Vintage Bakelite Pye domestic radio - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Lesley L · 17th Jan 2018, 10:38 am

Hello
Thank you for accepting me. I am very interested in old radios and recently given a Cambridge pye Bakelite radio serial number 214301 and it looks like it has valves inside.
My question is does anyone know how old it is and also how do I get it to work as the mains wire attached does not have a plug, and when I stripped the outer coating of the wire it just has a red and black wire inside.
Hope someone knowledgable can help as I would love to hear it play
Many thanks
Lesley

Boater Sam · 17th Jan 2018, 11:35 am

Arrgg! No!
Please read the threads about safety and working on mains.

Station X · 17th Jan 2018, 11:45 am

Hello Lesley and welcome to the forums.

The two wire mains cable uses the old UK colour coding. Red is live and black is neutral. The mains plug should be fitted with a 3 amp fuse.

However I strongly suggest that you do not apply power to this radio, you could cause very expensive damage for want of replacing a few components costing pennies.

If you want to repair the set yourself you'll get plenty of good advice on here. Otherwise post in the Repair and Restoration Services Wanted section asking for someone to do the work for you.

ms660 · 17th Jan 2018, 11:47 am

Post#2 & 3, Luv it.

Lawrence.

peter_sol · 17th Jan 2018, 11:50 am

There should be a model No. on the rear cover.

Paul_RK · 17th Jan 2018, 12:04 pm

As has been said, please don't even think of attaching a plug just yet, for the radio's sake and even more importantly your own!

The serial number doesn't help us to date the radio - a photo would, or the model number if you can see one. Or if you unscrew the back cover there may be type numbers on the valves - EF39, UL41, that sort of thing, which again would give us some idea. Already the chances are it's from between 1945 and 1960, but it may not be.

Paul

Lesley L · 17th Jan 2018, 12:21 pm

Thanks for your kind replys...I have no intention of fixing a plug to it...I value my life...just advice as to what the wires are and to date it...I will let a professional do the fixing. I will take the back off and look for another number and re post ��

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boater Sam

Arrgg! No!
Please read the threads about safety and working on mains.

Don’t worry....I have read...won’t be touching 😳

60 oldjohn · 17th Jan 2018, 12:33 pm

There should be a blue metal plate with model no attached to the rear of the metal chassis on your set. This may be hidden with the back in place. BTW some sets are known as "Live chassis" sets. Please find out what set you have and read up and ask questions before doing anything with your set.

John.

Lesley L · 17th Jan 2018, 3:03 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Station X

Hello Lesley and welcome to the forums.

The two wire mains cable uses the old UK colour coding. Red is live and black is neutral. The mains plug should be fitted with a 3 amp fuse.

However I strongly suggest that you do not apply power to this radio, you could cause very expensive damage for want of replacing a few components costing pennies.

If you want to repair the set yourself you'll get plenty of good advice on here. Otherwise post in the Repair and Restoration Services Wanted section asking for someone to do the work for you.

Thank you Graham

Hello again everyone thanks for your help so far...the details I have found having removed the back plate are...
USA pat no 252683 847p
Receiver type P43
Power supply
200-225 or 221-250 vac
40-100 cycles
Ref Number 690310

I can’t find any other writing or numbers... hoping that helps
Many thanks
Lesley

Station X · 17th Jan 2018, 3:14 pm

This one presumably?

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/pye_p43p_4.html

The good news is that this is not a live chassis set.

PJL · 17th Jan 2018, 3:26 pm

And no audio coupling capacitor which helps.

Station X · 17th Jan 2018, 3:38 pm

No mains filter capacitor to blow up either.

Radio Tech · 17th Jan 2018, 3:56 pm

Hello Lesley

Welcome to our lovely forum, here you will find lots of help, a great deal of well versed engineers, so do not be afraid to ask, that's what we are all here for. That said, providing you have got the circuit diagram,(available by clicking on top right of this page) you will have some idea of what is involved. The things to look for are the electrolytic capacitors especially the ones just after the rectifier and those that couple one stage to the next, its mainly those round oblong waxy looking ones that cause trouble. Good luck with it

Ken

Lesley L · 17th Jan 2018, 4:42 pm

Thank you Ken

Quote:

Originally Posted by Station X

This one presumably?

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/pye_p43p_4.html

The good news is that this is not a live chassis set.

Thank you for the link Graham

17th Jan 2018, 10:38 am	#1
Lesley L Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Wakefield, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 4	Vintage Bakelite Pye domestic radio Hello Thank you for accepting me. I am very interested in old radios and recently given a Cambridge pye Bakelite radio serial number 214301 and it looks like it has valves inside. My question is does anyone know how old it is and also how do I get it to work as the mains wire attached does not have a plug, and when I stripped the outer coating of the wire it just has a red and black wire inside. Hope someone knowledgable can help as I would love to hear it play Many thanks Lesley

17th Jan 2018, 11:45 am	#3
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,286	Re: Vintage Bakelite Pye domestic radio Hello Lesley and welcome to the forums. The two wire mains cable uses the old UK colour coding. Red is live and black is neutral. The mains plug should be fitted with a 3 amp fuse. However I strongly suggest that you do not apply power to this radio, you could cause very expensive damage for want of replacing a few components costing pennies. If you want to repair the set yourself you'll get plenty of good advice on here. Otherwise post in the Repair and Restoration Services Wanted section asking for someone to do the work for you. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

17th Jan 2018, 11:47 am	#4
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Vintage Bakelite Pye domestic radio Post#2 & 3, Luv it. Lawrence.

17th Jan 2018, 11:50 am	#5
peter_sol Octode Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Welwyn Garden City, Herts. UK. Posts: 1,906	Re: Vintage Bakelite Pye domestic radio There should be a model No. on the rear cover.

17th Jan 2018, 12:04 pm	#6
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,255	Re: Vintage Bakelite Pye domestic radio As has been said, please don't even think of attaching a plug just yet, for the radio's sake and even more importantly your own! The serial number doesn't help us to date the radio - a photo would, or the model number if you can see one. Or if you unscrew the back cover there may be type numbers on the valves - EF39, UL41, that sort of thing, which again would give us some idea. Already the chances are it's from between 1945 and 1960, but it may not be. Paul

17th Jan 2018, 11:35 am	#2
Boater Sam Banned Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Middlewich, Cheshire, UK. & Winter in the Philippines. Posts: 3,897	Re: Vintage Bakelite Pye domestic radio Arrgg! No! Please read the threads about safety and working on mains.

17th Jan 2018, 12:33 pm	#8
60 oldjohn Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 3,985	Re: Vintage Bakelite Pye domestic radio There should be a blue metal plate with model no attached to the rear of the metal chassis on your set. This may be hidden with the back in place. BTW some sets are known as "Live chassis" sets. Please find out what set you have and read up and ask questions before doing anything with your set. John.

17th Jan 2018, 3:14 pm	#10
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,286	Re: Vintage Bakelite Pye domestic radio This one presumably? https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/pye_p43p_4.html The good news is that this is not a live chassis set. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

17th Jan 2018, 3:26 pm	#11
PJL Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seaford, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 5,997	Re: Vintage Bakelite Pye domestic radio And no audio coupling capacitor which helps.

17th Jan 2018, 3:38 pm	#12
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,286	Re: Vintage Bakelite Pye domestic radio No mains filter capacitor to blow up either. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

17th Jan 2018, 3:56 pm	#13
Radio Tech Nonode Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Bocking, near Braintree, Essex, UK. Posts: 2,071	Re: Vintage Bakelite Pye domestic radio Hello Lesley Welcome to our lovely forum, here you will find lots of help, a great deal of well versed engineers, so do not be afraid to ask, that's what we are all here for. That said, providing you have got the circuit diagram,(available by clicking on top right of this page) you will have some idea of what is involved. The things to look for are the electrolytic capacitors especially the ones just after the rectifier and those that couple one stage to the next, its mainly those round oblong waxy looking ones that cause trouble. Good luck with it Ken