Hello from Cuba

[Crackle]

Here in the UK it was common for the dot on the transistor to mark the Collector. It is advisable to look up the information on each transistor type.
I keep this handy.
   

Mike

[Nowhere-Man]

I seem to recall the AF177's used coloured leads. There were four of them. Contrary to the bad press, the AF transistors I found to be bullet proof. I have an awesome early sixties car radio with AF transistors and so far they still work OK.
However the dot markings will help me with the Top Hats. Actually I found the Astrad a difficult radio to take apart. I almost accidentally loosened the wrong grub screw on the waveband shaft. My eyes are pretty poor. The knob is removed via a recessed latter grubscrew. Those were a bit rusty and you have to angle the screwdriver.
Inside I found it a bit space age. These Russian trannys were being produced in the Sputnik and Gagarin era. Types such as Festival or Zvezda. They reflect the drive towards a scientific society. Maybe the waveband system was deliberately made complex for effect.
There is more to Soviet radio than meets the eye. There are many Soviet trannys to rival Japanese and other equivalents. Except the Japanese had a marketing edge. By the way there are also good USSR telescopes such as Turist.

[Terry]

These Russian trannys were being produced in the Sputnik and Gagarin era. 

I don't think so.

There weren't many transistor radios around in 1957, when Sputnik was launched - in fact it was the same year, I think, that the first Russian transistor set appeared.

The situation had changed somewhat by the time of Garagarin's trip in 1961 but sales were confined to the Soviet Union.

The exports came later ...

[Nowhere-Man]

Most of Miguels sets will be Brezhnev era. Krushchev got involved in Cuba around 1961 I think. The radios would have been shipped to Cuba. I think by 64 Brezhnev was in office and Mr K retired. So lots of Soviet radios still for Miguel to fix I guess. I will be seeking ways to bring some to the UK via Russian contacts. That way I can also try and learn the ropes. I imagine too you can get them in Tallinn easily. My friend has a flat there and a huge Soviet colour TV. A CRT at that but superb audio quality.

[pwdrive]

You've forgot Mr Kosygin.

Lawrence.

[Miguel Lopez]

Most of Miguels sets will be Brezhnev era.

That is right, althought a lot of Soviet radios in Cuba are from Gorbachev era too (the happy eighties).

So lots of Soviet radios still for Miguel to fix I guess.

That is right too. Saddly people in Cuba are dumping their Soviet stuff everyday. I try to save any whenever I can, of course.

[Nowhere-Man]

Most of Miguels sets will be Brezhnev era.

That is right, althought a lot of Soviet radios in Cuba are from Gorbachev era too (the happy eighties).

So lots of Soviet radios still for Miguel to fix I guess.

That is right too. Saddly people in Cuba are dumping their Soviet stuff everyday. I try to save any whenever I can, of course.

I am currently sort of specialising in the political history of the Gorbachev era. It is basically a very interesting period of history. Yeltsin was originally a structural engineer who was brought over to Moscow by Gorbachev. It seemed as if eventually the USSR would continue to exist but not as a communist alliance. However, the attempted coup took place and Gorbachev resigned. He has only just written another book (reviewed on Amazon).
Back to radios: There are lots of Russian sites dedicated to radio. There is a lot of interest in Russia. I got a call today by phone from Moscow as someone wanted to ask me about electronic components. Then my phone battery just died so the guy was cut off. I think I need a new battery!
Here is a known Russian site where you can see pics of Soviet Radios. I thought the Spidola looks a bit like a sewing machine.
http://back-in-ussr.com/2015/02/sovetski...mniki.html

[Nowhere-Man]

I just checked and the Selena tends to be priced about 90 US dollars in Moscow. I have never seen or heard one. Miguel, you may have mentioned before the VEF 12 is the Astrad Auriga. However, I just read the Astrad differs slightly in design and the Astrads were not permitted to be sold within the USSR as they were for export.

[Miguel Lopez]

you may have mentioned before the VEF 12 is the Astrad Auriga.

Not exactly. I guess they are the same looking to the pictures, both outside and inside. I have never had in my hands a VEF-12 or an Astrad Auriga

I just read the Astrad differs slightly in design.

Can't affirm or deny this. I can only say that I have not noticed any difference in the Selena VEGA B215 (bought in the UK) that Alan gave me, and the Selena B215 (bought in Cuba) that I fixed for my uncle.

I have never seen or heard one

You should. Selena is a nice radio.

[Mike Watterson]

I had a Selena, I can't remember what I did with it. I tried adding a BFO for SSB, and that wasn't stable. However, as intended, it was a fine AM/FM set. The USSR models would have had the 64MHz to 72MHz approx FM and not western 87 to 108MHz. (Japan is 76 to 90).

My Astrid Auriga is an AM only radio and excellent too.