Ferranti '045' restoration: Part 1 - the electrics.

[Yorkie]

Well done David, it has always surprised me the cost of Magic eyes. does anyone know why?

cheers Mark

I think that it's because the magic eye fad was fairly short-lived so didn't have long production runs, and whereas all radios had frequency changer, IF, audio valves etc, only a few radios over a relatively short space of time when magic eyes were in vogue, had them fitted. Hence, relaltive to other valves, magic eyes are much more scarce. EG, there will have been many more EL84 output valves made and still around in their millions, but far fewer EM34 magic eyes, which command quite silly prices. (Magic eyes were also used in test gear of course, and some military equipment, such as the R1155)

It's as well to be alert to equivalents, though csometimes the glas envelope may be a little smaller or larger in diam. Here are a ferw equivalents:

EM34 = 6CD7
EBC41 = 6CV7
EBF89 = 6DC8
EAA91 = 6AL5
EL95 = 6DL5

Though in my view, they add nothing of use to a radio as you can tell with your ear whehter it's properly tuned in to a station, nevertheless, in a radio which had one originally, it certainly detracts from the appearance if a decent eye isn't fitted when restored.