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Success Stories If you have successfully repaired or restored a piece of equipment, why not write up what you did and post details here. Particularly if it was interesting, unusual or challenging. PLEASE DO NOT POST REQUESTS FOR HELP HERE! |
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5th May 2023, 7:19 pm | #1 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Dundee, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 53
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Hacker Mayflower RV20
This was is my first go at a valve set and was a little nervous.
I paid too much for it but, it was local and I couldn't say no. I don't know what the varnish is on these sets but it was extremely resistant to attempts to remove it (third pic as received, finish was cracked, peeling and missing in places, and someone had had a go at the front panel and torn up the grain in the veneer). A sand down and stain and a few coats of spray varnish got it looking serviceable, it'll never be perfect but it's not bad. Suffered from a few resistors that went high when the set heated up and would cause increasing distortion until the thing was unintelligible. Worked out which ones by observing where the wax coating was running off, and by burning my finger (set powered off of course!) Canned caps restuffed (again a first for me) after one leaked everywhere. Electrolytics replaced and the selenium rectifier emptied and stuffed with silicon diodes. I haven't the skill or equipment to do an alignment but it sounds fab as is. I will probably need to check resistors around magic eye as the bars do not meet in the middle. It's rapidly usurping my Roberts R707 as my favourite radio. Hopefully it'll last, but it's got a new lease of life with me for a bit at least. |
5th May 2023, 8:06 pm | #2 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK.
Posts: 8,830
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Re: Hacker Mayflower RV20
Looks nice, great job you've done there. A couple of points from me. You may not get the bars on the signal strength indicator to meet in the middle, it could just be signal level, not necessarily out of tolerance components. On my set I found the sound lacked bass, and I'm not the first person to comment on this. In this thread I describe a non invasive mod that greatly improves the frequency response of the RV20. https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=110877
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A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever.. |
6th May 2023, 1:26 pm | #3 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Dundee, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 53
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Re: Hacker Mayflower RV20
Thank you for the tip!
I've ordered a long reach phono plug, when it arrives I'll give it a go. It's a shame there aren't separate treble/bass controls on this but it does keep operation nice and simple! |
6th May 2023, 5:23 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK.
Posts: 8,830
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Re: Hacker Mayflower RV20
Well with the mod you only have to adjust for the amount of treble you want. Without it you're wrestling with a sound that lacks bass, so you tend to reduce the treble, but then it becomes muffled. The mod sorts it.
__________________
A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever.. |
6th May 2023, 7:13 pm | #5 |
Nonode
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 2,333
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Re: Hacker Mayflower RV20
It looks good! Well done.
It may have been on DIY Audio as I can't find a thread on here, but I recall having a lot of help when I was restoring my Mayflower II (also my first restoration) which resulted in the magic eye becoming much more responsive. It is a wonderful sounding radio. I shall certainly add your mod to my list of things to investigate, stevehertz... |
6th May 2023, 8:49 pm | #6 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 3,986
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Re: Hacker Mayflower RV20
Quote:
John.
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My favourite text message "I'll be there in five minutes, if not read again" |
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7th May 2023, 9:32 am | #7 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK.
Posts: 3,755
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Re: Hacker Mayflower RV20
First class job well done .Mick.
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10th May 2023, 12:01 pm | #8 |
Hexode
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Burntwood, Staffordshire, UK or Kabaty in Warsaw Poland.
Posts: 439
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Re: Hacker Mayflower RV20
Steves tone modification made a such a vast improvement to the sound quality that I made it permanent in all my 3 HM2s.
Post 42 of this thread shows how I incorporated the 2 resistor/1 capacitor arrangement. https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...=179104&page=3 Mark |
10th May 2023, 12:14 pm | #9 | ||
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK.
Posts: 8,830
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Re: Hacker Mayflower RV20
Quote:
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A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever.. |
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10th May 2023, 1:05 pm | #10 | |||
Dekatron
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 3,986
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Re: Hacker Mayflower RV20
Quote:
John.
__________________
My favourite text message "I'll be there in five minutes, if not read again" |
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11th May 2023, 7:58 pm | #11 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Dundee, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 53
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Re: Hacker Mayflower RV20
I've done the wee modification and the difference is very noticeable, a great improvement thanks!
I am out of 2.2M resistors have put in an order. Thanks all! |