Lesta budget shop 1 - Hong Kong radio - Page 2 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Ever-HMV · 1st Feb 2012, 6:52 pm

Hmmm - now working, and Hi-Fi they're not!

Still, what do you expect for £2!

Rob

greenstar · 1st Feb 2012, 8:26 pm

I wondered about putting in a better speaker and adding SW - but where do you stop!
Will keep one in it's box.
Tony

Andrew2 · 1st Feb 2012, 9:12 pm

Gosh, we used to sell those back in the 70's! Various brand names including Oscar, Hanimex and.... er (can't remember).
Very obviously built down to a (very low) price. I recall they always sounded a bit rough.

Neil Purling · 2nd Feb 2012, 4:22 pm

This radio is typical market stall fodder of the late 1970's. I too recall seeing the Kingsonic and Cheiza name too on market stalls in Withernsea back when we had a caravan.
I see the speaker mount suggests the same case is used for something that has a larger speaker.
BTW is the tinny sound due to the small diameter speaker, the small magnet or some combination of both?

greenstar · 2nd Feb 2012, 6:51 pm

That's an interesting question. I got a couple more today - they have a few left still. I tried a couple of better small speakers, a 1.5w sony xTV and a good toshiba 6w, but didn't make much difference to sound quality. As I might use components in other things, interesting to know where the sound lets itself down. Although for what it is, it's good'n hearty.
Tony

DangerMan · 3rd Feb 2012, 2:55 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenstar

... interesting to know where the sound lets itself down. Tony

Most likely the driver and output transformers.

Pete

greenstar · 3rd Feb 2012, 10:21 pm

Ah well, still a few useful bits, and a couple salted away towards my pension!

Tony

terrykc · 4th Feb 2012, 5:36 pm

It looks as if there is a spire clip missing off the bolt in the bottom left hand corner. That should add a bit to the rattle quotient ...!

mickash · 4th Feb 2012, 8:30 pm

We had a very similar radio to this in ths mid 1970s.

The front case styling was different and the volume control was a slider, not rotary. The back of the case was identical and even though our set was battery only it still had the cutout in the bottom of the flap to allow for a mains lead.

This set stopped working many years ago but I still have it up in the loft somewhere.

Michael.

greenstar · 9th Feb 2012, 5:34 pm

All gone now. Called in today for another hooter, but
the shop has been emptied and has a 'closed sign'. Hopefull the stock hasn't been dumped (I imagine would appear in another £ shop somewhere, as enough stock was left to set one up).
Tony

1st Feb 2012, 6:52 pm	#21
Ever-HMV Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 144	Re: Lesta budget shop 1 - Hong Kong radio Hmmm - now working, and Hi-Fi they're not! Still, what do you expect for £2! Rob

1st Feb 2012, 8:26 pm	#22
greenstar Octode Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Leicester, Leics. UK. Posts: 1,684	Re: Lesta budget shop 1 - Hong Kong radio I wondered about putting in a better speaker and adding SW - but where do you stop! Will keep one in it's box. Tony

1st Feb 2012, 9:12 pm	#23
Andrew2 Nonode Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dukinfield, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 2,037	Re: Lesta budget shop 1 - Hong Kong radio Gosh, we used to sell those back in the 70's! Various brand names including Oscar, Hanimex and.... er (can't remember). Very obviously built down to a (very low) price. I recall they always sounded a bit rough. __________________ Andy G1HBE.

2nd Feb 2012, 4:22 pm	#24
Neil Purling Nonode Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hull, East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 2,087	Re: Lesta budget shop 1 - Hong Kong radio This radio is typical market stall fodder of the late 1970's. I too recall seeing the Kingsonic and Cheiza name too on market stalls in Withernsea back when we had a caravan. I see the speaker mount suggests the same case is used for something that has a larger speaker. BTW is the tinny sound due to the small diameter speaker, the small magnet or some combination of both?

2nd Feb 2012, 6:51 pm	#25
greenstar Octode Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Leicester, Leics. UK. Posts: 1,684	Re: Lesta budget shop 1 - Hong Kong radio That's an interesting question. I got a couple more today - they have a few left still. I tried a couple of better small speakers, a 1.5w sony xTV and a good toshiba 6w, but didn't make much difference to sound quality. As I might use components in other things, interesting to know where the sound lets itself down. Although for what it is, it's good'n hearty. Tony

3rd Feb 2012, 10:21 pm	#27
greenstar Octode Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Leicester, Leics. UK. Posts: 1,684	Re: Lesta budget shop 1 - Hong Kong radio Ah well, still a few useful bits, and a couple salted away towards my pension! Tony

4th Feb 2012, 5:36 pm	#28
terrykc Rest in Peace Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: North Hykeham, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 515	Re: Lesta budget shop 1 - Hong Kong radio It looks as if there is a spire clip missing off the bolt in the bottom left hand corner. That should add a bit to the rattle quotient ...!

4th Feb 2012, 8:30 pm	#29
mickash Hexode Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 289	Re: Lesta budget shop 1 - Hong Kong radio We had a very similar radio to this in ths mid 1970s. The front case styling was different and the volume control was a slider, not rotary. The back of the case was identical and even though our set was battery only it still had the cutout in the bottom of the flap to allow for a mains lead. This set stopped working many years ago but I still have it up in the loft somewhere. Michael.

9th Feb 2012, 5:34 pm	#30
greenstar Octode Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Leicester, Leics. UK. Posts: 1,684	Re: Lesta budget shop 1 - Hong Kong radio All gone now. Called in today for another hooter, but the shop has been emptied and has a 'closed sign'. Hopefull the stock hasn't been dumped (I imagine would appear in another £ shop somewhere, as enough stock was left to set one up). Tony