Need you help
IGot2P
http://tinyurl.com/yexannd on e-Bay and then post approximately what
year this radio was made. It looks like a portable but yet it is AC
powered. All in all, I think that it looks somewhat neat and just may
attempt to snipe it depending upon how old it is.
Thanks,
Don
Brenda Ann
"IGot2P" <d...@crsales.com> wrote in message
news:hd7vfq$a2m$1...@news.netins.net...
I've had a couple of these. IIRC, they were made around 1948-50. It will
almost certainly need a total recapping (the filter electrolytic actually
crumbles!). If it is indeed actually working, at least you know you have
something worth starting from. It runs on either AC or A/B batteries (which
you can still buy or have made).
IGot2P
Brenda Ann, thanks a lot the info was appreciated. If I would get it I
don't intend to anything with it except clean it up and use it as
working decor. Now what the heck is, and where would I get A/B batteries?
Cheers,
Don
paul @removeppinyot.removecom Paul_P
>
> Cheers,
>
> Don
>
>
Start here. Buy one or build one.
http://www.ppinyot.com/zenith/battery.htm
Paul P.
Jim Mueller
Unless it has been redone by someone else, it won't be "working" decor.
Even if it works now (depends on the sellers definition of working), it
won't continue that way. The old capacitors will continue deteriorating
until it either becomes painful to listen to or something is damaged. If
you notice bad performance and replace just the bad part, another one
will be following shortly and it will be one repair after another (been
there, done that).
If you can be happy with non-working decor, then leave it alone. If you
want it to really work right, you need to replace all the paper
capacitors and, from what Brenda says, the electrolytic as well.
A and B batteries are the two batteries that tube portables need to
operate. Most types are discontinued but some are still available,
usually at very high prices. Most folks build substitutes from modern
batteries.
This isn't intended to discourage you but to let you know what you are
probably in for so that you can make an informed decision. The work
usually isn't hard but it is necessary. If you don't know how to solder,
you will have to learn (it isn't hard).
Good luck,
--
Jim Mueller wron...@nospam.com
To get my real email address, replace wrongname with dadoheadman.
Then replace nospam with fastmail. Lastly, replace com with us.
IGot2P
Thanks for the info but soldering and changing capacitors would be no
problem. We own a computer store and also have lasers thus something
always needs bench work. OTOH, I would probably never do it if it works
at all as I am more concerned about the unique looks than the quality or
lack of sound.
When I Google "B" battery I come up with several different voltages.
Everything from ~67 volts to around 90 volts, what is the norm? Anyway,
it looks as if any of them could be simply built with common 9 volt
batteries and possibly a combination of other common batteries if a
person wanted to get exact which I doubt is necessary.
Thanks again,
Don
Richard Knoppow
made many models to fit the various portable radios on the
market. The schematic will tell you what voltages are
necessary. Usually a battery can be made by combining 9V
transistor batteries for the B battery and flashlight
batteries for the A battery. The old terminology is that A
means filiment or heater voltage, B means plate or high
voltage, and C, where used, is a bias cell. A considerable
amount of old equipment used C cells rather than loosing
some voltage by dropping it through resistors in the usual
way. Some batteries may be expensive to assemble but most of
the original portable radio batteries were expensive when
made. My memory is that when my family got a battery
operated portable (vacuum tube stuff I mean) it seldom got
replacement batteries. Too short lived and too expensive.
I agree with the others about repairing the thing. I
also like old radios (or I wouldn't follow this group) but I
like stuff to work and to work as well as possible. The most
common failures are electrolytic and paper capacitors. These
have a limited life and especially electrolytics depend on
having voltage across them to remain capacitors since one
electrode is formed chemically by an electrochemical
reaction. Sometimes these will re-form when powered up but
if old enough will not. They are the first suspects although
some survive surprizingly long times. Paper caps were known
when new to have limited life. Often they were overrated to
try to extend the life but after long periods of time may
also stop being capacitors. Modern caps of both types are
far superior in both performance and expected life.
Especially get rid of any leaking electrolytic cap because
the stuff it exudes will damage anytihing it gets on.
--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
dick...@ix.netcom.com
Bob
It is a 3 way AC-DC-Battery set using 1.4 volt tubes with a 3 volt output
(3Q5 maybe?). It has a tuned RF stage and is a pretty good performer. For
line operation there is a 117 volt rectifier tube, maybe a 117z3. It uses a
Philco combination A+B battery, the kind with a multipin socket. The B
battery is 90 V. The A may be 9 V.
Hope this helps
"IGot2P" <d...@crsales.com> wrote in message
news:hd7vfq$a2m$1...@news.netins.net...
Unrevealed Source
"Jim Mueller" <wron...@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:0070466d$0$1582$c3e...@news.astraweb.com...
>
> Unless it has been redone by someone else, it won't be "working" decor.
> Even if it works now (depends on the sellers definition of working), it
> won't continue that way. The old capacitors will continue deteriorating
> until it either becomes painful to listen to or something is damaged. If
> you notice bad performance and replace just the bad part, another one
> will be following shortly and it will be one repair after another (been
> there, done that).
>
> If you can be happy with non-working decor, then leave it alone. If you
> want it to really work right, you need to replace all the paper
> capacitors and, from what Brenda says, the electrolytic as well.
>
> A and B batteries are the two batteries that tube portables need to
> operate. Most types are discontinued but some are still available,
> usually at very high prices. Most folks build substitutes from modern
> batteries.
>
> This isn't intended to discourage you but to let you know what you are
> probably in for so that you can make an informed decision. The work
> usually isn't hard but it is necessary. If you don't know how to solder,
> you will have to learn (it isn't hard).
>
I agree with everything you said, Jim, except that I'm not sure this is the
best radio for someone's first restoration. These aren't difficult, but
they aren't the easiest to work on either.
Cut the cord off, clean it up, and enjoy the way it looks.