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Old 10th Apr 2020, 6:36 pm   #1
real0real
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Default Kolster Brandes 666 Valve radio restoration.

Hi
Have just acquired a Kolster Brandes 666 Radio, hoping to restore, wanting to test but not !00% sure which is the correct power input, is this 240 volt? or 120v as made in USA plus which is the input, as noticed the power lead in back of radio only appears to have 2 wires ad one is a yellow lead?
But also noticed on the left hand side of chassis there is socket for 3 pins one left in and broken off was the the original power input? anyone know? as not 100% sure at this point in time as not looked at properly yet any info would be grateful.
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Last edited by real0real; 10th Apr 2020 at 6:46 pm. Reason: Kolster Brandes Spelling misstype
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Old 10th Apr 2020, 7:20 pm   #2
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Default Re: Kolster Brandes 666 Valve radio restoration.

The socket on the left rear of the chassis is marked A, G, E, presume aerial, ground and earth.
The manual shows that two versions of mains transformer were fitted, 120 and 240v, the manual shows the resistance of the 240v but not the 120v transformer.
Have you the manual available from the service data top of the page.
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Old 10th Apr 2020, 7:35 pm   #3
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Default Re: Kolster Brandes 666 Valve radio Restration

Hi Frank , thanks for your reply , not have manual have read this radio is more than likely 240v the cable that exits only has 2 wires one is yellow the other is blue ? so not sure which would be live and which one would be neutral
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Old 10th Apr 2020, 8:12 pm   #4
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Default Re: Kolster Brandes 666 Valve radio restoration.

I would connect live to the wire connected to the fuse, try to confirm the transformer type or feed it with 120v and check the voltages on the secondaries. No point guessing and causing major damage.
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Old 10th Apr 2020, 8:31 pm   #5
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Default Re: Kolster Brandes 666 Valve radio restoration.

Have attached picture of beneath the chassis (not cleaned as yet), plus the cable, has 1 yellow cable lead 1 blue cable lead.
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Old 10th Apr 2020, 8:34 pm   #6
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Default Re: Kolster Brandes 666 Valve radio Restoration.

I reckon faded black and red, UK mains colours as then. Don't plug it in without doing some checks first and changing the lead for a safer one!
 
Old 10th Apr 2020, 8:36 pm   #7
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Default Re: Kolster Brandes 666 Valve radio Restoration.

The mains transformer will have a voltage selector comprising of a fuse holder which is placed in different positions, it will be marked with the voltages it was intended for.
Replace the mains lead for a modern one. I wired the brown (live) to the on/off switch and the blue (neutral) to the fuse holder common.
Dont plug it into the mains till you have confirmed the voltage setting of the mains transformer. Even then more work will need to be done, this is a very old radio and some components MUST be replaced before using it.
Mike

Last edited by crackle; 10th Apr 2020 at 8:55 pm.
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Old 10th Apr 2020, 8:45 pm   #8
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Default Re: Kolster Brandes 666 Valve radio Restoration

Just out of interest Realoreal, have you restored a radio of this type, age and rarity before?
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Old 10th Apr 2020, 8:58 pm   #9
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Default Re: Kolster Brandes 666 Valve radio Restoration.

The small sockets marked A C E are for the connection of a Rejectostat aerial system.
When the radio has been restorred and you are ready to test it you can simply connect a long wire aerial to the A socket. If you have an RF earth then that can connect to the E socket, but an RF earth will probably not be needed if the aerial is long, ignore the socket marked C.

Mike

Last edited by crackle; 10th Apr 2020 at 9:10 pm.
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Old 10th Apr 2020, 9:23 pm   #10
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Default Re: Kolster Brandes 666 Valve radio Restoration.

Measure the resistance between the mains input wires. A set of this size will have a transformer primary resistance of about 30 Ohms for a 240V input and about 8 Ohms for a 120V input.

This is a valuable set. I wonder if the cabinet design was by Betty Joel? There's a lot of work to be done before applying any power to it.

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Old 10th Apr 2020, 10:07 pm   #11
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Default Re: Kolster Brandes 666 Valve radio restoration.

Hi
Have tried checking ohms restance with volt meter , flucturating quite a lot , but hovering around 0.700 to 0.490 as shown in picture if i am doing this correctly ,
Dusted off around voltage like fuse appears to be set at 225 v

As for restoring this type of radio my first time , was not aware it maybe rare and valueable as mentioned ?, my brother a very good furniture restorer and working on the case of radio
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Old 10th Apr 2020, 10:23 pm   #12
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Default Re: Kolster Brandes 666 Valve radio restoration.

Looks like you have a short somewhere - possibly in the flaky mains lead. Much work is needed to make this set safe to use.

Leon.
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Old 10th Apr 2020, 10:28 pm   #13
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Default Re: Kolster Brandes 666 Valve radio restoration.

If you are inexperienced with radio repairs this is a good read to start with.
https://www.vintage-radio.com/repair...e-information/
The reading on the meter is very high indication an fault in the power supply, could be cable, fuse, transformer etc.
Have a read of that link.
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Old 10th Apr 2020, 10:30 pm   #14
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Default Re: Kolster Brandes 666 Valve radio restoration.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Leon Crampin View Post
Looks like you have a short somewhere - possibly in the flaky mains lead. Much work is needed to make this set safe to use.
A short?, I thought it was more like half a meg, the meter is on the 2M ohm Range, or am I reading it incorrectly?
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Old 10th Apr 2020, 10:34 pm   #15
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Default Re: Kolster Brandes 666 Valve radio restoration.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Leon Crampin View Post
Looks like you have a short somewhere - possibly in the flaky mains lead. Much work is needed to make this set safe to use.

Leon.
The meter is set to the 2Mohm range and reading 0.492Mohm. Hardly a short circuit.

This sort of reading generally indicates dirty contacts in the OFF/ON switch, poor contact between any fuse and its holder, or poor contact between the voltage selector and its sockets.

Application of mains voltage often clears these faults, but I'm not advocating that.
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Old 10th Apr 2020, 10:42 pm   #16
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Default Re: Kolster Brandes 666 Valve radio restoration.

Service data available here:-

https://www.service-data.com/section.php/4088/1/666
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Old 11th Apr 2020, 12:03 am   #17
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Default Re: Kolster Brandes 666 Valve radio restoration.

Mike
Nice collection of KB radios thanks for sharing the link , been lookig on website possible designed by Betty Joel,
Tomorrow will have a go at cleaning the chasis and look at replacing the power lead , looking at the underneath of chasis to me looks in quite good condition and possibly worth trying it see if it powers on , as appears its been stored a long time quite possible reading the link about radio repair possible / it will still work o.k and just power up , bit hesitant though
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Old 11th Apr 2020, 10:03 am   #18
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Default Re: Kolster Brandes 666 Valve radio restoration.

Please do NOT connect it to the mains to see if it lights up!

Radios of this age are full of faulty components and may also have dangerous bodges from previous owners.

This radio has the potential to become a working radio if the mains and output transformer are not damaged by premature connection of power.

We are very willing to guide you through a careful and methodical procedure to test the radio.

The valves in these old radios are often working but they can be damaged by hasty 'restorations'.

This is a lovely radio and it deserves some TLC.
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Old 11th Apr 2020, 10:28 am   #19
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Default Re: Kolster Brandes 666 Valve radio restoration.

It was the "Deluxe" model with the chrome trim around the corners and speaker grille that was designed by Betty Joel. I have seen them sell for over £250. https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/kolste...jectostat.html
Personally I prefer the "Standard" wood one. http://www.kbmuseum.org.uk/kb_images...6_standard.htm. My one had been stripped and refinished before I got it, showing the nice grain of the wood. For some reason in the days when these radios were made they tended to cover the radio with a lacquer that tended to mask the fine detail of the wood grain.

What ever you do DONT be tempted to apply any mains electricity to the radio yet.

There are components that will need replacing or expensive damage will be done to other components like the transformers and speaker field coil.
Read the link about restoration that was given earlier,
Read up on how to use your multimeter. Especially the resistance ranges, the measurement of the resistance of the mains transformer winding would give a more accurate reading if done on the 2000 ohm range.
The fluctuating high reading will be due to dirty connections.

Read up on how to make a "lamp limiter" it can help prevent nasty bangs when you come to applying power to the radio.
The members here will advise on the checks to make, components that MUST be renewed and when it is safe to try powering the set.

Mike

Last edited by crackle; 11th Apr 2020 at 10:41 am.
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Old 11th Apr 2020, 7:31 pm   #20
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Default Re: Kolster Brandes 666 Valve radio restoration.

Not get around to doing much today , cleaned chassis up a little
But anyway Radio case restored ,
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Last edited by real0real; 11th Apr 2020 at 7:54 pm.
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