Ekco PT378 - finished at long last :) - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

howard · 3rd Oct 2005, 9:21 pm

Hello again,

I've been busy again ..... this time another well known classis 60s radio that I wanted in near mint condition, to add to my collection. Its taken me two months to complete this PT378, mainly because I had to wait for a second scrap radio to replace some of the parts.

I bought the first one from eBay for £14, it was described as near mint and when I received it just wasn't , not with chunks of the the red vinyl knocked off the back cover, it was dirty and all the brasswork was badly tarnished, one of those auction descriptions where all the good features are highlighted and all the faults omitted ....

So I needed a new back for the PT378 and eventually I found a second scruffy 'Ekro' radio on eBay and acquired it for £5. When it arrived it was the same colour, and the rear cover was excellent and looked identical .... except for the position of the rear cover screws and their mounting plates and holes, drat ! So I set about adapting the mounting plates. This meant drilling holes in the mounting plates next to the existing holes and then tapping in threads and thats when the problems started cos these old radios aren't metric. I had to acquire a 1/8" whitworth tap to do this job but I eventually succeeded and the rear cover now fits fine

I completely stripped down the case of the PT378, its fairly straightforward, the PCB, speaker, handle and all the brass trim comes off easily. I cleaned the case, handle and grille with upholstery cleaner and the brass handle mountings and the grille trim with Brasso, and what good quality the brass is on these old radios, it all came up like new

I reassembled the radio, cleaned the wavechange switch with switch cleaner cos it was very noisy and that was the job done

I read somewhere that this little radio is almost as well known a classic as the Bush TR82C. I think its a much nicer looking radio than the Bush, with its lovely brass fittings and Im really pleased with it

It works well too, and sounds just as good as a TR82. Now to find an Ekco 208 !

Howard

3rd Oct 2005, 9:21 pm	#1
howard Nonode Join Date: May 2005 Location: Godalming, Surrey, UK. Posts: 2,593	Ekco PT378 - finished at long last :) Hello again, I've been busy again ..... this time another well known classis 60s radio that I wanted in near mint condition, to add to my collection. Its taken me two months to complete this PT378, mainly because I had to wait for a second scrap radio to replace some of the parts. I bought the first one from eBay for £14, it was described as near mint and when I received it just wasn't , not with chunks of the the red vinyl knocked off the back cover, it was dirty and all the brasswork was badly tarnished, one of those auction descriptions where all the good features are highlighted and all the faults omitted .... So I needed a new back for the PT378 and eventually I found a second scruffy 'Ekro' radio on eBay and acquired it for £5. When it arrived it was the same colour, and the rear cover was excellent and looked identical .... except for the position of the rear cover screws and their mounting plates and holes, drat ! So I set about adapting the mounting plates. This meant drilling holes in the mounting plates next to the existing holes and then tapping in threads and thats when the problems started cos these old radios aren't metric. I had to acquire a 1/8" whitworth tap to do this job but I eventually succeeded and the rear cover now fits fine I completely stripped down the case of the PT378, its fairly straightforward, the PCB, speaker, handle and all the brass trim comes off easily. I cleaned the case, handle and grille with upholstery cleaner and the brass handle mountings and the grille trim with Brasso, and what good quality the brass is on these old radios, it all came up like new I reassembled the radio, cleaned the wavechange switch with switch cleaner cos it was very noisy and that was the job done I read somewhere that this little radio is almost as well known a classic as the Bush TR82C. I think its a much nicer looking radio than the Bush, with its lovely brass fittings and Im really pleased with it It works well too, and sounds just as good as a TR82. Now to find an Ekco 208 ! Howard Attached Thumbnails Last edited by howard; 3rd Oct 2005 at 9:45 pm.