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Vintage Radio (domestic) Domestic vintage radio (wireless) receivers only. |
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24th Feb 2019, 8:20 pm | #21 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Lynton, N. Devon, UK.
Posts: 7,060
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Re: Transistor radios with dial lights
There was one, which an uncle of me be had in the very early 1970's, a battery operated transistor portable. It had a push-and-hold switch to illuminate the dial. It had 6 wavebands, LW, MW, 3x SW, and FM. I seem to remember it was powered by torch batteries, rather than a PP9 type of thing.
But I can't remember the model! Except that it was none of the radios already mentioned- I have googled them to see if the photos look familiar. They don't. |
24th Feb 2019, 8:32 pm | #22 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Surrey, UK.
Posts: 4,385
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Re: Transistor radios with dial lights
Otherwise, it ticks all the Astrad Solar boxes- I had one, the dial lights button was a small grey momentary push on one side of the tuning scale but a slight finger twist while pushing latched it, there were two of the mentioned 2.5V 60mA bulbs in series with one of those characteristic green film resistors across the 8x D cell supply. Very much regret its loss, I think it was given the push in the midst of a house move when I wasn't looking....
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24th Feb 2019, 9:20 pm | #23 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Oxford, UK.
Posts: 17,820
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Re: Transistor radios with dial lights
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25th Feb 2019, 3:13 pm | #24 |
Heptode
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Limerick, Ireland.
Posts: 901
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Re: Transistor radios with dial lights
Earliest Ever Ready battery valve Model T has a button near central knob for scale lamp off the 1.5V LT.
The Transoceanic 600 series at least, uses a 1.5V hearing aid cell for scale lamp. It's series battery valve set with 9V LT and 110V AC mains. There is an unsafe ballast for 220V (as the 0V rail connects direct to one side of the USA blade plug!). I made a replica case that takes a C cell internally. It naturally doesn't use the mains PSU for the scale lamp. Despite the hype, I think the Philips, Pye, RCA and Hallicrafters battery valve "World Radios" are better. The Pye also has a magic eye. Later versions of the Philips have a magic eye. The Hallicrafters S72 has a BFO and mad number of valves for a battery set, but no scale lamp. I've a feeling someone mounted a DM70 or DM71 on the tuning pointer, which might illuminate slightly. I do have a Japanese transistor set (in the attic, so I forget brand) that has an LED on the tuning scale pointer, which helps in the dark. It also brightens with a stronger signal. I have an Astrad Aura (from USSR era) with scale lamps, though they don't currently work. |