Re-purposing a three gang tuning condenser - Page 3 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Jim McLay · 16th Feb 2015, 8:21 pm

Well, for what it's worth,the 3-gang is now in position in what I hope will be a working TRF!

Perfectionists will note the chipboard-cored base and plywood (when did they invent plywood, anyway?) and throw up their hands in disgust. Well, needs must, and the budget means that I'll have to skimp here and there to be able to afford the cost of things like valves and so on that I can't manufacture myself.

Onwards etc.

Mike. Watterson · 22nd Feb 2015, 5:42 pm

Plywood predates 1921 anyway.

Jim McLay · 23rd Feb 2015, 11:26 am

Whew. One less replica sin.

Jim McLay · 19th Mar 2015, 6:50 pm

Continuing the counterfeit saga . . .

Ed_Dinning · 19th Mar 2015, 10:12 pm

Hi Jim, perfectly acceptable. Much better than bright yellow tubular things sitting on the baseboard.

Ed

Jim McLay · 24th Apr 2015, 8:31 pm

Things are beginning to take shape . . . . from the left,

(1) a small mains transformer put to work as a 1:8 inter-valve,
(2) an Osram Music Magnet lid needing a replacement end fillet,
(3) The MW/ LW switch in position,
(4) an overall view and lastly
(5) the Meccano-powered wavechange switch with 4 microswitches.
.
.

Herald1360 · 24th Apr 2015, 11:12 pm

Mains rated microswitches may not work very well with small signals with no power behind them to blow clear any contact oxidation. Silver or gold plated contacts would be better.

Jim McLay · 25th Apr 2015, 1:59 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herald1360

Mains rated microswitches may not work very well with small signals with no power behind them to blow clear any contact oxidation. Silver or gold plated contacts would be better.

Hi Chris,

It's a good point. However, my cabinet making and mechanical skills have been stretched beyond the limit, so rather than never get a REALLY good job done, I've opted for some short-cuts, the microswitches being one. (They've been installed with replacement in mind!). Some of the work I've seen on the Forum is really top class, a hard act to follow.

Another bit that isn't quite right is how the tuning condenser was designed to be fitted into a given cabinet, e.g. rotated from the front of a deep cabinet, or from the side of a wide one. I opted for the side, but then discovered that I couldn't easily create a dial with pointer, or whatever one needs to show the wavelength being tuned. My dial will not be symmetrically placed in the front panel. Version II will no doubt have all that sorted! If ever.

So, if I can tune in Radio 4 on LW and a few UK stations on MW within the next 3 weeks, I shall be a happy punter.

Cheers

Jim

16th Feb 2015, 8:21 pm	#41
Jim McLay Tetrode Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Sycamore House, Shankill, Dublin D18, Ireland Posts: 97	Re: Re-purposing a three gang tuning condenser Well, for what it's worth,the 3-gang is now in position in what I hope will be a working TRF! Perfectionists will note the chipboard-cored base and plywood (when did they invent plywood, anyway?) and throw up their hands in disgust. Well, needs must, and the budget means that I'll have to skimp here and there to be able to afford the cost of things like valves and so on that I can't manufacture myself. Onwards etc. Attached Thumbnails __________________ This retirement thing is worse than it was cracked up to be!

22nd Feb 2015, 5:42 pm	#42
Mike. Watterson Heptode Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Limerick, Ireland. Posts: 901	Re: Re-purposing a three gang tuning condenser Plywood predates 1921 anyway.

23rd Feb 2015, 11:26 am	#43
Jim McLay Tetrode Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Sycamore House, Shankill, Dublin D18, Ireland Posts: 97	Re: Re-purposing a three gang tuning condenser Whew. One less replica sin. __________________ This retirement thing is worse than it was cracked up to be!

19th Mar 2015, 6:50 pm	#44
Jim McLay Tetrode Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Sycamore House, Shankill, Dublin D18, Ireland Posts: 97	Re: Re-purposing a three gang tuning condenser Continuing the counterfeit saga . . . Attached Thumbnails __________________ This retirement thing is worse than it was cracked up to be!

19th Mar 2015, 10:12 pm	#45
Ed_Dinning Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK. Posts: 8,194	Re: Re-purposing a three gang tuning condenser Hi Jim, perfectly acceptable. Much better than bright yellow tubular things sitting on the baseboard. Ed

24th Apr 2015, 8:31 pm	#46
Jim McLay Tetrode Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Sycamore House, Shankill, Dublin D18, Ireland Posts: 97	Re: Re-purposing a three gang tuning condenser Things are beginning to take shape . . . . from the left, (1) a small mains transformer put to work as a 1:8 inter-valve, (2) an Osram Music Magnet lid needing a replacement end fillet, (3) The MW/ LW switch in position, (4) an overall view and lastly (5) the Meccano-powered wavechange switch with 4 microswitches. . . Attached Thumbnails __________________ This retirement thing is worse than it was cracked up to be!

24th Apr 2015, 11:12 pm	#47
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,535	Re: Re-purposing a three gang tuning condenser Mains rated microswitches may not work very well with small signals with no power behind them to blow clear any contact oxidation. Silver or gold plated contacts would be better. __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O