Another Little Maestro. 1957.

[Geordie McBoyne]

Possibly the last model in the Pilot Little Maestro series.  This set was made in 1957 and uses four valves: UCH81, UBF80 and UCL83. The HT rectifier is an UY85.  No electrical problems with the set but just look at the state of the cabinet!  No problem once that horrible paint has been removed as I have the colour code for Old English White, it's NNX. Got to thank Trevor for that useful info.
Just one other job to do, restring the dial cord.

Geordie McBoyne.

[Murphyv310]

The cabinet will look smashing in Old English White. It's a colour that goes way back right through the BMC years through the Rover 75 when it was renamed Arran White for some odd reason right up to today in the BMW Mini.

[Geordie McBoyne]

Hi Trevor,
               The old Ford Trader Ivory is not the same as the BMC Old English white.
The Little Maestro which is the subject of this discussion is the model T105, a similar chassis was fitted in the model TRG108 table radiogram.
Information can be found in the 1957/58 Radio and Television book.

Geordie McBoyne.

[Murphyv310]

Again another set that uses one section of the dropper for both heaters and HT. A compromise for costings

[Nick]

Do you ever replace the resistive dropper with a capacitive one?

Also, I hate a live chassis - a small 1:1 isolation transformer could be hidden under the chassis....

Not original, but...

[Murphyv310]

Hi Nick.
Yes I've replaced many resistor droppers with capacitors. I have a cream DAC90A the cabinets of which are more susceptible to cracks from the hot dropper and valves. There is a big reduction in heat.
The other thing that comes to mind is the Murphy V430/530 with a 441ohm dropper for the Radio heaters right below the plastic EHT rectifier base, it goes brittle and carbonises again a cap dropper is a good mod. I use run caps and a discharge resistor across the cap. Not had one failure in 14 years.

[Geordie McBoyne]

Sometime long ago a Philips output transformer had been bodged into the set. Fortunately there is a scrap RGD Deep 17 chassis upstairs and the output transformer is an exact match for the UCL83 output valve in the Little Maestro. Since the picture was taken the replacement transformer has been fitted in place.  No doubt the Philips transformer can be used for another project.

Geordie McBoyne.