Murphy B40

[morecider]

Hi
I have just found a B40 and I would like to power it up but most of the lettering has rubbed off the face plate so I`m at a loss to now to switch it on. Plus where does the aerial plug into please, any info will be gratefully received
Thank you
Pete

[Herald1360]

There's some useful looking info here:

http://www.portabletubes.co.uk/boats/murphy3.htm

(Searched on Murphy B40 boatanchor)

Tried lugging it up into a loft yet? I managed it once in about 1976!



Chris

[Don Collie jnr]

I have one that I`ve restored, and may be able to be of assistance. I have a friend who has 2.

[morecider]

Hi
Thank you for your replys,I have powered up the set now all the lights are on but no ones home I`m still not sure which aerial socket to use.
The output seem dead no sound for speaker or phones
So which knob is the volume control.
Oh my god will the work bench take the weight now I see why they call it a boat ancher.
Thanks
Pete

[Sean Williams]

Hmm, has it been restored as yet? i have not come across a B 40 that worked as it should without lots of work!

Sean

[murphyv310]

Hello.
How are you getting on with your B40? I can help out with a diagram for you if you wish.
I have one and as Sean rightly says they do need a bit of work to operate correctly, I paid a half share on one in the 80's during the CB days and I must admit it did work fine. It was pensioned off in the early 90's and lay in a wet shed for 10 years, I then got it back whereuopn it was kept in a really hot room for a couple of weeks, all the seized controls etc were freed off with WD40 and power applied, yes it worked, but I have replaced out of value caps and resistors since, it actually works ok for a single conversion superhet with a 500khz IF.
I couldn't sell it though its too heavy to lift all the way from down the garden to someones car.
Good luck.
Trevor.

Heres a piccy of mine amongst all the junk

[dave walsh]

I've done nothing with mine yet, which travelled from Plymouth to Ramsbottom last year c/o a very nice lady who's son removed all the valves for other projects in the late 60's and left it with her [all cosy in a blanket] so when I dig out the valves and actually do something with it, I am hopefull of a result. In today's booming metals market, these sets will be at risk. They were obviously designed to withstand severe hostile action! Dave W

[Sean Williams]

Dave,

Semd me a message if you need spares - I have a few!

[dave walsh]

Very kind Sean. I wiil be checking the situation out next next time I go North [4-5 weeks] so your offer is very welcome-especially if I've underestimated!
Cheers Dave

[morecider]

Hello all
I now have a copy of the service & operators manual,So its time to give it a go now the children have gone back to school
Regards
Pete

[QWENIX]

Hello all,I'm a dutch shortwave listener and a daily user of murphy B40, B41 and Racal 17L receivers. If you want information on the B40/B41 equipment. I can look things up in the original complete handbooks and modification handbooks.

AERIAL SOCKET
The aerial socket is on the rear right (looking from above right). Its a four pin connector (original).

If the info you have is complete, this aerial socket (mark IV) will be explained in the handbook.

best regards,

Qwenix

[QWENIX]

Here's a pic of my collection.

best regards,

Qwenix

[morecider]

Hello Qwenix
WOW what a collection There must be some weight there
I have now got my B40 on the work bench ready to have a look at
Regards
Pete

[dave walsh]

Quenix, I make that 5 B40's at approx 6 stone each plus the racal which won't be all that lesss heavy. Don't put them all in the middle of the room.
Impressive in other ways as well though. Dave W

[Skywave]

Originally Posted by dave walsh

They (B40 receivers et alia) were obviously designed to withstand severe hostile action! Dave W

A work colleague, who is ex-Navy & used to do maintenance on these, told me that one of the reasons / advantages of these types of receivers being so heavy is that when the ship that they are in (destroyer / battleship) fires off a broad-side, and the whole ship lurches in reaction, it's the sheer weight of these monsters that:
(a) keeps them on frequency;
(b) stops them from rolling onto the floor!

I can imagine that one of these landing on the operator's foot would elicit some choice Naval phrases!

Al. / Skywave

[QWENIX]

Thank you all for your comment. If you look very close then you´ll discover the antivibration mountings. These are rare to find in Holland. These receivers had to stay on frequency when guns started to fire maybe also if the ship was hit by shelling. If you are onboard a ship you can feel the ships vibrations. These vibrations could also couse mechanical vibration of the variable capacitor lets say the big tuning capacitor. So the receivers were attached onto these antivibration mountings.

A few pics attached .. about the the four pin connector, history dutch marine and ad (dutch).

I'll ad some more about the aerial 4 pin connector (high/low impedance) later

best regards,

Qwenix

[QWENIX]

Here is some info on the aerial socket. See attachment.

best regards,

Qwenix

[Wills100]

Hi,

I just became the proud owner of reasonable looking B40. It didnt have the mains connector so in my haste to see if it worked I pulled out the Power supply and hardwired in a mains supply, including an earth of course (i'm also using it with an RCD to be safe).

It does fire up and light up, and looks quite good on the inside although the 20 Henry choke seems to have melted its plastic(?) casing somewhat.

I have connected a tuned long wire antenna in a heath robinson way and one or two strong stations can just about be heard. It seems that the AF level at max is still very quiet, and is overcome by mains hum if you try headphones. It also seems quite deaf, if I connect another SW reciever to the same antenna, same station, a really strong signal level is shown (+30db).

Can any of you wise people suggest what I could look at to make this lovely beast properly operational again?

I would also love to get hold of the 4 pin aeriel connector and a 2 pin mains connector if anyone knows where these can be found i'd be grateful.

Any suggestions or ideas would be very welcome?

Thanks a lot,

Will.

[dave walsh]

Hi Will. Re mains connector. Did you notice the response from Sean on the thread you started yourself on Wed 29th? Apologies if you have. Dave W

[Sean Williams]

As I have said Will, I might be able to help....

Im only just up the road from you near Hitchin.

Send me a PM and I will see what can be done.

Cheers
Sean