Identify old Astor? (Actually an Aristone).

[Phantomrose1999]

Got these parts from an old Astor radio / record player. Am trying to identify the model so I can find a schematic. 2x valves are 6gw8. The other two can’t be identified.

There is no tuning cap but a coil that moves to change stations

Has a nice Garrard changed that seems to be a pull down one as there is a handle underneath

It’s an Australian one as the dial has local stations.

Thanks

[Phantomrose1999]

Oh it’s not an Astor, the lettering on the speaker says “Aristone”. ?

[paulsherwin]

For those of us on this side of the world, the 6GW8 is an ECL86.

It appears to be a stereogram chassis from the early 60s.

Aussie designers very much went their own way in the 50s and 60s, partly because VHF/FM broadcasting started much later than in North America and Europe.

[Phantomrose1999]

Apologies all. Once I found correct name in found the units identify.

[paulsherwin]

Indeed, that seems to be it. Some of these designs look distinctly wacky to British eyes.

[Phantomrose1999]

Well short lived excitement as there is zero info on this unit. So after some hunting I found something similar in that it has the same outputs 6gw8x2 and the schematic shows use of a turning coil, with two valves. One for the oscillator / mixer 6an7 and the if amp 6n8.

But the two radio circuit valves have lost all the markings !

Anyone care to guess which is which based on the photos ? 😂

Could try each way around and watch for smoke but rather not

And normal people think watching a murder mystery on a Friday night is exciting.

[Phantomrose1999]

Did some visual comparisons of what the correct 2 radio circuit valves look like.

My best guess is in the photo.

Mainly based on the outer mesh is higher in one than the other

Anyone concur pls ?

[paulsherwin]

They do look very similar. I don't think anything will break if you fit the two valves the wrong way round. Valves are pretty tough.

[Herald1360]

Can you measure interelectrode capacitances? That might give clues to the valves' identities given that there're only two possibilities......

[Phantomrose1999]

Well I cleaned and oiled the turntable. Huge amount of baked on grease. Still need to put the idler in my drill and take a mill off to get to the softer bits.

First tried it with the two output valves installed. Faint sound was heard ! Yay

Then I installed the two radio valves and got nothing. ��

So first to fix the amp section then work back to radio, suspect most caps are gone

I like the white Garrard slimline AT6.

[vidjoman]

I think there’s a resemblance of Philips about the IF transformers. If the valves are Philips/Mullard types then there should be etched numbers on the sides just above the pins that will lead you to the correct types.

[Herald1360]

Originally Posted by Phantomrose1999

.....

I like the white Garrard slimline AT6.

Looks like an AT5 rather than AT6.

[Phantomrose1999]

Well I changed a few caps and measured every voltage at the outputs. All voltages are good, about 285 at anode and 200 at the grid.

Yet very faint buzz when I stick my screwdriver at the grid of each triode half. One side is slightly louder than the other

There are two volume individual volume controls. No balance.

As there is not much else to check here, could both the outputs be worn out if defective ?

Repaired a lot of Grundig’s and as long as the voltages were good and wax caps replaced they worked. Never seen a bad Grundig output valve yet.

[Phantomrose1999]

Originally Posted by Herald1360

Looks like an AT5 rather than AT6.

I thought the smaller platter was called the auto slim version of the AT6. But I could well be wrong

[Phantomrose1999]

Originally Posted by vidjoman

I think there’s a resemblance of Philips about the IF transformers. If the valves are Philips/Mullard types then there should be etched numbers on the sides just above the pins that will lead you to the correct types.

I believe this is a variant of the Philips 227 tempo units.

[Phantomrose1999]

Fixed. Long story but so simple in the end

The big 1500 ohm resistor in the power supply was high at 12.5k instead of 1500 ohms. But still managed to supply 200v instead of the required 250v after resistor change.

Voltages were the first thing I checked and would have expected less than 200 with a 12.5k resistor instead of 1500 ohms. Doh

https://youtu.be/iD-olwPv14Q

[petervk2mlg]

https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_hers...any_id=13280#a

You might find more information by joining the Australian Valve Radio Facebook group and asking there.