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Vintage Radio (domestic) Domestic vintage radio (wireless) receivers only. |
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18th Jan 2021, 7:28 pm | #1 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 87
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Pick-up Inputs
Hi everyone,
I've seen some old radios has pickup input. I'm wondering, Which type of plug is that? I haven't seen selection button like radio/pickup. Is there any? I'm assuming ceramic cartridges are necessary for valve radios. Is it right? Cheers, Fatih |
18th Jan 2021, 7:37 pm | #2 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 506
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Re: Pick-up Inputs
They are called wander plugs, not quite the same as modern Banana plugs. The input was selected by the Gram setting.
The oldest type of cartridge would have been magnetic or crystal types. |
18th Jan 2021, 7:45 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 14,007
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Re: Pick-up Inputs
Some radios have a "Gram" position on the wavechange switch - others just expected you to tune the radio so it wasn't actually receiving a station... which wasn't really that good because you could still pick up interference!
The connection was usually by way of a pair of 'wander plugs' [which were an earlier, slightly smaller version of the now-familiar 4mm banana-plug as found on testmeter-leads etc. Crystal cartridges were the norm, yes. Magnetic pickups were generally found on the more-upmarket turntables used in radiograms etc, rather than in the sort of cheap-and-cheerful turntables sold for use with existing radios. |
18th Jan 2021, 7:47 pm | #4 |
Octode
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 1,646
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Re: Pick-up Inputs
As a general rule, British sets use 3mm wander plugs 1/8 inch I think). German sets use 4mm banana plugs or have fancier input sockets
It will work as a simple mono input from a Bluetooth devices or your phone. If you have a stereo source you need to sum left and right with 2 resistors. Sometimes you can use a software setting on your phone to output in mono mode. If you don't want to spend £4 on a wander plug from eBay, the ones below are a good fit for most British sets Usually there will be a gram setting, but if not eg Strad pw461, the trader sheet advises to tune the radio to a quiet area of the short wave band. Few caveats apply: 1. Some live chassis sets have pickup sockets - don't plug anything in them unless you know what you're doing 2. sometimes a 0.01uf capacitor in series on the signal line is advisable to protect the device 3. Before using a set ensure that it is in good working order. Hope this helps. This was my first question question too when I joined about a year ago Gabriel Last edited by Gabe001; 18th Jan 2021 at 8:06 pm. |
18th Jan 2021, 7:48 pm | #5 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Southport, Merseyside, UK.
Posts: 646
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Re: Pick-up Inputs
The gram setting was often at one end of the wavechange switch. I recall a neighbour's radiogram in the 1940' had no gram setting. One had to find a quiet spot on the dial when playing records.
I would think a modern mm magnet cartridge with something like a NAD RIAA pre amp would feed any old radio quite well
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18th Jan 2021, 10:01 pm | #6 | |
Tetrode
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 87
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Re: Pick-up Inputs
Quote:
I think I should adapt rca to wander / banana plug. I have those plugs already. Thanks Gabriel. |
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18th Jan 2021, 10:04 pm | #7 | |
Tetrode
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 87
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Re: Pick-up Inputs
Quote:
That's right MM cartridge and Preamp should be fine aswell but I already have ceramic cartridge Thank you! |
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18th Jan 2021, 10:06 pm | #8 | |
Tetrode
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 87
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Re: Pick-up Inputs
Quote:
Thank you Simon! |
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18th Jan 2021, 10:20 pm | #9 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK.
Posts: 5,347
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Re: Pick-up Inputs
A common design of wander plug used a 1/8" plated (or unplated) brass split pin that was inserted into an externally-threaded brass sleeve onto which a plastic insulating sleeve was screwed. If you can't find a vintage wander plug, 1/8" split pins are still available on-line or from motor parts dealers. You can solder a wire to the eye of the split pin and cover the join with layers of heat shrink sleeving, or use plastic car body filler, to provide an insulated hand grip.
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20th Jan 2021, 11:05 am | #10 | |
Tetrode
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 87
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Re: Pick-up Inputs
Quote:
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