Sweetheart Radio - Page 2 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Anthony Thomas · 9th Jan 2013, 11:00 pm

I am glad that I found this website, I have two sets of replica chassis for this Sweetheart project. All cut with tinsnips and folded in a 4" Record benchvice at home.

The only real challenge is finding a coil former with adjusting slug, I might even try using a suitable Denco Green coil in mine.

The reduction drive and tuning scale was turned in a lathe by a friend of mine and just needs a scale drawing up and glueing in place.

Many of the original sets have either been molested or otherwise modified so original and unrestored sets are usually more collectable. The earpices are often damaged or missing.

I wonder if the sets were manufactured by Bush? they were designed by Willy Simonsen I believe.

Tony

Packhow75 · 13th Jan 2013, 12:22 am

I have an original Norway set - nice radio (not working) - alas the headset has been hard-wired into the set (looks like it was done years ago - so perhaps a "field mod") - am looking for an original headset in good condition - ideally in the tin. If anyone has one for sale, please PM me, Cheers, Tim

Packhow75 · 13th Jan 2013, 12:23 am

Happy to post photos of my set if anyone's interested.

BobGreen · 13th Jan 2013, 2:46 pm

My first homebrew valve radio used an 1T4 bought from a shop run by a dodgy bloke who ended up in prison for selling stuff before the RAF had finished with it. A mate of mine bought the shop contents and I catalogued it for him so sell.

Cobaltblue · 13th Jan 2013, 3:05 pm

Hi Tim

I would be interested in seeing your pictures.

Cheers

Mike T

Packhow75 · 15th Jan 2013, 1:29 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobaltblue

I would be interested in seeing your pictures.

Tim

HamishBoxer · 15th Jan 2013, 1:50 pm

Very nice,love it.

Anthony Thomas · 22nd Jan 2013, 11:37 am

Excellent photo Tim, I have some photos but no scanner.

I have knocked out three chassis to make a replica, all measured from an original set and bent up in my trusty 4" Record vice.

A friend of mine turned a tuning scale inner core out of nylon and this just needs a scale gluing onto it.

The real challenge for me will be to source a suitable adjustable cored coil former and the litz wire to wind it on. I fancy trying to make a wave winding coil machine one day but that might just be another dream.

Any replica will be just that a replica and not worth that much.

Those ear pieces will be quite a challenge to source Tim, I wonder if they were made by medrisco that made those hearing aids back in the early 1950s? They are often a missing item on the original sets despite there being many sets made and "dropped" by parachute.

3delta2lb · 2nd Mar 2016, 12:07 pm

Good morning everyone. Looking at the date of the last post, perhaps I can be excused for 'reviving' the topic (and trying to complete a project started 2 or 3 years back). I feel that would-be replica-builders are perhaps put off by the lack of suitable HT batteries...
Not being a 'purist' when it comes to replicas. I have taken a few liberties, especially in relation to the PSU. Higher voltage batteries suitable for the HT are either rare or expensive or low capacity. On the other hand, high capacity (3000mAh) 1V2 NiMH are readily available and cheap. For the filament/bias supply, I use four of these in series in a 'battery box' (via a low current germanium diode to give a 0.3V drop). The pack also feeds a tiny 'far-east' up-converter to give about 35V for the HT supply.
When the set is not in use, the batteries are recharged by a very simple constant current charger on a tiny (1" x 0.9" piece of veroboard).
Everything seems to work, although the receiver output seems a bit low. I haven't yet looked into this...not sure what to expect really.
Andre GM3VLB/ex-5Z4KL

Tractorfan · 7th Mar 2016, 12:29 am

Hi,
Those 4.5volt pocket torch batteries are still widely available, and cheap, in France, if I'm thinking of the same ones with the metal strips on top.
Cheers, Pete

9th Jan 2013, 11:00 pm	#21
Anthony Thomas Hexode Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ålesund, Norway Posts: 361	Re: Sweetheart Radio I am glad that I found this website, I have two sets of replica chassis for this Sweetheart project. All cut with tinsnips and folded in a 4" Record benchvice at home. The only real challenge is finding a coil former with adjusting slug, I might even try using a suitable Denco Green coil in mine. The reduction drive and tuning scale was turned in a lathe by a friend of mine and just needs a scale drawing up and glueing in place. Many of the original sets have either been molested or otherwise modified so original and unrestored sets are usually more collectable. The earpices are often damaged or missing. I wonder if the sets were manufactured by Bush? they were designed by Willy Simonsen I believe. Tony Last edited by Anthony Thomas; 9th Jan 2013 at 11:09 pm.

13th Jan 2013, 12:22 am	#22
Packhow75 Tetrode Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 55	Re: Sweetheart Radio I have an original Norway set - nice radio (not working) - alas the headset has been hard-wired into the set (looks like it was done years ago - so perhaps a "field mod") - am looking for an original headset in good condition - ideally in the tin. If anyone has one for sale, please PM me, Cheers, Tim

13th Jan 2013, 12:23 am	#23
Packhow75 Tetrode Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 55	Re: Sweetheart Radio Happy to post photos of my set if anyone's interested.

13th Jan 2013, 2:46 pm	#24
BobGreen Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Egham, Surrey, UK. Posts: 219	Re: Sweetheart Radio My first homebrew valve radio used an 1T4 bought from a shop run by a dodgy bloke who ended up in prison for selling stuff before the RAF had finished with it. A mate of mine bought the shop contents and I catalogued it for him so sell.

13th Jan 2013, 3:05 pm	#25
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,865	Re: Sweetheart Radio Hi Tim I would be interested in seeing your pictures. Cheers Mike T __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk

15th Jan 2013, 1:50 pm	#27
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,932	Re: Sweetheart Radio Very nice,love it. __________________ G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S

22nd Jan 2013, 11:37 am	#28
Anthony Thomas Hexode Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ålesund, Norway Posts: 361	Re: Sweetheart Radio Excellent photo Tim, I have some photos but no scanner. I have knocked out three chassis to make a replica, all measured from an original set and bent up in my trusty 4" Record vice. A friend of mine turned a tuning scale inner core out of nylon and this just needs a scale gluing onto it. The real challenge for me will be to source a suitable adjustable cored coil former and the litz wire to wind it on. I fancy trying to make a wave winding coil machine one day but that might just be another dream. Any replica will be just that a replica and not worth that much. Those ear pieces will be quite a challenge to source Tim, I wonder if they were made by medrisco that made those hearing aids back in the early 1950s? They are often a missing item on the original sets despite there being many sets made and "dropped" by parachute.

2nd Mar 2016, 12:07 pm	#29
3delta2lb Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kelso, Scottish Borders Posts: 63	Re: Sweetheart Radio Good morning everyone. Looking at the date of the last post, perhaps I can be excused for 'reviving' the topic (and trying to complete a project started 2 or 3 years back). I feel that would-be replica-builders are perhaps put off by the lack of suitable HT batteries... Not being a 'purist' when it comes to replicas. I have taken a few liberties, especially in relation to the PSU. Higher voltage batteries suitable for the HT are either rare or expensive or low capacity. On the other hand, high capacity (3000mAh) 1V2 NiMH are readily available and cheap. For the filament/bias supply, I use four of these in series in a 'battery box' (via a low current germanium diode to give a 0.3V drop). The pack also feeds a tiny 'far-east' up-converter to give about 35V for the HT supply. When the set is not in use, the batteries are recharged by a very simple constant current charger on a tiny (1" x 0.9" piece of veroboard). Everything seems to work, although the receiver output seems a bit low. I haven't yet looked into this...not sure what to expect really. Andre GM3VLB/ex-5Z4KL Attached Thumbnails

7th Mar 2016, 12:29 am	#30
Tractorfan Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Frajou, l'Isle en Dodon, Haute Garonne, France.(Previously: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, UK.) Posts: 3,183	Re: Sweetheart Radio Hi, Those 4.5volt pocket torch batteries are still widely available, and cheap, in France, if I'm thinking of the same ones with the metal strips on top. Cheers, Pete __________________ "Hello?, Yes, I'm on the train, I might lose the signal soon as we're just going into a tunn..."