Cossor 375AC - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

PJL · 20th Feb 2012, 5:06 pm

Very kindly given to me by a visitor to the forum, it's a proper Deco Cossor and a model I had been keeping an eye out for.

As it was fairly original (and dirty) with only replacement electrolytics and a PM24B instead of the PT41, I decided to do a proper job on it and have stuffed the capacitors. The electrolytics box is not right but it at least came with the set. Only problem I had was with a shorting tuning condensor due to blisters forming on the cast alloy vanes. Discovering it was a common ailment, I planed them off with a scissor blade. Although there are a few spots of rust on the chassis top, the underside is copper plate and not rust.

The 'character' feature on this set is a centre tapped volume control with Gram in one direction and radio in the other. On this radio, the volume never reduces to zero at centre and increases slightly on gram but I am not going to risk a repair to this irreplaceable part.

The cabinet was very dried out. I used a shellac based restorer which has brought the colour out and filled in the varnish cracks but, despite being completely clear, it has darkened the wood more than I would have liked made worse still by the camera flash. The speaker cloth was torn and dissintegrating so I have replaced it with some silk material I had bought from a carboot in the summer. The cellulose dial has shrunk badly but still does the job.

The radio is very sensitive, selectivity and image rejection aren't bad either, it's tolerant of interference, and sounds pretty good. Not bad at all for a Cossor.

Andrewausfa · 20th Feb 2012, 7:00 pm

Lovely. I do like the Art Deco styling.

Andrew

vinrads · 20th Feb 2012, 7:37 pm

Hi the cabinet looks fine to me, splendid job with the works I love these Art Deco sets ,mine also suffered from shrinkage of the dial.
When looking at ladies blouses for sale at the car boot, have you noticed that you get some funny looks

PJL · 20th Feb 2012, 7:47 pm

Although I will admit to cutting up womens wear in the past, this silk was leftover from lamp shade manufacturing. I bought enough to last a while, the colour is perfect being a black base with antique gold but the style is too modern really.

The metal frame is just painted monkey metal and it should be a light gold colour but has faded to silver. I was going to try to restore the cloth but it is not a tear as such, it is just falling apart!

Restorer79 · 20th Feb 2012, 8:22 pm

Looks like a nice job to me mate, can't see anyone complaining about having that in their lounge.

mark pirate · 22nd Feb 2012, 11:42 pm

That really has come up a treat, I think the speaker cloth suits the set well.
I like the quality of these pre-war Cossor's, they were very well built & perform well once restored.

Mark

20th Feb 2012, 5:06 pm	#1
PJL Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seaford, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 5,997	Cossor 375AC Very kindly given to me by a visitor to the forum, it's a proper Deco Cossor and a model I had been keeping an eye out for. As it was fairly original (and dirty) with only replacement electrolytics and a PM24B instead of the PT41, I decided to do a proper job on it and have stuffed the capacitors. The electrolytics box is not right but it at least came with the set. Only problem I had was with a shorting tuning condensor due to blisters forming on the cast alloy vanes. Discovering it was a common ailment, I planed them off with a scissor blade. Although there are a few spots of rust on the chassis top, the underside is copper plate and not rust. The 'character' feature on this set is a centre tapped volume control with Gram in one direction and radio in the other. On this radio, the volume never reduces to zero at centre and increases slightly on gram but I am not going to risk a repair to this irreplaceable part. The cabinet was very dried out. I used a shellac based restorer which has brought the colour out and filled in the varnish cracks but, despite being completely clear, it has darkened the wood more than I would have liked made worse still by the camera flash. The speaker cloth was torn and dissintegrating so I have replaced it with some silk material I had bought from a carboot in the summer. The cellulose dial has shrunk badly but still does the job. The radio is very sensitive, selectivity and image rejection aren't bad either, it's tolerant of interference, and sounds pretty good. Not bad at all for a Cossor. Attached Thumbnails

20th Feb 2012, 7:00 pm	#2
Andrewausfa Octode Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: St Ives, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 1,180	Re: Cossor 375AC Lovely. I do like the Art Deco styling. Andrew __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life. Or they should do. BVWS Member

20th Feb 2012, 7:37 pm	#3
vinrads Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 3,756	Re: Cossor 375AC Hi the cabinet looks fine to me, splendid job with the works I love these Art Deco sets ,mine also suffered from shrinkage of the dial. When looking at ladies blouses for sale at the car boot, have you noticed that you get some funny looks

20th Feb 2012, 7:47 pm	#4
PJL Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seaford, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 5,997	Re: Cossor 375AC Although I will admit to cutting up womens wear in the past, this silk was leftover from lamp shade manufacturing. I bought enough to last a while, the colour is perfect being a black base with antique gold but the style is too modern really. The metal frame is just painted monkey metal and it should be a light gold colour but has faded to silver. I was going to try to restore the cloth but it is not a tear as such, it is just falling apart! Attached Thumbnails Last edited by PJL; 20th Feb 2012 at 7:54 pm.

20th Feb 2012, 8:22 pm	#5
Restorer79 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Ammanford, South Wales, UK. Posts: 112	Re: Cossor 375AC Looks like a nice job to me mate, can't see anyone complaining about having that in their lounge.

22nd Feb 2012, 11:42 pm	#6
mark pirate Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK Posts: 5,185	Re: Cossor 375AC That really has come up a treat, I think the speaker cloth suits the set well. I like the quality of these pre-war Cossor's, they were very well built & perform well once restored. Mark