Pye VHF 3D - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Ever-HMV · 1st Dec 2011, 6:34 pm

After many weeks languishing in the garage due to lack of time, my Pye VHF 3D is finally finished, apart from needing an EM84 for the "Magic Eye" and a missing brass trim on the tuning knob.

On the electronics side, things were pretty straight forward. The usual caps were replaced, plus a couple of high value resistors around the audio amp stages.

The ECC85 was replaced, which restored normal operation on VHF; since I put it all back together, I've noticed some tuner drift as it warms up. If it becomes annoying I'll have to change the caps around the FM L.O. Happily, everything else worked

The cabinet required rather more work however, as it's condition was pretty poor. It was all stripped back to bare wood with Nitromors, stained with a blend of woodstains that matched approximately the original colour, and given 4 - 5 coats of thinned varnish, sanded between coats.

The speaker cloth was beyond recovery, despite much effort. New cloth was obtained from Ebay - a pattern intended for vintage Marshall Guitar Amps I understand. It's not an exact match, but I think it works pretty well!

The sound quality on FM is excellent, and it has proved more sensitive on FM then many of my other radios, on just it's internal aerial.

Photos attached show:

1. The finished result

2. Initial condition

3. Close-up of initial condition

I'm really pleased to get it finished, especially as I have several other radios in the "to do" pile that should keep me going until the next Harpenden event!

Rob

Andrewausfa · 1st Dec 2011, 7:08 pm

A very nice job on the cabinet. Well done.

Andrew

Mark the Mender · 1st Dec 2011, 7:21 pm

Nice job Rob, that looks like new.

cheers Mark

tedzed1 · 1st Dec 2011, 8:02 pm

Nice work rob, love the shine on the cabinet,
I agree with Mark, looks like it has just come out of it's box.

Ever-HMV · 1st Dec 2011, 8:22 pm

Thanks for all the kind coments guys

If you ever see another one I'd thouroghly reccomend buying it as the sound quality is excellent.

Rob

mark pirate · 1st Dec 2011, 8:48 pm

Nice work, that cabinet looks superb, well done

Mark

bobbyball · 1st Dec 2011, 10:26 pm

Beautiful job!

Robert

BGmidsUK · 5th Dec 2011, 8:23 pm

What an amazing difference some TLC makes. Nice looking radio! Are these stereo capable (probably dumb question - I don't know when stereo first appeared)?

Brian

Ever-HMV · 5th Dec 2011, 8:50 pm

Hi Brian

These are stereo on the 'gram' input only, the radio is mono. Nonetheless, it's a fabulous radio, and has been well worth the effort in restoring it

I've noticed a Radio-gram version up for sale on a popular website recently; but I don't have room for something that big

Regards

Rob

yestertech · 5th Dec 2011, 10:38 pm

I'm (almost ) speechless - Looks great
One to pop under the tree ??

Andy

ThePillenwerfer · 5th Dec 2011, 10:42 pm

Fantastic job. The 'wrong' speaker cloth looks better than the original.

- Joe

Hybrid tellies · 6th Dec 2011, 2:21 am

Looks really good that cabinet just shines.

1st Dec 2011, 6:34 pm	#1
Ever-HMV Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 144	Pye VHF 3D After many weeks languishing in the garage due to lack of time, my Pye VHF 3D is finally finished, apart from needing an EM84 for the "Magic Eye" and a missing brass trim on the tuning knob. On the electronics side, things were pretty straight forward. The usual caps were replaced, plus a couple of high value resistors around the audio amp stages. The ECC85 was replaced, which restored normal operation on VHF; since I put it all back together, I've noticed some tuner drift as it warms up. If it becomes annoying I'll have to change the caps around the FM L.O. Happily, everything else worked The cabinet required rather more work however, as it's condition was pretty poor. It was all stripped back to bare wood with Nitromors, stained with a blend of woodstains that matched approximately the original colour, and given 4 - 5 coats of thinned varnish, sanded between coats. The speaker cloth was beyond recovery, despite much effort. New cloth was obtained from Ebay - a pattern intended for vintage Marshall Guitar Amps I understand. It's not an exact match, but I think it works pretty well! The sound quality on FM is excellent, and it has proved more sensitive on FM then many of my other radios, on just it's internal aerial. Photos attached show: 1. The finished result 2. Initial condition 3. Close-up of initial condition I'm really pleased to get it finished, especially as I have several other radios in the "to do" pile that should keep me going until the next Harpenden event! Rob Attached Thumbnails

1st Dec 2011, 7:08 pm	#2
Andrewausfa Octode Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: St Ives, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 1,180	Re: Pye VHF 3D A very nice job on the cabinet. Well done. Andrew __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life. Or they should do. BVWS Member

1st Dec 2011, 7:21 pm	#3
Mark the Mender Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Warrington, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 421	Re: Pye VHF 3D Nice job Rob, that looks like new. cheers Mark

1st Dec 2011, 8:02 pm	#4
tedzed1 Hexode Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Tamworth, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 320	Re: Pye VHF 3D Nice work rob, love the shine on the cabinet, I agree with Mark, looks like it has just come out of it's box. __________________ Cheers Paul.

1st Dec 2011, 8:22 pm	#5
Ever-HMV Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 144	Re: Pye VHF 3D Thanks for all the kind coments guys If you ever see another one I'd thouroghly reccomend buying it as the sound quality is excellent. Rob

1st Dec 2011, 8:48 pm	#6
mark pirate Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK Posts: 5,185	Re: Pye VHF 3D Nice work, that cabinet looks superb, well done Mark

1st Dec 2011, 10:26 pm	#7
bobbyball Octode Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester Posts: 1,217	Re: Pye VHF 3D Beautiful job! Robert

5th Dec 2011, 8:23 pm	#8
BGmidsUK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Leicester, UK. Posts: 809	Re: Pye VHF 3D What an amazing difference some TLC makes. Nice looking radio! Are these stereo capable (probably dumb question - I don't know when stereo first appeared)? Brian

5th Dec 2011, 8:50 pm	#9
Ever-HMV Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 144	Re: Pye VHF 3D Hi Brian These are stereo on the 'gram' input only, the radio is mono. Nonetheless, it's a fabulous radio, and has been well worth the effort in restoring it I've noticed a Radio-gram version up for sale on a popular website recently; but I don't have room for something that big Regards Rob

5th Dec 2011, 10:38 pm	#10
yestertech Nonode Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Coulsdon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 2,135	Re: Pye VHF 3D I'm (almost ) speechless - Looks great One to pop under the tree ?? Andy

5th Dec 2011, 10:42 pm	#11
ThePillenwerfer Octode Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,453	Re: Pye VHF 3D Fantastic job. The 'wrong' speaker cloth looks better than the original. - Joe __________________ "Experts are only good at one thing: explaining why something will not work!"

6th Dec 2011, 2:21 am	#12
Hybrid tellies Nonode Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: 1966-1976 Coverack in Cornwall and Helston Cornwall. 1976-present Bristol/Bath area. Posts: 2,967	Re: Pye VHF 3D Looks really good that cabinet just shines. __________________ Simon BVWS member