HMV 800 Radiogram restoration.

[osx86apple]

Good morning

If some of you may have seen my previous thread, it worked out great in the end and I'm now a proud owner of an HMV 800. Does require full restoration, however it's lovely and original.

I will keep posting progress here, due to get started on it soon.

On a note to this has anyone had any experience with these new PX25's made by TJ full music?

[vinrads]

Oh yes please! do keep us up to date with progress and some pictures would be nice ,as you can probably guess , I love this model , all the best with the restoration , never used valves from TJ but I have used EL34 from new Brimar with no problem . Mick.

[osx86apple]

Thank you, I will definitely be posting some photos soon
I was thinking of doing the triode connected KT66 option with a 6.3v transformer for the heaters, however I would like to keep this as original as possible so seeing what other options there may be?

[PsychMan]

Delighted to see this, congratulations! I'm pleased sense prevailed in the end. Most things in life are simple misunderstandings with no ill intent.

Would love to see pictures

[osx86apple]

Absolutely, here is a couple of pictures, note the spare cabinet in the background which was also supplied, only good for spares.

[Edward Huggins]

The cost of good PX25s is now very scary. I guess KT66s triode connected, or as an option KT88/6550s triode connected, is the most economic, medium term, solution.
You could run these pro-tem in the hope that you might come across some PX25s in the future. The chassis disruption will be minimal.

[PsychMan]

Is that a clock on the motorboard?

[osx86apple]

Indeed it is a clock, the later 801 had it near the radio chassis.

[turretslug]

What a splendid and imposing beast. Just moving it around must have been quite a feat! Good luck with it, it will be very satisfying to have such a lovely piece of solid woodwork and quality vintage electronics holding forth from those big speakers. You're sure to have plenty of us here following with interest.

[osx86apple]

Yes I may probably head down the KT66 route in the hope more affordable options become available, can't believe the prices of PX25's now. However the KT66 is considered to be an almost identical match.

[osx86apple]

Originally Posted by turretslug

What a splendid and imposing beast. Just moving it around must have been quite a feat!

I'm just glad there was 2 delivery men yesterday moving it in for me!

[osx86apple]

As I suspected someone has had to renovate at some point, the metal capacitor block is no more and placed mainly under the chassis. Still a thing of beauty though

[osx86apple]

For now it is just going to look pretty in the dining room whilst I restore the amp

[osx86apple]

Does anyone know of the best way to mount an octal base to these so I can fit some KT66's. I'm planning on using a 6.3v transformer, I did think of using the existing 4v heater current in series however I wouldn't want to risk any sort of overload.

[vinrads]

Hi were you thinking of leaving the original bases in ? Mick.

[osx86apple]

I would like to but I can only see a way around it to safely remove them so they could be reinstalled at a later date and fit an octal base instead?

[vinrads]

Hi I have some used ones the hole size is approx 30mm and fixing holes 38mm , were you thinking of new ones ? If you want these you can have them foc , Mick.

[osx86apple]

Just sent you a pm

[Ed_Dinning]

Hi Gents, I have successfully used small autotransformers under the chassis to change voltages for this sort of valve substitution before.

Ed

[Herald1360]

Originally Posted by osx86apple

For now it is just going to look pretty in the dining room whilst I restore the amp

What a lovely setting. That rug is a cracker!