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Vintage Radio (domestic) Domestic vintage radio (wireless) receivers only.

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Old 17th Aug 2019, 5:20 pm   #1
Herald1360
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Default Vesta Vixen

I've just acquired one of these little sets (found amongst autojumble at Kingston vintage show). It's not in the best condition but is complete with its leather effect carrying case and broken strap.


It's marked "Empire" on the back and has a circuit diagram (no values) pasted inside the rear cover.


It's a bit different from the one in RM and the other one in this forum in that it sports a full set of Mullard transistors. 3 AF117s (oh dear), an OC81D and 2 OC81s. They're clearly original and the screens of the AF117s were neatly clipped back on assembly presumably to use the same PCB as sets with the usual Japanese parts.


So far it hisses slightly, takes about 9mA quiescent and is otherwise silent. No surprise there!


Time to find the box of GT322b lurking somewhere in the workshop....
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Old 17th Aug 2019, 5:51 pm   #2
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Default Re: Vesta Vixen

Seems strange if the transistors are original. Test the detector diode before replacing transistors, is this a Mullard as well.
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Old 17th Aug 2019, 6:00 pm   #3
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Default Re: Vesta Vixen

I have got 1 of these Chris, all original still with Toshiba transistors. Good sensitivity on both wavebands, I had trouble getting the pcb out on mine

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=143063

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Old 17th Aug 2019, 6:44 pm   #4
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Default Re: Vesta Vixen

My PCB was fine once I realised that the back fixing pillar was the second "screw"!

Battery holder is shot, though. Corroded and broken as well.

Detector looks like OA90- at any rate it has white and black bands on it.
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Old 17th Aug 2019, 6:57 pm   #5
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Default Re: Vesta Vixen

I've been looking for one of these...it was the first transistor radio I owned, bought with my saved-up pocket money....£5.19s.6d in Woolworths in Norbury near Croydon. Probably around 1966 since one of the first stations I tuned in was the North Sea pirate ship Radio England which I think was only on the air for about 6 months......Swingin' Radio England.....the jingle still pops into my head!
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Old 17th Aug 2019, 7:21 pm   #6
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Default Re: Vesta Vixen

Would you be interested in having it for what I paid plus postage (that would be about £8ish altogether)?

It's not really essential to my collection- it was just an impulse buy

I could chuck in three GT322b transistors to go with it......
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Old 17th Aug 2019, 7:37 pm   #7
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Default Re: Vesta Vixen

Thanks Herald....a PM is coming your way!
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Old 25th Aug 2019, 2:31 pm   #8
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Default Re: Vesta Vixen

Sideband- PM sent re details ....
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Old 25th Aug 2019, 2:47 pm   #9
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Default Re: Vesta Vixen

Vesta was indeed the Woolworths house brand for their cheap'n'cheerful radios. They all seemed to come from HK. I have a later MW/LW model with Si transistors.

I've no idea why this one would have Mullard transistors inside.
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Old 29th Aug 2019, 9:36 am   #10
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Default Re: Vesta Vixen

I have acquired two of these nice looking little radios, one of them has bandspread covering the higher frequency end of the Medium wave band.
Until I read this article I did not realise that Vesta was a Woolworths brand. I shall have to dig them out and take a closer look.
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Old 31st Aug 2019, 8:38 pm   #11
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Default Re: Vesta Vixen

I'll do a proper write-up later but just to say that the Vesta arrived today and I whiled away a couple of hours this afternoon getting it working....1 transistor (AF127 to replace an AF117) and a 4.7uF capacitor.

I have to fit a new battery adaptor and give it a good clean and spruce up.
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