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Vintage Radio (domestic) Domestic vintage radio (wireless) receivers only. |
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1st Sep 2007, 11:53 am | #1 |
Pentode
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Telford
Posts: 104
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EKCO A144 and A104
Hi
Can one of the Ekco experts tell me the difference between the A104 and A144 models please. I downloaded the A104 Trader from Paul's service data site and it looks the same (cabinet and cct) as my newly aquired A144 but there has to be a difference Tony |
1st Sep 2007, 12:02 pm | #2 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,965
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Re: EKCO A144 and A104
I don't think there is any difference. The A144 is the later model and most survivors seem to be 144s. The 104 may have had a gold bezel around the tuning scale rather than the silver one on the 144.
I have recently restored a 144 so am reasonably clued up about them at the moment. I also have a scrap set so may be able to supply any replacement bits you need. Send me a PM if you need anything. I'm a big fan of these sets - they sound wonderful for a reasonably priced mass market set, and the internal aerial performs very well. Paul |
1st Sep 2007, 12:11 pm | #3 |
Octode
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Hampton Vale, Peterborough, UK.
Posts: 1,698
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Re: EKCO A144 and A104
Yes, I like them too. Easy to work on. There is a possible problem with the plastic grille in that it can, under some circumstances, shrink and distort slightly, so that needs to be noted as replacing the grille with fabric poses a problem because of the thickness of the grille.
-Tony |
1st Sep 2007, 12:14 pm | #4 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Eastbourne
Posts: 39
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Re: EKCO A144 and A104
I too am a big fan of these radios.
I always thought it was the other way round. All of the A144s I've seen have had a gold surround, all of the A104s have had a silver surround. The A144 is defiantely the later model. There was also a U109 which was the AC/DC version of the A104. The A104 and the A144 have the same chassis; in my experience. I prefer the A104, because I can't stand tacky fake gold bits on radios -yuk! Maybe Eric did a mix-n-match? Ofcourse, I'm not saying I'm right and Paul's wrong; just my experience! With Ekco, everyone thinks of the famous classics, but they made some excellent radios after the war, the A274 being another. Last edited by screengrid; 1st Sep 2007 at 12:20 pm. |
1st Sep 2007, 12:40 pm | #5 |
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Re: EKCO A144 and A104
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1st Sep 2007, 1:33 pm | #6 |
Pentode
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Telford
Posts: 104
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Re: EKCO A144 and A104
Thanks to all for advice & comments.
This A144 has a gold (well more of a bronze colour) bezel round the glass scale and looks to be in vg condition. It works on all bands but with some audio distortion. I've been hoovering out the dust this morning and just removed the chassis from the cabinet. I notice that the frame aerial insulation (dcc?) has broken down in several areas and the meter shows a resistance of some 3-4 Ohms whereas the Trader says 18 ohms so it may be shorting out some of the windings. The 32 +32uF can is marked Nov 52. Can't see whats on the 2 and 25uF yet. Any advice on caps - was proposing to change all those above 0.001uF. And check the values of the resistors. Plus change the mains lead. Tony |
1st Sep 2007, 1:46 pm | #7 |
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Re: EKCO A144 and A104
I changed all waxies and electrolytics, but you may be lucky with the electrolytics. The waxies on the tagstrip near the O/P valve are quite fiddly to do. All the resistors were OK.
I needed a new UL41 too - only 2 NOS left in the spares box now Your distortion may be That Capacitor or a bad UL41. It would be worthwhile trying to fix the frame aerial as this does work quite well given that it's untuned. Good luck, Paul |
1st Sep 2007, 4:48 pm | #8 |
Pentode
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Telford
Posts: 104
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Re: EKCO A144 and A104
Thanks Paul - I'll let you know how I get on
Tony |
1st Sep 2007, 6:20 pm | #9 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Eastbourne
Posts: 39
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Re: EKCO A144 and A104
My approach to repairing valve radios is I only want to fix them once.
So I change all wax caps, Hunts, etc. and all electrolytics. I don't even bother checking them any more. I check all resistors and change any that have drifted or failed. |