Ferranti 145 "Jelly Mould" - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

G8vsjDave · 9th Jan 2026, 4:07 pm

In the last days of 2024 I collected a Ferranti 145 "Jelly Mould" radio and added it to my ‘to do’ list until last autumn, when I started work. The seller believed the radio was in original condition, but on inspection I found the electrolytic capacitor block had been removed and replaced with capacitors that were just hanging in space. Some of the wiring urgently needed replacing due to becoming brittle with age, and the wax capacitors I checked were leaky, as one would expect. I checked the mains transformer with a dummy load and made sure the speaker transformer windings were not open circuit then embarked on a re-wire and capacitor change before attempting to apply power.
The removal and re-fitting of the old wax capacitors (one at a time) went without problems. I spent some time wondering how to safely and neatly fit the replacement power supply electrolytics and finally decided to use a tag strip.
I powered up slowly on a variac and found the H.T. was low, but I was very relieved to hear ‘sounds’ from the speaker.
The low H.T. was due to the 5Z4G recitifier only half firing due to an open circuit heater. I replaced it with a 5V4G, and with the correct H.T, I had results on all bands. The sensitivity was not great, but what you would expect without an R.F. stage
The cabinet was in very good condition and just needed a good clean and polish.
Dave

Aub · 9th Jan 2026, 5:01 pm

Looks very nice. Well done.

Aub

Trevor · 9th Jan 2026, 6:16 pm

Wow looks great both inside and outside

G6Tanuki · 9th Jan 2026, 7:04 pm

I like the little tagstrip and supporting aluminium angle bracket to mount the replacement HT smoothing capacitors.

Gabe001 · 16th Jan 2026, 11:40 am

Great job! Nice and tidy.

I have one of these and I found it quite hard to work on. Moxt of the wax capacitors are bolted to the chassis under layers of wiring, and hard to get to.

Richardgr · 16th Jan 2026, 12:06 pm

A very nicely uncluttered under-chassis!
I am always a bit surprised that the potentiometers are usually working fine on these vintage radios. Is it just 'happenstance', i.e. they did not need to be twiddled all the time, or did they make them better back then? Or maybe I have been lucky?

Phil G4SPZ · 17th Jan 2026, 7:36 am

Nice work! Well done

9th Jan 2026, 4:07 pm	#1
G8vsjDave Hexode Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK. Posts: 284	Ferranti 145 "Jelly Mould" In the last days of 2024 I collected a Ferranti 145 "Jelly Mould" radio and added it to my ‘to do’ list until last autumn, when I started work. The seller believed the radio was in original condition, but on inspection I found the electrolytic capacitor block had been removed and replaced with capacitors that were just hanging in space. Some of the wiring urgently needed replacing due to becoming brittle with age, and the wax capacitors I checked were leaky, as one would expect. I checked the mains transformer with a dummy load and made sure the speaker transformer windings were not open circuit then embarked on a re-wire and capacitor change before attempting to apply power. The removal and re-fitting of the old wax capacitors (one at a time) went without problems. I spent some time wondering how to safely and neatly fit the replacement power supply electrolytics and finally decided to use a tag strip. I powered up slowly on a variac and found the H.T. was low, but I was very relieved to hear ‘sounds’ from the speaker. The low H.T. was due to the 5Z4G recitifier only half firing due to an open circuit heater. I replaced it with a 5V4G, and with the correct H.T, I had results on all bands. The sensitivity was not great, but what you would expect without an R.F. stage The cabinet was in very good condition and just needed a good clean and polish. Dave Attached Thumbnails

9th Jan 2026, 5:01 pm	#2
Aub Nonode Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK. Posts: 2,233	Re: Ferranti 145 "Jelly Mould" Looks very nice. Well done. Aub __________________ Life's a long song, but the tune ends too soon for us all - Ian Anderson, 1971.

9th Jan 2026, 6:16 pm	#3
Trevor Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 1,186	Re: Ferranti 145 "Jelly Mould" Wow looks great both inside and outside

9th Jan 2026, 7:04 pm	#4
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 15,908	Re: Ferranti 145 "Jelly Mould" I like the little tagstrip and supporting aluminium angle bracket to mount the replacement HT smoothing capacitors. __________________ Let's Degauss.

16th Jan 2026, 11:40 am	#5
Gabe001 Nonode Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 2,109	Re: Ferranti 145 "Jelly Mould" Great job! Nice and tidy. I have one of these and I found it quite hard to work on. Moxt of the wax capacitors are bolted to the chassis under layers of wiring, and hard to get to.

16th Jan 2026, 12:06 pm	#6
Richardgr Octode Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Täby, Sweden Posts: 1,180	Re: Ferranti 145 "Jelly Mould" A very nicely uncluttered under-chassis! I am always a bit surprised that the potentiometers are usually working fine on these vintage radios. Is it just 'happenstance', i.e. they did not need to be twiddled all the time, or did they make them better back then? Or maybe I have been lucky?

17th Jan 2026, 7:36 am	#7
Phil G4SPZ Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 4,909	Re: Ferranti 145 "Jelly Mould" Nice work! Well done __________________ Phil Optimist [n]: One who is not in possession of the full facts