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Vintage Amateur and Military Radio Amateur/military receivers and transmitters, morse, and any other related vintage comms equipment. |
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5th Jan 2020, 5:32 pm | #1 |
Diode
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1
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Found EKCO device in the attic
Hi guys
I have found an old EKCO device in the attic, it has probably been there in a box for more than 40yrs. I have not tried power to it as there are several places to connect and set the voltage and if not done correctly it would probably kill someone. I don’t think H&S was that important when this device was made. It looks old possible 1950's or 60's and it has a dial for GRID BIAS, now if I remember there was a requirement for a secondary battery or power needed to use this feature. It’s 60yrs since I did RT1 and RT2, the transistor had just been invented which sort of spoilt things as we used to enjoy getting burnt and having electric shocks from old radios and TV’s (not) Anyway just thought you may have come across something like this it’s really heavy and about 14” wide x 10” deep x 8” high. If it is something interesting I could have a go at restoring it. |
5th Jan 2020, 5:54 pm | #2 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,783
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Re: Found EKCO device in the attic
It appears to be a battery eliminator.
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5th Jan 2020, 5:56 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,951
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Re: Found EKCO device in the attic
Yes, it's some sort of power-unit, probably an 'eliminator' to replace accumulators/dry-batteries. I'd say it probably dates from the late-1920s/early-1930s.
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5th Jan 2020, 6:38 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 5,737
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Re: Found EKCO device in the attic
A nice find!
Yes, 1930s by the looks of it. A battery eliminator and a very useful one indeed as it provided HT of 120/150V plus 80V, screen grid voltage, grid bias from 1.5 to 12 Volts, and variable LT voltage. The only voltage that was critical was the L.T, hence, it was metered. I guess most pre-war battery radios used either 2V or 4V heaters. Rather more veratile than the more commonplace Ekco K12 battery eleminator. It would make a nice restoration project, and if restored and made safe would be most useful for powering pre-war battery sets, and no doubt the battery version of the Wartime Civilian Receiver. These two forum links might be of interest. Though not the same model, the neatly drawn circuit in post #1 at the first link appears to have some similarities: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=55096 Split from this: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=37054 Hope that's of interest.
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David. BVWS Member. G-QRP Club member 1339. |
5th Jan 2020, 6:46 pm | #5 |
Octode
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Ely, Cambridgeshire, UK.
Posts: 1,967
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Re: Found EKCO device in the attic
looks like a model C2A I have one here that I need to restore at some stage .. Good find useful item
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5th Jan 2020, 6:50 pm | #6 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK.
Posts: 8,809
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Re: Found EKCO device in the attic
I might as well pitch in with a fifth view (saying the same thing), it's a battery eliminator.
(shades of a previous thread/post, why do people do this?!)
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A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever.. |
5th Jan 2020, 6:53 pm | #7 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 13,454
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Re: Found EKCO device in the attic
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5th Jan 2020, 7:09 pm | #8 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK.
Posts: 8,923
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Re: Found EKCO device in the attic
Nice find and welcome to the forum.It might even charge the 2 volt accumulator in use at that time.
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G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S |
5th Jan 2020, 8:06 pm | #9 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 5,737
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Re: Found EKCO device in the attic
Quote:
£10.17.6d in 1930 - ouch, not a trifling sum, but neither were HT and grid bias batteries, plus frequent accumulator re-charging, which - to quote the advert - was 'fiddlesome'! I notice the bayonet lighting fitting main connector, so ubiquitous in days of yore into which to plug anything from an electric iron to an electric fire, with no thought as to the loading on the lighting circuit - probably TRS insulated.
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David. BVWS Member. G-QRP Club member 1339. |
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5th Jan 2020, 11:35 pm | #10 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 9,637
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Re: Found EKCO device in the attic
My tuppence worth, battery eliminators were the products that launched Ekco.
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6th Jan 2020, 12:53 am | #11 |
Heptode
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 659
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Re: Found EKCO device in the attic
As has been said Ekco C2A High and Low Tension Eliminator, HT Output up to 20 mA, LT 2 to 6 volts .2 to .5 amp. I have a couple of these which I have got working but I would be careful restoring and powering it up if you haven't had much experience with these early units, the mains transformer doesn't look very impressive. The HT smoothing capacitors in a block in pitch will require replacement, the LT smoothing is done with two early high value early electrolytic capacitors which will now be useless.
Mike. |