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Vintage Amateur and Military Radio Amateur/military receivers and transmitters, morse, and any other related vintage comms equipment. |
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31st Oct 2020, 9:43 pm | #1 |
Dekatron
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Spy Radio?
This I received recently and I am undecided whether or not it is WW2 spy radio or what.
The odd thing is the valves appear to have been sprayed to remove the type,not checked yet if 6 or 12volt .Possibly TCS Collins type. The frequency (on the lid) is a bit odd 0.7---1.8 and 1.8---2.4Mhz. Fitted with a 2 pin mains plug. Pictures to follow. Despite a L and H switch (low/high?) there is an on/off plus another pull switch. A Halloween mystery!
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31st Oct 2020, 11:52 pm | #2 |
Octode
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Re: Spy Radio?
Is there an antenna connection?
Richard |
1st Nov 2020, 3:06 am | #3 |
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Re: Spy Radio?
I wonder...
Running over many years there has been a thing going in G-QRP circles of making spy-style transmitters and sometimes transceivers. I've seen almost perfect replica B2s, things built into fag packets and all points in-between. Aspects of that look a bit too clean, a bit too recent for the era of those parts... bright solder joints, PVC sleeving. It would be mischievous to flog one on a rally junk stall, but maybe it got on the loose via an SK sale? Methinks you might find the circuit in Sprat. David
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1st Nov 2020, 4:16 am | #4 |
Nonode
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Re: Spy Radio?
I had a look through the Sprat index and several issues of Sprat based on what was in the index and nothing obvious stood out.
Hard to tell from the photo if the valves are glass or metal, if glass may be 6v6's? |
1st Nov 2020, 10:39 am | #5 |
Octode
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Re: Spy Radio?
I note that WftW Volume 4 now has a further 300 (!!) chapters which are available for free download from Louis Meulstee's website. Its possible that this set is a little known spy set which has been captured in one of those chapters - but I'm afraid I don't have a spare day to sit there and go through all of them!
And if David is right about it being a reconstruction - that only begs the question "reconstruction of what?" Richard |
1st Nov 2020, 10:57 am | #6 |
Octode
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Re: Spy Radio?
David,
Would you include some more pics please from other well illuminated angles. Jim |
1st Nov 2020, 1:11 pm | #7 |
Nonode
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Re: Spy Radio?
Can you read the markings on the transformer?
The valves could be series filament types i.e. 0.1 or 0.2 Amp. |
1st Nov 2020, 1:33 pm | #8 |
Dekatron
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Re: Spy Radio?
David ,(RW) it came from a collector who had a lot of German stuff I understand,I think I can say safely I bought it on Ebay and nobody or the seller did not have a clue as to what it might be.
The odd thing is there are a lot of old waxy and mica caps in parallel.Plus reses in series. Yes,there is an aerial socket and earth. No,the valves are not 6V6 etc as too small I think.Though why no markings on them with possibility of being re sprayed. Yes,I will get the transformer markings .Here we are 120V and 12.6 V. More photos to follow,I had a right job last night both with poor light and trying to load the pictures,normally no problem. This gets more interesting ,there does not seem to be any coils! BR815 is the code on the electrolytic caps.All smells very old and waxy.
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1st Nov 2020, 2:01 pm | #9 |
Nonode
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Re: Spy Radio?
I'm not seeing any RF components in there..?
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1st Nov 2020, 2:16 pm | #10 |
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Re: Spy Radio?
I thought that too. Are there any variable capacitors?
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1st Nov 2020, 2:59 pm | #11 |
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Re: Spy Radio?
Just realised, no tuning cap as well as no coils. So, I could be wrong re A and E socket.
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1st Nov 2020, 3:23 pm | #12 |
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Re: Spy Radio?
Looks like a bit of reverse engineering is called for. The construction has a symetrical appearance. Multivibrator perhaps?
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1st Nov 2020, 3:35 pm | #13 |
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Re: Spy Radio?
Agreed!
No RF components and maybe what look like crystal sockets on the panel may be simple connectors for cables. So that's the spy radio idea out the window. It was fun while it lasted. David
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1st Nov 2020, 6:01 pm | #14 |
Dekatron
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Re: Spy Radio?
Still wonder why the frequency was written on the lid and also a number 6, as if one of 6?
All very odd I admit.
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1st Nov 2020, 6:02 pm | #15 |
Octode
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Re: Spy Radio?
The sockets on the panel have unequal size pins which are fairly common connectors. The valves are 6SK7, 6J5 or similar size not output valves of the 6V6 size.
Maybe it’s a pre-amp. Jim |
1st Nov 2020, 6:16 pm | #16 |
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Re: Spy Radio?
AF Sig Gen Maybe ?
Interesting Who Dunnit Cheers Mike T
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1st Nov 2020, 6:25 pm | #17 |
Dekatron
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Re: Spy Radio?
Also a 2 pin mains plug with very tarnished pins,so certainly not been plugged in for many years.
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1st Nov 2020, 7:13 pm | #18 |
Octode
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Re: Spy Radio?
I think that this could be medical. The RF frequencies that are marked on the lid may well be selectable carrier frequencies for a Phrenic Nerve Stimulator, the receiving coil would be just under the skin, the modulation frequencies being in the low audio range. Alternatively this may be an early TENS treatment unit.
Neil
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1st Nov 2020, 8:19 pm | #19 |
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Re: Spy Radio?
Good thinking Neil. Still the mystery of why no valve markings though?
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1st Nov 2020, 8:43 pm | #20 |
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Re: Spy Radio?
The markings just wear off. I've got several like that. It's not easy to identify an unknown valve in a metal envelope! In your case the components connected to it should help.
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