GPO Heat Shunt? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Philips210 · 7th Feb 2018, 11:24 pm

Hi.

I came across this item (attached pic) in a box of miscellaneous junk items at the local car boot sale. It appears to be made from lacquered aluminium. As a guess, it looks like a heat shunt used when soldering vulnerable germanium diodes and transistors. On one handle there's stamped "GPO 1966." On the other handle is stamped SPEARETTE" which I take is the manufacturer. Can anyone confirm my suggestion that it's a heat shunt?

Regards
Symon.

McMurdo · 7th Feb 2018, 11:56 pm

Google shows that Spearette was a brand name of Spear Engineering Co. of Surrey, who made aluminium-based tools for the radio and allied industries.

Products include valve-pin straighteners and jigs for wire harness making

Alistair D · 8th Feb 2018, 12:03 am

I have an identical one here that came from a British Railways signal and telegraph technician. When he gave it to me he described it as a 'heat shunt' though he never said what he used it on. Your assumption would seem to be correct.

Al

Philips210 · 8th Feb 2018, 10:30 am

Hi

Thanks for your replies and the info. It looks to be a handy little item especially when soldering small germanium diodes.

Regards
Symon

7th Feb 2018, 11:24 pm	#1
Philips210 Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Redruth, Cornwall, UK. Posts: 2,573	GPO Heat Shunt? Hi. I came across this item (attached pic) in a box of miscellaneous junk items at the local car boot sale. It appears to be made from lacquered aluminium. As a guess, it looks like a heat shunt used when soldering vulnerable germanium diodes and transistors. On one handle there's stamped "GPO 1966." On the other handle is stamped SPEARETTE" which I take is the manufacturer. Can anyone confirm my suggestion that it's a heat shunt? Regards Symon. Attached Thumbnails

7th Feb 2018, 11:56 pm	#2
McMurdo Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 5,269	Re: GPO Heat Shunt? Google shows that Spearette was a brand name of Spear Engineering Co. of Surrey, who made aluminium-based tools for the radio and allied industries. Products include valve-pin straighteners and jigs for wire harness making __________________ Kevin

8th Feb 2018, 12:03 am	#3
Alistair D Nonode Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Edinburgh, UK. Posts: 2,008	Re: GPO Heat Shunt? I have an identical one here that came from a British Railways signal and telegraph technician. When he gave it to me he described it as a 'heat shunt' though he never said what he used it on. Your assumption would seem to be correct. Al __________________ I won't tell you how I discovered that.

8th Feb 2018, 10:30 am	#4
Philips210 Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Redruth, Cornwall, UK. Posts: 2,573	Re: GPO Heat Shunt? Hi Thanks for your replies and the info. It looks to be a handy little item especially when soldering small germanium diodes. Regards Symon