HMV 801 radiogram tidy up job. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

FERNSEH · 22nd Jan 2015, 5:18 pm

I've decided to pass my HMV 801 radiogram on to another collector.
But it was in a bit of a bad state so before the courier calls to collect it I offered to tidy it up, make it more presentable.
Just check out those beautifully veneered front panels.

DFWB.

ukcol · 22nd Jan 2015, 8:14 pm

More pictures please, so that I can have a drool before it goes.

mark pirate · 22nd Jan 2015, 11:03 pm

I agree, more photos please. It really is a gorgeous thing, I love the shape of the cabinet.
I hope the new owner will cherish it.

Mark

HamishBoxer · 22nd Jan 2015, 11:05 pm

That is something else.Superb.

FERNSEH · 22nd Jan 2015, 11:18 pm

I would have liked to keep it but unfortunately is too big for my house.
I've acquired an RGD 1046G radiogram, it's much smaller.

Like this one: http://www.rgd.org.uk/rgd_exh_pg_1046G.htm

It needs a lot of work to restore it to working order. Only the radio section is complete.

DFWB.

FERNSEH · 22nd Jan 2015, 11:40 pm

One of the problems you meet with these large instruments is damage to the corners. The bottom right side corner was damaged. I effected a repair by laying on pieces of veneer. I never use filler.

DFWB.

FERNSEH · 23rd Jan 2015, 2:00 pm

More pictures.

DFWB.

Ti Pwun · 23rd Jan 2015, 5:09 pm

That looks great.

FERNSEH · 23rd Jan 2015, 5:49 pm

It does indeed look great. I kinda regret parting with it now. Anyway, it's on it's way to it's new owner.
Getting the 'gram out of the house was fun as you can imagine and lifting this monster into the van demanded heroic Geordie strength.
Lucky the biggest of all the Ford Transits has a rear step so we lifted the 'gram into the van in two stages.

DFWB.

Ti Pwun · 24th Jan 2015, 8:30 am

I almost asked, 'Is that thing as big as it looks?' - apparently so!

FERNSEH · 24th Jan 2015, 11:13 am

It is big. The dimensions are: 40 inches (102cm) wide. 37 inches (94cm) high and 25 inches (64) deep. Weight? Has to be more than 60Kg.

DFWB.

bobhowe · 24th Jan 2015, 3:21 pm

Great job David the RGD will be as nice as this when its done

osx86apple · 25th Jan 2015, 10:22 am

David has done a great job! Very pleased with it, was a mammouth task of getting it through the front door, nearly broke my back in attempt ! However worth it though , have stripped internals and in process of getting it working again !

Heatercathodeshort · 25th Jan 2015, 10:46 am

Happy memories of that 801 David. I hope the new owner is going to take good care of it. Regards, John.

ukcol · 25th Jan 2015, 12:18 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by osx86apple

... (I'm)... in process of getting it working again !

I'm glad to see this 801 is going to be saved and not asset stripped.

Perhaps you will keep us informed of your progress?

FERNSEH · 25th Jan 2015, 12:29 pm

Many will remember that this was the HMV 801 which was modified to accept triode connected KT66 beam tetrodes instead of the original rare and expensive PX25 triodes.
The "valve" above the screening box is in fact an STC DLS10 delay switch.
The U14 rectifiers are directly heated so the delay device was introduced to hold back the HT by 75 seconds until the output valves have warmed up.

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...+801+radiogram.

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...+801+radiogram.

DFWB

FERNSEH · 25th Jan 2015, 12:35 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ukcol

I'm glad to see this 801 is going to be saved and not asset stripped.

The RGD 1046G radiogram was often a victim of asset strippers.
This is the radiogram I have acquired to replace the huge HMV 801.
The restoration of the RGD cabinet will appear in the this part of the Forum soon.

DFWB.

Heatercathodeshort · 25th Jan 2015, 1:46 pm

I thought you might be interested in the history of the HMV 801. [It was purchased new in 1938 by one of my wealthy customers who owned a huge house and grounds at Coombe Lane West, Kingston Surrey]
Members may remember the story of how I obtained my HMV 900 pre war television in the early 70's. I can relate this in another thread if anyone is interested.
I managed to trace the 900 to an auction house in Kingston-upon-Thames [it's a long story] and my late mum managed to purchase it for £2.50!
I literally flew down to Kingston with my mate's Bedford TK 3 ton lorry to pick my treasured item up.
You can imagine my surprise when the auction house porter proclaimed that there was another item in the lot.....This turned out to be the 801 that you are at present restoring.
It used to stand at the back of my shop playing 78's for a couple of hours a day. I must have got through many packets of 'Columbia 99' or 'HMV silent stylus' miniature steel needles in that hypersensitive head fitted to the final production K3 changer. The radio was excellent.
The 'black box' requires an overhaul of capacitors having been standing for a good while after closing the shop but it really did sound fantastic and was much admired by my customers.
When I closed the shop I decided to let David have it as I have a model 800 in the living room and another huge radiogram would have resulted in vintage overload.
I'm glad it has gone to a genuine enthusiast and not someone that just wants to capitalize from it's technology.
I hope you have as much fun with it as I did. Regards, John.

Radio Wrangler · 25th Jan 2015, 4:46 pm

It just goes to show that no amount of skill or wheeler-dealing can equal the power of just plain jam

Nice history, John.

David

osx86apple · 28th Mar 2015, 10:28 pm

Hi everyone

An update on the HMV 801. I have now rebuilt the amp and radio, all new caps, and replaced the wiring as the majority of it had gone very hard and brittle!
Stripped the record changer, and cleaned it. Now nearly complete, but have had it working.
Short clip here: http://youtu.be/XhBiTL5ldfc

22nd Jan 2015, 5:18 pm	#1
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	HMV 801 radiogram tidy up job. I've decided to pass my HMV 801 radiogram on to another collector. But it was in a bit of a bad state so before the courier calls to collect it I offered to tidy it up, make it more presentable. Just check out those beautifully veneered front panels. DFWB. Attached Thumbnails

22nd Jan 2015, 8:14 pm	#2
ukcol Rest in Peace Join Date: May 2003 Location: Harlaxton, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 3,944	Re: HMV 801 radiogram tidy up job. More pictures please, so that I can have a drool before it goes.

22nd Jan 2015, 11:03 pm	#3
mark pirate Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK Posts: 5,185	Re: HMV 801 radiogram tidy up job. I agree, more photos please. It really is a gorgeous thing, I love the shape of the cabinet. I hope the new owner will cherish it. Mark

22nd Jan 2015, 11:05 pm	#4
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,931	Re: HMV 801 radiogram tidy up job. That is something else.Superb. __________________ G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S

22nd Jan 2015, 11:18 pm	#5
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: HMV 801 radiogram tidy up job. I would have liked to keep it but unfortunately is too big for my house. I've acquired an RGD 1046G radiogram, it's much smaller. Like this one: http://www.rgd.org.uk/rgd_exh_pg_1046G.htm It needs a lot of work to restore it to working order. Only the radio section is complete. DFWB.

22nd Jan 2015, 11:40 pm	#6
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: HMV 801 radiogram tidy up job. One of the problems you meet with these large instruments is damage to the corners. The bottom right side corner was damaged. I effected a repair by laying on pieces of veneer. I never use filler. DFWB. Attached Thumbnails

23rd Jan 2015, 2:00 pm	#7
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: HMV 801 radiogram tidy up job. More pictures. DFWB. Attached Thumbnails

23rd Jan 2015, 5:09 pm	#8
Ti Pwun Heptode Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 888	Re: HMV 801 radiogram tidy up job. That looks great.

23rd Jan 2015, 5:49 pm	#9
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: HMV 801 radiogram tidy up job. It does indeed look great. I kinda regret parting with it now. Anyway, it's on it's way to it's new owner. Getting the 'gram out of the house was fun as you can imagine and lifting this monster into the van demanded heroic Geordie strength. Lucky the biggest of all the Ford Transits has a rear step so we lifted the 'gram into the van in two stages. DFWB.

24th Jan 2015, 8:30 am	#10
Ti Pwun Heptode Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 888	Re: HMV 801 radiogram tidy up job. I almost asked, 'Is that thing as big as it looks?' - apparently so!

24th Jan 2015, 11:13 am	#11
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: HMV 801 radiogram tidy up job. It is big. The dimensions are: 40 inches (102cm) wide. 37 inches (94cm) high and 25 inches (64) deep. Weight? Has to be more than 60Kg. DFWB.

24th Jan 2015, 3:21 pm	#12
bobhowe Heptode Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 661	Re: HMV 801 radiogram tidy up job. Great job David the RGD will be as nice as this when its done

25th Jan 2015, 10:22 am	#13
osx86apple Pentode Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Torquay, Devon, UK. Posts: 148	Re: HMV 801 radiogram tidy up job. David has done a great job! Very pleased with it, was a mammouth task of getting it through the front door, nearly broke my back in attempt ! However worth it though , have stripped internals and in process of getting it working again ! Attached Thumbnails

25th Jan 2015, 10:46 am	#14
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: HMV 801 radiogram tidy up job. Happy memories of that 801 David. I hope the new owner is going to take good care of it. Regards, John.

25th Jan 2015, 12:29 pm	#16
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: HMV 801 radiogram tidy up job. Many will remember that this was the HMV 801 which was modified to accept triode connected KT66 beam tetrodes instead of the original rare and expensive PX25 triodes. The "valve" above the screening box is in fact an STC DLS10 delay switch. The U14 rectifiers are directly heated so the delay device was introduced to hold back the HT by 75 seconds until the output valves have warmed up. https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...+801+radiogram. https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...+801+radiogram. DFWB

25th Jan 2015, 1:46 pm	#18
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: HMV 801 radiogram tidy up job. I thought you might be interested in the history of the HMV 801. [It was purchased new in 1938 by one of my wealthy customers who owned a huge house and grounds at Coombe Lane West, Kingston Surrey] Members may remember the story of how I obtained my HMV 900 pre war television in the early 70's. I can relate this in another thread if anyone is interested. I managed to trace the 900 to an auction house in Kingston-upon-Thames [it's a long story] and my late mum managed to purchase it for £2.50! I literally flew down to Kingston with my mate's Bedford TK 3 ton lorry to pick my treasured item up. You can imagine my surprise when the auction house porter proclaimed that there was another item in the lot.....This turned out to be the 801 that you are at present restoring. It used to stand at the back of my shop playing 78's for a couple of hours a day. I must have got through many packets of 'Columbia 99' or 'HMV silent stylus' miniature steel needles in that hypersensitive head fitted to the final production K3 changer. The radio was excellent. The 'black box' requires an overhaul of capacitors having been standing for a good while after closing the shop but it really did sound fantastic and was much admired by my customers. When I closed the shop I decided to let David have it as I have a model 800 in the living room and another huge radiogram would have resulted in vintage overload. I'm glad it has gone to a genuine enthusiast and not someone that just wants to capitalize from it's technology. I hope you have as much fun with it as I did. Regards, John.

25th Jan 2015, 4:46 pm	#19
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,858	Re: HMV 801 radiogram tidy up job. It just goes to show that no amount of skill or wheeler-dealing can equal the power of just plain jam Nice history, John. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

28th Mar 2015, 10:28 pm	#20
osx86apple Pentode Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Torquay, Devon, UK. Posts: 148	Re: HMV 801 radiogram tidy up job. Hi everyone An update on the HMV 801. I have now rebuilt the amp and radio, all new caps, and replaced the wiring as the majority of it had gone very hard and brittle! Stripped the record changer, and cleaned it. Now nearly complete, but have had it working. Short clip here: http://youtu.be/XhBiTL5ldfc