The space available would take a coil & former 2" dia. by 4 11/16" long, but I should be able to make up something myself. I've got somewhere - some copper or brass thin strapping, hopefully.
There is a picture on Page 72 of the "Tickling the Crystal Book". Also more info on the "Radiomuseum" site.
Incidentally, Brownie's 1926 "2 Stage Note Magnifier" looks the Bee's Knees.
Any help or advice most appreciated.
Regards, David

[Gridiron]

I have one of these sets, if you need any information on it.
I think I have a spare Brownie "Permatector" which Brownie sold as a replacement for the cats whisker type for these sets to make them easier to use.
Mike.

[David Simpson]

Have returned to the Brownie, having been given the loan of a working one from a local chum.
It would seem to just be a LW model. Not many KHz either side of R4 on 198KHz. Just loud enough in my lovely ancient "Brown's Type A" headphones, using an 80m Doublet. His crystal & whisker are fine.
The 2" dia. coil measures 7.6ohms/1.15mH. I'm guessing 36SWG.
The wee top mounted "Low" - "High" un-sprung toggle sw is sp/st - openly mounted on a simple horizontal spindle, I'm guessing. Shan't disassemble my chums set, would be pushing my luck with nigh-on 100 year old moulded ebonite, and a well used coil.
So, still need a cat's whisker assembly. The hole's centres are 52mm or 2 1/16" apart.
The wee toggle switch has very little effect on the tuning & doesn't seem to take a tapping off the coil. Perhaps it switches in a wee condenser ?
If anyone has stripped on of these down, wouldn't mind a bit of advice, please ? Would like to restore it as authentically as possible.

Please MODERATORS, perhaps this thread could be moved to "Vintage Radio(domestic)".

Regards, David

[David Simpson]

Back again to the wee Brownie. My local VMARS chum wound a replacement coil, on a former I'd made up, yesterday, using his lathe. According to his old well thumbed winding chart - it came in at 40tpi of 28swg over 4 3/8" approx.
The spare Brownie coil exhibited 7.6 ohms res & 1.27mH, & this new coil comes in at 9.1 ohms & 1.3mH.
I've found a wee toggle sw. which might lend itself to being altered to look the same as the original one. Also have found & cleaned up some 1920's style terminals which match perfectly. My chum has also given me some thin copper sheeting to replace the missing original brass connection strips.
Still can't locate a replacement cats whisker assembly, sadly.

Regards, David

[David Simpson]

Many thanks to Gridiron for suppling a Brownie "Permatector", just the ticket.

Regards, David

[David Simpson]

Project now finished. Just couldn't find anything to replicate the wavechange switch's ball-ended shaft. Need something which will take a 6BA thread. (See picture j). Just using a 1" 6BA wee bolt meantime.
For those who are interested - sw selection "low" is for low wavelength, i.e. MW, and "high" is for high w/l, i.e. LW Radio 4 on 198KHz. Just a 500pf capacitor is switched in parallel with the single ended coil under "low" selection.
Many thanks to Duncan Leece for the loan of his Brownie No 3. Many thanks to VMARS chum - Martin GM8 AGM for his lathe coil winding expertise, and many thanks again to Gridiron. In fact - his Brownie Permatector works better than the Cats Whisker on Duncan's set.

Regards, David

[Gridiron]

Glad to hear you are pleased with the detector and it actually works.
Just a thought about the switch, small half threaded stainless steel balls are available on ebay, something might be made up with a threaded rod (stainless steel comes close in appearance to nickel plating).

[David Simpson]

Yep, Mike, an eBay search reveals millions of threaded SS balls available from China. Might well end up sending off for a wee pack.
Meantime, will pester local VR chums to delve into their scrap boxes, when they've time. Aberdeen ARS are having a monthly junk sale in a couple of weeks, might find something there.
Just to recap - Shaft = 3mm dia., approx. 25 mm long (thr. at 6BA).
Ball = 8mm dia.
Having kept company with two Brownie No 3's these last few weeks, think I'll keep a lookout for their large partner - the Brownie "Two Stage Note Magnifier" (as mentioned in Post 1).
If anyone has even a phooked one - please get in touch. As long as the moulded ebonite body is un-damaged, I've plenty of 1920's spares & a number of B4/5 tested valves.

Regards, David

[David Simpson]

At last - little Wave - change switch has a near-enough correct replacement ball-ended shaft. So, I guess this thread can be closed, Moderators.

Regards, David