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Old 4th Sep 2011, 12:15 am   #1
Andrewausfa
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Default Ekco A173

Ekco A173, no I'd not seen mention of it either.

This interesting set utilises the same chassis as the A104/A129/A144/A172 sets with the addition of a tuning indicator valve. Wavebands are MW and four SW bands covering 10-120 metres. Valve line up is UCH42, UF41, UBC41, UL41, UY41 and UM4. Six voltage selections are available covering 100 to 250 volts. I believe this would be an export set brought back into the UK and was pretty much confirmed as likely by the seller, after being asked, as the original owner had lived in Germany and Holland post-war.

There is no service data available for the A173 as far as I'm aware and the only reference on the 'net are some photos on the Radio Museum site posted by the seller after I purchased the set. However, the circuit given in Trader sheet 947 for the Ekco A104 is broadly similar though, as it became clear to me when working on this radio, differs in several places notwithstanding the additional shortwave ability.

This set, when it arrived, was in quite good cosmetic condition, albeit with two wrong knobs, just dirty . There were a few scrapes and dents but nothing serious. However, once the back was removed and I looked inside I could see a little pile of wax on the cabinet floor. My heart sank a little and my immediate thought was that this was not going to be an easy fix as the wax looked to be in the proximity of the mains transformer.

Removing the chassis showed that the wax had actually come from a capacitor, this was totally devoid of any wax at all (seen just above the two smaller electrolytics in the photos) and several other components looked a bit distressed as if they'd got very hot at some point. Additionally, some of the wiring insulation was in a downright dangerous state particularly that to the TI, one bare wire of which was touching the chassis. Before I plugged it in I replaced all the crumbling wiring, wax capacitors and one or two resistors that looked worse for wear. I also replaced the 6M8 anode resistor on the TI which was reading something over 8 meg.

The smoothing can tested well for ESR and after another check over for any dodgy connections I may have made, I let the set have some power through the lamp limiter. The dial bulbs came up and within 30-40 seconds noises were heard. The set was switched off, plug pulled and I had a feel of the mains transformer which was cold. Applying power again the limiter was switched off after a while and stations could be heard clearly with no hum of any sort on all bands. Voltage checks on the valves matched those given for the A104. Tuning along I picked up Shanwick ATC and Volmet, though obviously not so clearly as they're USB! What wasn't working at all though was the TI so this was replaced with a new one.

Cabinet wise this was cleaned, covered in scratch remover and then a light coat of wax. The plastic grille was re-sprayed and the inside of the glass was very carefully cleaned.

This is really quite a lovely set to listen to, lots of bass and it's pretty loud. Just a shame about those knobs. Anyone got two knobs to spare?

Andrew
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Old 4th Sep 2011, 12:19 am   #2
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Default Re: Ekco A173

Couple more chassis views showing the dial cord arrangement and the coloured waveband wheel.
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Old 4th Sep 2011, 10:08 am   #3
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Default Re: Ekco A173

A very nice set and you have made an excellent job of it.

Ian
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Old 5th Sep 2011, 8:49 am   #4
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Default Re: Ekco A173

A great job and an unusual set also - as you say it would have been an export model.
I love that "colour wheel" indicator.
I spy your voltage selector is showing on 220/230, I guess you've probably already moved it to the next tap up , ie 240/250 ?
I'm sure I have one ( hopefully 2 ) of those knobs somewhere.... I'll have a dig

Andy
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Old 5th Sep 2011, 9:50 am   #5
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Default Re: Ekco A173

That is a lovely set, I am very jealous

I saw it for sale and was tempted to buy it myself but I feel you've done a better job than I would have been able to do with it, well done!

Josh.
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Old 5th Sep 2011, 10:45 am   #6
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Default Re: Ekco A173

Nice one
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Old 5th Sep 2011, 5:29 pm   #7
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Default Re: Ekco A173

That is really nice Andrew, a credit to you sir
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Old 5th Sep 2011, 8:57 pm   #8
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Default Re: Ekco A173

Thanks gents. I must say initially I was of the mind to try to leave as many original components in as I could. Alas all the waxies I tested were all out of tolerance and had to go bar one which is, as you may have guessed, the one that had got so hot as to deposit its covering on the cabinet. Despite this, it measures 64nF which for a 0.05uF (50nF) vintage capacitor is not so bad. Some of the 0.1uF capacitors I took out measure anything from 200nF to 1.2pF!

Andy (hope you're well) yes it's on the next voltage setting, that was a 'before' shot. That would be fantastic if you could find a knob or two. I wasn't holding out a lot of hope on this front I must admit.

Josh, you would have done a better job than me if it had had any major faults, I'm still learning here

Andrew
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Old 5th Sep 2011, 9:34 pm   #9
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Default Re: Ekco A173

Very nice looking set, well done! I believe those knobs are the same as on the Ekco U215:-

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/ekco_u_215u21.html

Regards, Mick.
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Old 6th Sep 2011, 1:58 am   #10
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Default Re: Ekco A173

A really interesting looking set. Well worth the effort.
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Old 6th Sep 2011, 7:51 am   #11
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Default Re: Ekco A173

Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrewausfa View Post
Alas all the waxies I tested were all out of tolerance and had to go bar one which is, as you may have guessed, the one that had got so hot as to deposit its covering on the cabinet. Despite this, it measures 64nF which for a 0.05uF (50nF) vintage capacitor is not so bad. Some of the 0.1uF capacitors I took out measure anything from 200nF to 1.2pF!
Using a capacitance meter to measure the value of leaky caps will give misleading and meaningless values. In general, the meter will read high if there is any leakage.

Testing waxies for leakage is best achieved by applying a current limited DC voltage of around the value seen by the component under operating conditions.

In practice, most if not all waxies will be found to be leaky.

John
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Old 6th Sep 2011, 2:28 pm   #12
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Default Re: Ekco A173

Well done Andrew

That is a nice set. The outer two knobs are from an ivory U122, U159 or U215, and I've seen those inner knobs in a spares tray at an event recently so if I see them again I'll grab a couple for your set and swap them for your outer knobs.

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Old 6th Sep 2011, 3:03 pm   #13
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Default Re: Ekco A173

Thanks Mick and Howard. It's the outer knobs, the castellated ones for want of a better description, that are original. There was a nice ring of dirt circling the middle knobs where the clear Perspex part would have sat. Actually I had a thought the middle ones had a BushysortofGrundigy feel about them. The middle ones have another brass trim in the manner of the Bush VHF61, one ring was missing so I pulled the other one off so they matched. Great to know they were used on another set in case Andy can't find any.

Regards _Andrew
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Old 6th Sep 2011, 4:43 pm   #14
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Default Re: Ekco A173

That's a lovely-looking set.

Did I spot a power transformer and U-series valves there? That's pretty unusual in and of itself! Is it a proper transformer, or an autotransformer?
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Old 6th Sep 2011, 6:06 pm   #15
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Default Re: Ekco A173

Hi AJS,

Proper one! Same type as in the A172.

Regards _ Andrew
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Old 6th Sep 2011, 6:18 pm   #16
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Default Re: Ekco A173

Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrewausfa View Post

Josh, you would have done a better job than me if it had had any major faults, I'm still learning here
I wouldn't be so sure about that, I very often still have to seek help via this forum and I guess you never do stop learning. I still feel a lot like a beginner!

Hadn't noticed the U series valves and the transformer, the plot thickens and this radio becomes even more mysterious!

Josh.
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Old 20th Sep 2011, 5:52 pm   #17
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Default Re: Ekco A173

Hi,

What a gorgeous set Andrew; Its a lovely colour.Well done as it would enhance any collection.

Kind regards, Col.
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Old 28th Sep 2011, 1:37 pm   #18
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Default Re: Ekco A173

Just an update: Today I've received an Ekco U215 which indeed does have the same pattern knobs as the A173. The downside being they're about half the size! Oh well. The search continues.
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