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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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Old 5th Jan 2020, 5:32 pm   #1
dasower
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Default 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.
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Old 5th Jan 2020, 5:54 pm   #2
paulsherwin
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Default Re: Found EKCO device in the attic

It appears to be a battery eliminator.
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Old 5th Jan 2020, 5:56 pm   #3
G6Tanuki
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Default 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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Old 5th Jan 2020, 6:38 pm   #4
David G4EBT
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Default 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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Old 5th Jan 2020, 6:46 pm   #5
FIXITNOW
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Default 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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Old 5th Jan 2020, 6:50 pm   #6
stevehertz
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Default 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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Old 5th Jan 2020, 6:53 pm   #7
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Default Re: Found EKCO device in the attic

Ekco A.C.C2A circa 1930:

https://www.americanradiohistory.com...search=%22ekco battery%22

Lawrence.
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Old 5th Jan 2020, 7:09 pm   #8
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Default 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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Old 5th Jan 2020, 8:06 pm   #9
David G4EBT
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Default Re: Found EKCO device in the attic

Quote:
Originally Posted by ms660 View Post
Ekco A.C.C2A circa 1930:

https://www.americanradiohistory.com...search=%22ekco battery%22

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Well spotted Lawrence.

£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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Old 5th Jan 2020, 11:35 pm   #10
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Default Re: Found EKCO device in the attic

My tuppence worth, battery eliminators were the products that launched Ekco.
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Old 6th Jan 2020, 12:53 am   #11
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Default 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.
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