I hate Steampunk AVOs - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Aitor Eneko · 27th Nov 2018, 3:01 pm

Oh my god!!!, how many AVOs are suffering this torture and are been destroyed?

I think that a xxxx lamp can be bought in IKEA.

Leave the AVOs alone!!

PsychMan · 27th Nov 2018, 3:05 pm

Not to my taste, or the similarly gutted radios with lamp holders coming out the top.

If the lamps were dimmable, with a circuit to drive the meter, at least it would show some skill

linescan87 · 27th Nov 2018, 3:19 pm

AVO's make very good multimeters, but fairly c##p lamps. The biggest problem I have with this sort of thing is that when the "lamp" is no longer on trend it is simply tossed in the bin, whereas at least it could have been a source of spares.

John Joe.

Refugee · 27th Nov 2018, 3:41 pm

Old mantle clocks look pretty stupid with a lamp sticking out of the top.
It is even worse if they put one of those horrid CFLs in the holder.

Nickthedentist · 27th Nov 2018, 3:44 pm

That's and HMV Cavendish fan heater, is it not?

Don't forget that there were synchronous clocks made in the 30s/40s/50s which had a lampholder shoved in the top. They look nice enough with the appropriate style of shade, e.g. https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...h1uELNRvMJ5zke

But yes, I hate viable vintage stuff being turned upcycled into something abhorrent.

Nick.

Refugee · 27th Nov 2018, 3:46 pm

Well spotted

I have seen Bakelite alarm clocks that were made with a lamp in the top but the idea has been copied by people who rip the movement out to make way for the wiring on those wooden mantle clocks. They really do look stupid.

Paul_RK · 27th Nov 2018, 3:54 pm

The Avo, and the Cavendish, are horrors I haven't seen before. A part of me is relieved that the depredations of home lighting "upcyclers" aren't entirely restricted to Belling Champions: then, there must be some limit to the number of folk whose requirements of a lamp are that it provides a small patch of light on the floor, a more diffuse circular pattern on the ceiling and nothing in between.

Paul

The Philpott · 27th Nov 2018, 4:44 pm

It's a fashion disease Aitor, i bought quite a rare Avominor last year that had been made into a USB powered desk-lamp, for the sole purpose of converting it back to an Avominor, filling in holes with Araldite glue (coloured with black paint) as i went along. The repairs to the case can be seen, but i left them this way to be a reminder of just how close to destruction the meter came.

These fashion items are actually not selling too well in the UK at the moment, some have had their prices dropped by 50% and are still not being sold. Old rusting filing cabinets that have been wire-brushed and treated with clear varnish are still however sometimes selling for several hundred GBP as part of the 'industrial chic' fashion.

Dave

Sinewave · 27th Nov 2018, 5:52 pm

I don't understand the lamp bandwagon with steam punking old avos.

Besides, these deluded people want an incredible amount of money for what is essentially a completely useless lamp.

Lloyd 1985 · 27th Nov 2018, 5:55 pm

Another favourite is making lamps out of old cameras, I saw an old Bakelite Kodak Brownie that had its lens drilled out and a lamp holder sticking out where the lens once was... it was then mounted on a wooden tripod and a naff golf ball sized filament bulb shoved in the socket. It looked utterly ridiculous!

There was also a rather sad looking AVO upturned on top of a guitar amplifier that had been converted to Bluetooth...

I’m going to try making a multimeter out of a modern lamp, see if I can sell it for £3000!!

Regards
Lloyd

yesnaby · 27th Nov 2018, 5:58 pm

Then there is the 'We hate old tech' vandalism introduction to the TV programme Click.

Craig Sawyers · 27th Nov 2018, 6:18 pm

I used to play clarinet in a wind band. The guy who ran it, and conducted, was a clarinetist too (better than me by quite a margin). But when he retired, and based on the fact that he had played his clarinet into the dust over the years, and it was totally knackered, made it into a table lamp.

mole42uk · 27th Nov 2018, 7:18 pm

I have an old oboe that someone sawed the top off to make a table-lamp. I’m in the process of making a new top to make the lamp into an oboe.

llama · 27th Nov 2018, 7:24 pm

Just re-listened to an old Radio 2 programme about Artie Shaw. Apparently when he was done playing clarinet he converted that into a lamp.
Graham

Radio Wrangler · 27th Nov 2018, 11:50 pm

Could it be an alarm AVO?

Dial up the wanted waking time on the range knobs and at the appointed time, the cutout pops, the scale flashes and the knobs spin. The integrated bedside lamp completes the act.

It doesn't make tea, but it does turn your soldering iron on, ready for action.

David

MrBungle · 27th Nov 2018, 11:52 pm

At least that Avo works as a lamp sort of.

This, I can't fathom!

Is it for interrogations?

Aitor Eneko · 27th Nov 2018, 11:57 pm

Another sad example

Only 398 pounds.....

Craig Sawyers · 28th Nov 2018, 12:13 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by llama

Just re-listened to an old Radio 2 programme about Artie Shaw. Apparently when he was done playing clarinet he converted that into a lamp.
Graham

He apparently stopped playing at the height of his fame because he thought he was not good enough to play at the level of perfection he set for himself. At the age of 44. He lived to 94.

yesnaby · 28th Nov 2018, 12:31 am

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/5921...ABEgJx-vD_BwE#

Aitor Eneko · 28th Nov 2018, 12:41 am

Oh my god! they are going to destroy the history with stupid lamps an other garbage

27th Nov 2018, 3:01 pm	#1
Aitor Eneko Hexode Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain Posts: 392	I hate Steampunk AVOs Oh my god!!!, how many AVOs are suffering this torture and are been destroyed? I think that a xxxx lamp can be bought in IKEA. Leave the AVOs alone!! Attached Thumbnails

27th Nov 2018, 3:05 pm	#2
PsychMan Octode Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Fleet, Hampshire, UK Posts: 1,176	Re: I hate Steampunk AVOs Not to my taste, or the similarly gutted radios with lamp holders coming out the top. If the lamps were dimmable, with a circuit to drive the meter, at least it would show some skill

27th Nov 2018, 3:19 pm	#3
linescan87 Hexode Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Meath, Ireland Posts: 257	Re: I HATE STEAM-PUNK AVOs AVO's make very good multimeters, but fairly c##p lamps. The biggest problem I have with this sort of thing is that when the "lamp" is no longer on trend it is simply tossed in the bin, whereas at least it could have been a source of spares. John Joe.

27th Nov 2018, 3:41 pm	#4
Refugee Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK. Posts: 3,783	Re: I hate Steampunk AVOs Old mantle clocks look pretty stupid with a lamp sticking out of the top. It is even worse if they put one of those horrid CFLs in the holder. Attached Thumbnails

27th Nov 2018, 3:44 pm	#5
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 14,067	Re: I hate Steampunk AVOs That's and HMV Cavendish fan heater, is it not? Don't forget that there were synchronous clocks made in the 30s/40s/50s which had a lampholder shoved in the top. They look nice enough with the appropriate style of shade, e.g. https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...h1uELNRvMJ5zke But yes, I hate viable vintage stuff being turned upcycled into something abhorrent. Nick. Last edited by Nickthedentist; 27th Nov 2018 at 3:50 pm.

27th Nov 2018, 3:46 pm	#6
Refugee Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK. Posts: 3,783	Re: I hate Steampunk AVOs Well spotted I have seen Bakelite alarm clocks that were made with a lamp in the top but the idea has been copied by people who rip the movement out to make way for the wiring on those wooden mantle clocks. They really do look stupid. Attached Thumbnails

27th Nov 2018, 3:54 pm	#7
Paul_RK Nonode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 2,589	Re: I hate Steampunk AVOs The Avo, and the Cavendish, are horrors I haven't seen before. A part of me is relieved that the depredations of home lighting "upcyclers" aren't entirely restricted to Belling Champions: then, there must be some limit to the number of folk whose requirements of a lamp are that it provides a small patch of light on the floor, a more diffuse circular pattern on the ceiling and nothing in between. Paul

27th Nov 2018, 4:44 pm	#8
The Philpott Octode Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Colchester, Essex, UK. Posts: 1,515	Re: I hate Steampunk AVOs It's a fashion disease Aitor, i bought quite a rare Avominor last year that had been made into a USB powered desk-lamp, for the sole purpose of converting it back to an Avominor, filling in holes with Araldite glue (coloured with black paint) as i went along. The repairs to the case can be seen, but i left them this way to be a reminder of just how close to destruction the meter came. These fashion items are actually not selling too well in the UK at the moment, some have had their prices dropped by 50% and are still not being sold. Old rusting filing cabinets that have been wire-brushed and treated with clear varnish are still however sometimes selling for several hundred GBP as part of the 'industrial chic' fashion. Dave

27th Nov 2018, 5:52 pm	#9
Sinewave Heptode Join Date: May 2016 Location: Oxfordshire/Bucks borders, UK. Posts: 562	Re: I hate Steampunk AVOs I don't understand the lamp bandwagon with steam punking old avos. Besides, these deluded people want an incredible amount of money for what is essentially a completely useless lamp. __________________ Avometer and vintage Fluke collector. Metrology addict.

27th Nov 2018, 5:55 pm	#10
Lloyd 1985 Octode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 1,463	Re: I hate Steampunk AVOs Another favourite is making lamps out of old cameras, I saw an old Bakelite Kodak Brownie that had its lens drilled out and a lamp holder sticking out where the lens once was... it was then mounted on a wooden tripod and a naff golf ball sized filament bulb shoved in the socket. It looked utterly ridiculous! There was also a rather sad looking AVO upturned on top of a guitar amplifier that had been converted to Bluetooth... I’m going to try making a multimeter out of a modern lamp, see if I can sell it for £3000!! Regards Lloyd

27th Nov 2018, 5:58 pm	#11
yesnaby Octode Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Newport, Gwent, UK. Posts: 1,447	Re: I hate Steampunk AVOs Then there is the 'We hate old tech' vandalism introduction to the TV programme Click.

27th Nov 2018, 6:18 pm	#12
Craig Sawyers Octode Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 1,536	Re: I hate Steampunk AVOs I used to play clarinet in a wind band. The guy who ran it, and conducted, was a clarinetist too (better than me by quite a margin). But when he retired, and based on the fact that he had played his clarinet into the dust over the years, and it was totally knackered, made it into a table lamp.

27th Nov 2018, 7:18 pm	#13
mole42uk Octode Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 1,595	Re: I hate Steampunk AVOs I have an old oboe that someone sawed the top off to make a table-lamp. I’m in the process of making a new top to make the lamp into an oboe. __________________ Richard Index: recursive loop: see recursive loop

27th Nov 2018, 7:24 pm	#14
llama Octode Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Osyth, Nr Clacton, Essex, UK. Posts: 1,065	Re: I hate Steampunk AVOs Just re-listened to an old Radio 2 programme about Artie Shaw. Apparently when he was done playing clarinet he converted that into a lamp. Graham __________________ Half my stuff is junk - trouble is, I don't know which half!

27th Nov 2018, 11:50 pm	#15
Radio Wrangler Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 11,332	Re: I hate Steampunk AVOs Could it be an alarm AVO? Dial up the wanted waking time on the range knobs and at the appointed time, the cutout pops, the scale flashes and the knobs spin. The integrated bedside lamp completes the act. It doesn't make tea, but it does turn your soldering iron on, ready for action. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

27th Nov 2018, 11:52 pm	#16
MrBungle Nonode Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: London, UK. Posts: 2,755	Re: I hate Steampunk AVOs At least that Avo works as a lamp sort of. This, I can't fathom! Is it for interrogations? Attached Thumbnails

27th Nov 2018, 11:57 pm	#17
Aitor Eneko Hexode Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain Posts: 392	Re: I hate Steampunk AVOs Another sad example Only 398 pounds..... Attached Thumbnails

28th Nov 2018, 12:31 am	#19
yesnaby Octode Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Newport, Gwent, UK. Posts: 1,447	Re: I hate Steampunk AVOs https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/5921...ABEgJx-vD_BwE#

28th Nov 2018, 12:41 am	#20
Aitor Eneko Hexode Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain Posts: 392	Re: I hate Steampunk AVOs Oh my god! they are going to destroy the history with stupid lamps an other garbage Attached Thumbnails