Kolster Brandes WG20. Help needed please. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Pumpkin408 · 13th May 2018, 2:54 pm

I have inherited a lovely radiogram from my grandparents and have been fascinated by it since I first saw it many years ago as a small child.
Since moving it from their house it refuses to play sound or light up the tuner display front. The turn table is working but nothing else.
I have taken the back off and none of the valves are warming up. One of them looks very cloudy compared to the rest.
I have tried ringing a couple of repair places but nobody is interested.
I would dearly love to get this wonderful unit back to full working condition as it has so many fond memories for me.

Any help/direction that anyone can give will be greatly received.

Station X · 13th May 2018, 3:56 pm

Hello and welcome to the forums.

The symptoms you describe are consistent with the internal 750mA fuse, which also doubles as a voltage selector, having blown. I suggest you check this visually first. It's located on the back panel along with the aerial sockets etc.

Service information for this radiogram is available here:-

https://www.service-data.com/product...00/4258/t13200

Pumpkin408 · 14th May 2018, 9:54 am

Hi Graham
Thanks for the welcome and thanks for the prompt reply.
You are right on the money, have checked the fuse this morning and there is no continuity.
Many thanks for the link, it's very helpful. I will be downloading a copy of that.

Silly question but are there still companies still manufacturing spares for these radiograms?

Thanks again

Andrew.

crackle · 14th May 2018, 6:37 pm

Graham is correct it could be the internal fuse. The radiogram is fitted with an STC GC2 chassis. If the internal fuse has come loose refit it. If the fuse has blown investigation will have to be done to find out why it has blown.

Mike

Pumpkin408 · 22nd May 2018, 10:15 pm

Hi Mike

When I first got the unit home and tried it there was no power, with further investigation I found the line (red) wire was pulled out of the plug end and only one to two strands of cable touching the fuse connection point inside the plug. Could this have caused the internal F1 750ma fuse to blow?

When I tested the fuse there was nothing and taking the plastic cap off I could see the fuse wire had blown (it was running outside the glass

)

Thanks, Andrew.

Station X · 22nd May 2018, 10:47 pm

It's not easy to say what caused a fuse to blow.

Are you able to measure the resistance of the primary winding of the mains transformer? It should be about 21 ohms.

Edward Huggins · 23rd May 2018, 9:07 am

Above you asked if spares are still made? Just about all of the components needed to make your Radiogram work again are available today. I can't see what type of autochanger you have fitted, but would date this mid-range, stereo unit, as being from about 1962/4.

HamishBoxer · 23rd May 2018, 10:40 am

If one of the valves that describe as cloudy ie white inside there is a strong possibility it could be short circuit ,hence the fuse blows.

Though there are a few other bits that need checking/changing inc the mains filter cap and at least the output grid coupling cap.

13th May 2018, 2:54 pm	#1
Pumpkin408 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: May 2018 Location: Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales, UK. Posts: 3	Kolster Brandes WG20. Help needed please. I have inherited a lovely radiogram from my grandparents and have been fascinated by it since I first saw it many years ago as a small child. Since moving it from their house it refuses to play sound or light up the tuner display front. The turn table is working but nothing else. I have taken the back off and none of the valves are warming up. One of them looks very cloudy compared to the rest. I have tried ringing a couple of repair places but nobody is interested. I would dearly love to get this wonderful unit back to full working condition as it has so many fond memories for me. Any help/direction that anyone can give will be greatly received. Attached Thumbnails

13th May 2018, 3:56 pm	#2
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: Kolster Brandes WG20. Help needed please. Hello and welcome to the forums. The symptoms you describe are consistent with the internal 750mA fuse, which also doubles as a voltage selector, having blown. I suggest you check this visually first. It's located on the back panel along with the aerial sockets etc. Service information for this radiogram is available here:- https://www.service-data.com/product...00/4258/t13200 __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

14th May 2018, 9:54 am	#3
Pumpkin408 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: May 2018 Location: Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales, UK. Posts: 3	Re: Kolster Brandes WG20. Help needed please. Hi Graham Thanks for the welcome and thanks for the prompt reply. You are right on the money, have checked the fuse this morning and there is no continuity. Many thanks for the link, it's very helpful. I will be downloading a copy of that. Silly question but are there still companies still manufacturing spares for these radiograms? Thanks again Andrew.

14th May 2018, 6:37 pm	#4
crackle Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Basildon, Essex, UK. Posts: 4,100	Re: Kolster Brandes WG20. Help needed please. Graham is correct it could be the internal fuse. The radiogram is fitted with an STC GC2 chassis. If the internal fuse has come loose refit it. If the fuse has blown investigation will have to be done to find out why it has blown. Mike

22nd May 2018, 10:15 pm	#5
Pumpkin408 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: May 2018 Location: Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales, UK. Posts: 3	Re: Kolster Brandes WG20. Help needed please. Hi Mike When I first got the unit home and tried it there was no power, with further investigation I found the line (red) wire was pulled out of the plug end and only one to two strands of cable touching the fuse connection point inside the plug. Could this have caused the internal F1 750ma fuse to blow? When I tested the fuse there was nothing and taking the plastic cap off I could see the fuse wire had blown (it was running outside the glass) Thanks, Andrew.

22nd May 2018, 10:47 pm	#6
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: Kolster Brandes WG20. Help needed please. It's not easy to say what caused a fuse to blow. Are you able to measure the resistance of the primary winding of the mains transformer? It should be about 21 ohms. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

23rd May 2018, 9:07 am	#7
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,328	Re: Kolster Brandes WG20. Help needed please. Above you asked if spares are still made? Just about all of the components needed to make your Radiogram work again are available today. I can't see what type of autochanger you have fitted, but would date this mid-range, stereo unit, as being from about 1962/4. __________________ Edward.

23rd May 2018, 10:40 am	#8
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,932	Re: Kolster Brandes WG20. Help needed please. If one of the valves that describe as cloudy ie white inside there is a strong possibility it could be short circuit ,hence the fuse blows. Though there are a few other bits that need checking/changing inc the mains filter cap and at least the output grid coupling cap. __________________ G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S