Most modified R1155? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

kalee99 · 15th Jan 2009, 6:18 pm

Hello All,
Just wondering if the R1155 I just bought will win any prizes for the "most modified set"?
Whoever did the mod's knew their stuff and it is all very neat and tidy. All the wiring has has identification rings on so every wire can be traced out and the acrylic cover the the facia, and indeed the facia itself are of professional quality

Needless
to say it all works like a charm and is pulling in stations and "hams", from all over the world

Paul.

Skywave · 15th Jan 2009, 7:55 pm

Interesting specimen, that: likely to divide enthusiasts into two distinct camps - if you follow my meaning!

The quality of the workmanship is obviously very high; may have been done by a professional, or at least someone with a great deal of hard-won experience.

For myself, I'd be very happy with it - although I can well appreciate that there are some who would not agree with me. Each to his own; beauty in the eye of the beholder, etc.

Al. / Skywave.

Ed_Dinning · 15th Jan 2009, 8:28 pm

Hi Paul, I will probably upset some people but it looks much better than the original; does it perform better as well?

Ed

kalee99 · 15th Jan 2009, 8:48 pm

Hi Ed,
I cannot say if it performs any better than the original as I have never had one! But it has a fully adjustable BFO which the original lacked. It is very sensitive on all wavelengths and the RF and IF gain controls are most essential to prevent swamping on strong signals. Tuning is very accurate and all the scale markings match up with my signal generator spot on.
At least I cannot be blamed for the Modifications! I bought the set from a "silent key", sale. I did not know the person it belonged too but they must have been very skilled indeed in electronics and mechanical engineering!
Paul

Skywave · 15th Jan 2009, 10:31 pm

Just a quick afterthought.

I do like the way the new knobs (gain controls) have been chosen to be sympathetic to the style of the original main tuning centre knob. OTOH, the original W/C knob has been retained. All clever stuff, since it is still 'recognisable' as an R1155, but perhaps a 1960's version! It's all to easy to spoil the appearance of a piece of well-built home-brew or modified kit by poor choice of knobs, controls, layout, etc.

Al.

dave walsh · 15th Jan 2009, 11:30 pm

Hi Paul-it looks great up-dated and efficient as people have said. I've seen another one [in Radiophile Mag?] as well sorted as this but that one kept the original look, apart from black computer speakers on top as the o/p stage.
Surprisingly, this looked good as well. I agree that as much consideration seems to have been given to the look as to the technical side. Mine hasn't been worked on yet but I suspect that it will only ever qualify as the 1155 with the most frightening and alarming external PSU.... untouched after half a century

.

Is the Signal Strength Indicator on yours a modern horizontal panel meter or something else I wonder? Dave W

kalee99 · 16th Jan 2009, 11:16 pm

Hi Dave,
the signal "strength indicator", is in fact an EM 84 magic eye and it works very well!
Paul

AC/HL · 16th Jan 2009, 11:47 pm

It wouldn't matter what you did to the 1155, it would still be instantly recognisable. What better tribute to the Designer(s) could there be than to keep their design alive. 60 years + on and still capable of doing what it was designed to do, even keeping up with later developments.
Museum pieces have their place, and I for one would treasure an original, still in it's transit case, as I drooled over in the then current PW advertisements of my youth, but this one is a tribute to both it's Designers and the Engineer who should have left his name on it somewhere.

Norman Wells · 8th Feb 2009, 1:56 pm

I also have an R1155N model which I took from a crashed Lanc. and then repaired and modified myself.When I recovered it something had gone through tuning unit , [Missing me fortunately !]which I was subsequently able to replace. It was interesting to me particularly,since it bore my Test stamp.I began my career Testing both the T1154 and its companion receiver.The first one I ever saw was in a Mk.I Halifax bomber at RAF West Raynham in the Autumn of 1941.The last one I used operationally was in a Halifax C8 on the Berlin Airlift .Alas the model I have is not in as splendid condition as the the one in the Photo But it still Works ! Alas I expect it will end on the scrap heap when I am gone Norman Wells

peter_scott · 8th Feb 2009, 4:47 pm

Hi Norman,

If you write a little about your ownership and background and attach it to your 1155 I'm absolutely certain it won't end up on the scrap heap.

Regards,

Peter

Brased · 8th Feb 2009, 9:45 pm

Hi Norman

Is your R1155 a real R1155N? I ask because this version had a different frequency coverage (1.5 to 3.0 MHz in place of 75 - 200 KHz) to the more normal version and was originally intended for use in Coastal Command and for airsea rescue launches and suchlike. Thus it would not normally have been installed in a Lancaster.

I have been told that although this was the rule originally, later the L (aluminium) and N (steel) versions were fitted indiscriminately as replacements for the standard coverage versions.

Edward

15th Jan 2009, 6:18 pm	#1
kalee99 Rest in Peace Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyneside, UK. Posts: 420	Most modified R1155? Hello All, Just wondering if the R1155 I just bought will win any prizes for the "most modified set"? Whoever did the mod's knew their stuff and it is all very neat and tidy. All the wiring has has identification rings on so every wire can be traced out and the acrylic cover the the facia, and indeed the facia itself are of professional quality Needless to say it all works like a charm and is pulling in stations and "hams", from all over the world Paul. Attached Thumbnails

15th Jan 2009, 7:55 pm	#2
Skywave Rest in Peace Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chard, South Somerset, UK. Posts: 7,457	Re: Most modified R1155? Interesting specimen, that: likely to divide enthusiasts into two distinct camps - if you follow my meaning! The quality of the workmanship is obviously very high; may have been done by a professional, or at least someone with a great deal of hard-won experience. For myself, I'd be very happy with it - although I can well appreciate that there are some who would not agree with me. Each to his own; beauty in the eye of the beholder, etc. Al. / Skywave.

15th Jan 2009, 8:28 pm	#3
Ed_Dinning Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK. Posts: 8,195	Re: Most modified R1155? Hi Paul, I will probably upset some people but it looks much better than the original; does it perform better as well? Ed

15th Jan 2009, 8:48 pm	#4
kalee99 Rest in Peace Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyneside, UK. Posts: 420	Re: Most modified R1155? Hi Ed, I cannot say if it performs any better than the original as I have never had one! But it has a fully adjustable BFO which the original lacked. It is very sensitive on all wavelengths and the RF and IF gain controls are most essential to prevent swamping on strong signals. Tuning is very accurate and all the scale markings match up with my signal generator spot on. At least I cannot be blamed for the Modifications! I bought the set from a "silent key", sale. I did not know the person it belonged too but they must have been very skilled indeed in electronics and mechanical engineering! Paul

15th Jan 2009, 10:31 pm	#5
Skywave Rest in Peace Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chard, South Somerset, UK. Posts: 7,457	Re: Most modified R1155? Just a quick afterthought. I do like the way the new knobs (gain controls) have been chosen to be sympathetic to the style of the original main tuning centre knob. OTOH, the original W/C knob has been retained. All clever stuff, since it is still 'recognisable' as an R1155, but perhaps a 1960's version! It's all to easy to spoil the appearance of a piece of well-built home-brew or modified kit by poor choice of knobs, controls, layout, etc. Al.

15th Jan 2009, 11:30 pm	#6
dave walsh Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex. Posts: 5,817	Re: Most modified R1155? Hi Paul-it looks great up-dated and efficient as people have said. I've seen another one [in Radiophile Mag?] as well sorted as this but that one kept the original look, apart from black computer speakers on top as the o/p stage. Surprisingly, this looked good as well. I agree that as much consideration seems to have been given to the look as to the technical side. Mine hasn't been worked on yet but I suspect that it will only ever qualify as the 1155 with the most frightening and alarming external PSU.... untouched after half a century. Is the Signal Strength Indicator on yours a modern horizontal panel meter or something else I wonder? Dave W

16th Jan 2009, 11:16 pm	#7
kalee99 Rest in Peace Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyneside, UK. Posts: 420	Re: Most modified R1155? Hi Dave, the signal "strength indicator", is in fact an EM 84 magic eye and it works very well! Paul

16th Jan 2009, 11:47 pm	#8
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,642	Re: Most modified R1155? It wouldn't matter what you did to the 1155, it would still be instantly recognisable. What better tribute to the Designer(s) could there be than to keep their design alive. 60 years + on and still capable of doing what it was designed to do, even keeping up with later developments. Museum pieces have their place, and I for one would treasure an original, still in it's transit case, as I drooled over in the then current PW advertisements of my youth, but this one is a tribute to both it's Designers and the Engineer who should have left his name on it somewhere.

8th Feb 2009, 1:56 pm	#9
Norman Wells Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Tournon D'Agenais, France Posts: 5	Re: Most modified R1155? I also have an R1155N model which I took from a crashed Lanc. and then repaired and modified myself.When I recovered it something had gone through tuning unit , [Missing me fortunately !]which I was subsequently able to replace. It was interesting to me particularly,since it bore my Test stamp.I began my career Testing both the T1154 and its companion receiver.The first one I ever saw was in a Mk.I Halifax bomber at RAF West Raynham in the Autumn of 1941.The last one I used operationally was in a Halifax C8 on the Berlin Airlift .Alas the model I have is not in as splendid condition as the the one in the Photo But it still Works ! Alas I expect it will end on the scrap heap when I am gone Norman Wells

8th Feb 2009, 4:47 pm	#10
peter_scott Dekatron Join Date: May 2003 Location: Edinburgh, UK. Posts: 3,274	Re: Most modified R1155? Hi Norman, If you write a little about your ownership and background and attach it to your 1155 I'm absolutely certain it won't end up on the scrap heap. Regards, Peter __________________ http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk https://www.youtube.com/c/PeterScott/videos

8th Feb 2009, 9:45 pm	#11
Brased Hexode Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: London, UK. Posts: 318	Re: Most modified R1155? Hi Norman Is your R1155 a real R1155N? I ask because this version had a different frequency coverage (1.5 to 3.0 MHz in place of 75 - 200 KHz) to the more normal version and was originally intended for use in Coastal Command and for airsea rescue launches and suchlike. Thus it would not normally have been installed in a Lancaster. I have been told that although this was the rule originally, later the L (aluminium) and N (steel) versions were fitted indiscriminately as replacements for the standard coverage versions. Edward