Gerry, Crowthorne Tubes - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Chrissywissy · 21st May 2020, 3:27 pm

Hi All

Does anyone know what has happened to Gerry? I have tried his telephone numbers and his website has disappeared. I wanted to buy an Aurora standards converter. Is he still in business

Thanks

Chris G4RBR

Craig Sawyers · 21st May 2020, 3:54 pm

Well that is very odd. His website is no longer registered. I've tried a whois and it comes back blank.

It is some years since we talked and I visited him down in Crowthorne. He was talking of retiring back then (maybe 8 years ago?). His problem was where to dispose of his collection of valves. Maybe he has closed up and retired somewhere. Hope he's OK.

Apart from his valve, component and test equipment business he had a splendid vintage 1931, 2l Lagonda car that he was in an endless process of restoring and repairing.

I bought my AVO CT160 valve tester from him and lots of valves for various restorations.

Craig

Diabolical Artificer · 21st May 2020, 4:01 pm

I got this when I tried, she doesn't look happy, maybe she's trying to get in touch with Gerry too but is having the same trouble?

Andy.

Chrissywissy · 21st May 2020, 4:13 pm

Thanks for the info Craig. I guess he's retired then. The guys in the States who make the Aurora still think he's in business!

Chrissywissy · 21st May 2020, 4:14 pm

Andy! Yes he must have taken down the site also! Shame...

M0FYA Andy · 21st May 2020, 4:21 pm

He's been effectively retired for quite a while now, but would always do his best to help source oddball valves through his network of contacts. It must sometime last year that I was last in email contact with him. I do hope he is OK.

Andy

merlinmaxwell · 21st May 2020, 4:49 pm

The last time I went to see Gerry was 5 years ago, he said then "I am going to retire". Always lovely to visit him, the cats and vintage vehicles (Poirot, captain Hastings Lagonda) scale real steam engines, often seen in Quel Park Bracknell, and yes I bought a ticket and went for a ride. A ten minute pick up always turned into hours of chat!

dazzlevision · 21st May 2020, 5:14 pm

He is currently selling items on Ebay and I did see him in October last year, to collect an Ebay item in person.

1100 man · 21st May 2020, 11:58 pm

As an alternative to the Aurora, the Hedghog converter is also excellent. It's more versatile with easily selectable options via front panel switches. It can also 're size' video taken from a 16:9 source amongst other useful features.

It has a built in test pattern (not test card 'C') and a band 1 & 3 modulator.

I built two of the MK1 versions which was quite fun never having done any surface mount stuff before.

If you don't fancy building one, forum member Freya was offering fully built ones at a very good price. Search in the 'services offered' section for more details.

Hope that helps

All the best
Nick

Diabolical Artificer · 22nd May 2020, 6:08 am

The shop came up on several hits when i searched, if someones in that neck of the woods could they not have keek to see if it's still there?

After searching a few times the last thread about the site was on this forum and others in 2018 when the site changed from .com to .co.uk. Both websites/addresses came back with similar asian script looking to be selling preparations for unhappy chappies, which is just plain weird, go figure.

Andy.

60 oldjohn · 22nd May 2020, 9:30 am

Whilst slowing down, Gerry is still doing a bit, I got some valves from him a fortnight since. I will PM Chris his Email.

John.

Craig Sawyers · 22nd May 2020, 9:35 am

Anybody got a link to Gerry's eBay shop? My seach-fu is strong, but I'm coming up blank.

Or his email address....

Craig

60 oldjohn · 22nd May 2020, 9:46 am

Ebay, search Crowthorne tubes, you get tv knobs I believe that is what you want, seller Radiofiles.

John.

Paul Stenning · 22nd May 2020, 4:18 pm

https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/radiofiles

You should be able to send a message via eBay.

Freya · 22nd May 2020, 8:44 pm

Gerry is fine, website subscription expired and looking for new host.

Chrissywissy · 23rd May 2020, 4:42 pm

Thanks to All for your helpful comments.

Chris G4RBR

21st May 2020, 3:27 pm	#1
Chrissywissy Tetrode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: West London, UK. Posts: 57	Gerry, Crowthorne Tubes Hi All Does anyone know what has happened to Gerry? I have tried his telephone numbers and his website has disappeared. I wanted to buy an Aurora standards converter. Is he still in business Thanks Chris G4RBR

21st May 2020, 3:54 pm	#2
Craig Sawyers Nonode Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 2,413	Re: Gerry, Crowthorne Tubes Well that is very odd. His website is no longer registered. I've tried a whois and it comes back blank. It is some years since we talked and I visited him down in Crowthorne. He was talking of retiring back then (maybe 8 years ago?). His problem was where to dispose of his collection of valves. Maybe he has closed up and retired somewhere. Hope he's OK. Apart from his valve, component and test equipment business he had a splendid vintage 1931, 2l Lagonda car that he was in an endless process of restoring and repairing. I bought my AVO CT160 valve tester from him and lots of valves for various restorations. Craig

21st May 2020, 4:01 pm	#3
Diabolical Artificer Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sleaford, Lincs. UK. Posts: 5,162	Re: Gerry, Crowthorne Tubes I got this when I tried, she doesn't look happy, maybe she's trying to get in touch with Gerry too but is having the same trouble? Andy. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Curiosity hasn't killed this cat...so far.

21st May 2020, 4:13 pm	#4
Chrissywissy Tetrode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: West London, UK. Posts: 57	Re: Gerry, Crowthorne Tubes Thanks for the info Craig. I guess he's retired then. The guys in the States who make the Aurora still think he's in business!

21st May 2020, 4:14 pm	#5
Chrissywissy Tetrode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: West London, UK. Posts: 57	Re: Gerry, Crowthorne Tubes Andy! Yes he must have taken down the site also! Shame...

21st May 2020, 4:21 pm	#6
M0FYA Andy Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 2,028	Re: Gerry, Crowthorne Tubes He's been effectively retired for quite a while now, but would always do his best to help source oddball valves through his network of contacts. It must sometime last year that I was last in email contact with him. I do hope he is OK. Andy

21st May 2020, 4:49 pm	#7
merlinmaxwell Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK. Posts: 9,231	Re: Gerry, Crowthorne Tubes The last time I went to see Gerry was 5 years ago, he said then "I am going to retire". Always lovely to visit him, the cats and vintage vehicles (Poirot, captain Hastings Lagonda) scale real steam engines, often seen in Quel Park Bracknell, and yes I bought a ticket and went for a ride. A ten minute pick up always turned into hours of chat! __________________ Cats have staff, it's dogs that have owners.

21st May 2020, 5:14 pm	#8
dazzlevision Nonode Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Near Swindon, North Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 2,509	Re: Gerry, Crowthorne Tubes He is currently selling items on Ebay and I did see him in October last year, to collect an Ebay item in person.

21st May 2020, 11:58 pm	#9
1100 man Octode Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Ventnor, Isle of Wight, & Great Dunmow, Essex, UK. Posts: 1,192	Re: Gerry, Crowthorne Tubes As an alternative to the Aurora, the Hedghog converter is also excellent. It's more versatile with easily selectable options via front panel switches. It can also 're size' video taken from a 16:9 source amongst other useful features. It has a built in test pattern (not test card 'C') and a band 1 & 3 modulator. I built two of the MK1 versions which was quite fun never having done any surface mount stuff before. If you don't fancy building one, forum member Freya was offering fully built ones at a very good price. Search in the 'services offered' section for more details. Hope that helps All the best Nick

22nd May 2020, 6:08 am	#10
Diabolical Artificer Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sleaford, Lincs. UK. Posts: 5,162	Re: Gerry, Crowthorne Tubes The shop came up on several hits when i searched, if someones in that neck of the woods could they not have keek to see if it's still there? After searching a few times the last thread about the site was on this forum and others in 2018 when the site changed from .com to .co.uk. Both websites/addresses came back with similar asian script looking to be selling preparations for unhappy chappies, which is just plain weird, go figure. Andy. __________________ Curiosity hasn't killed this cat...so far.

22nd May 2020, 9:30 am	#11
60 oldjohn Nonode Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 2,629	Re: Gerry, Crowthorne Tubes Whilst slowing down, Gerry is still doing a bit, I got some valves from him a fortnight since. I will PM Chris his Email. John. __________________ My favourite text message "I'll be there in five minutes, if not read again"

22nd May 2020, 9:35 am	#12
Craig Sawyers Nonode Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 2,413	Re: Gerry, Crowthorne Tubes Anybody got a link to Gerry's eBay shop? My seach-fu is strong, but I'm coming up blank. Or his email address.... Craig

22nd May 2020, 9:46 am	#13
60 oldjohn Nonode Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 2,629	Re: Gerry, Crowthorne Tubes Ebay, search Crowthorne tubes, you get tv knobs I believe that is what you want, seller Radiofiles. John. __________________ My favourite text message "I'll be there in five minutes, if not read again"

22nd May 2020, 4:18 pm	#14
Paul Stenning Administrator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cardiff Posts: 7,498	Re: Gerry, Crowthorne Tubes https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/radiofiles You should be able to send a message via eBay. __________________ Paul Stenning Forum Admin/Owner and BVWS Committee Member

22nd May 2020, 8:44 pm	#15
Freya Octode Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Falmouth, Cornwall, UK. Posts: 1,631	Re: Gerry, Crowthorne Tubes Gerry is fine, website subscription expired and looking for new host. __________________ Stephen ________________________ "It`s only an old telly"

23rd May 2020, 4:42 pm	#16
Chrissywissy Tetrode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: West London, UK. Posts: 57	Re: Gerry, Crowthorne Tubes Thanks to All for your helpful comments. Chris G4RBR