21-07-2012, 06:12 PM
The EZ80 is the rectifier valve. It's job is to convert the AC mains to DC to suppy the HT to the other valves. As Rob says, if you don't get C57 changed, it may soon see off the EL84 output valve, and risks other potential problems. (A new capacitor would cost no more than a pound, plus fitting). It's a very practical set for everyday use in that it has the FM band, and doesn't need an aerial for LW and MW as it has an internal ferrite rod aerial. It only needs an external aerial for the short-wave band, which could be no more than say 10 - 15 ft of wire laying on the floor.
RGD didn't skimp on the design. It doesn't use cost-cutting techniques such as a live chassis AC/DC techniques and mains dropper - it is an AC only design and uses a mains transformer. It also has a high component count, running to 65 resistors and 43 capacitors. For comparison, the commonplace Bush DAC90A - a basic AC/D LW/MW only set from 1948 often used by rental companies, and much favoured today by some (as much as anything because it is commonplace and basic, as well as Bakelite) - has just 22 capacitors and 17 resistors. It's unlikely that the first owner of your RG 1-12 would have been able to pay for it outright, but on easy terms.
Although it would have been an expensive radio in its day, the sad fact is that it will most likely be worth less now than the sum total of the valves, but then most of us on here aren't interested in the cash value of old radios - we enjoy them because they're old, they're radios, and they use valves. There are lots of people around today who know the price of everything and the value of nothing. Many old radios are rare or at least uncommon, but that doesn't always mean that they're sought after or valuable. They may have been made in low numbers because they lacked appeal, and the passage of time may not necessarily make them any more appealing now than when they were new. I'm not directing those remarks at this radio - just generalising.
Incidentaly, if the magic eye is past its best or very dim, it's only for appearance - it has no bearing on the function of the set - your listen to a radio with your ears - not your eyes and your ears will tell you if the set is correctly tuned to a station! Magic eyes were little more than a sales gimmick, soon wore out, and are expensive.
Even though you don't wish to delve inside the radio yourself, you might nevertheless like to download a copy of the 6-page data for it, which will only set you back £1.99 from this link Chris:
http://www.service-data.com/section.php/7176/1
Just on final point - make sure that the voltage selector on the rear of the set is set to the higher setting - 230-250V, which will be kinder to the set and won't degrade its performance.
Hope that's of interest.
RGD didn't skimp on the design. It doesn't use cost-cutting techniques such as a live chassis AC/DC techniques and mains dropper - it is an AC only design and uses a mains transformer. It also has a high component count, running to 65 resistors and 43 capacitors. For comparison, the commonplace Bush DAC90A - a basic AC/D LW/MW only set from 1948 often used by rental companies, and much favoured today by some (as much as anything because it is commonplace and basic, as well as Bakelite) - has just 22 capacitors and 17 resistors. It's unlikely that the first owner of your RG 1-12 would have been able to pay for it outright, but on easy terms.
Although it would have been an expensive radio in its day, the sad fact is that it will most likely be worth less now than the sum total of the valves, but then most of us on here aren't interested in the cash value of old radios - we enjoy them because they're old, they're radios, and they use valves. There are lots of people around today who know the price of everything and the value of nothing. Many old radios are rare or at least uncommon, but that doesn't always mean that they're sought after or valuable. They may have been made in low numbers because they lacked appeal, and the passage of time may not necessarily make them any more appealing now than when they were new. I'm not directing those remarks at this radio - just generalising.
Incidentaly, if the magic eye is past its best or very dim, it's only for appearance - it has no bearing on the function of the set - your listen to a radio with your ears - not your eyes and your ears will tell you if the set is correctly tuned to a station! Magic eyes were little more than a sales gimmick, soon wore out, and are expensive.
Even though you don't wish to delve inside the radio yourself, you might nevertheless like to download a copy of the 6-page data for it, which will only set you back £1.99 from this link Chris:
http://www.service-data.com/section.php/7176/1
Just on final point - make sure that the voltage selector on the rear of the set is set to the higher setting - 230-250V, which will be kinder to the set and won't degrade its performance.
Hope that's of interest.
Regards, David.
BVWS Member.
G-QRP Club Member 1339.
'I'm in my own little world, but I'm happy, and they know me here'
BVWS Member.
G-QRP Club Member 1339.
'I'm in my own little world, but I'm happy, and they know me here'
