02-11-2015, 04:43 PM
Had a nice time as always.
Pleased to meet 'Boater Sam' in person for the first time.
Saw lots of other familiar faces - 'Old John', Dave Moll, Mike Barker & Jim, Ed Dinning, Christopher Capener, Kevin & his son Peter, Steve Pendlebury, Mike Phelan, Mark Riding, and Keith, to name but a few.
Couldn't stay long enough to attend Keith's talk, but I've downloaded the notes and it's evident that as always, Keith put together an excellent talk. The comprehensive notes on Voltage measurements and the effect of loading when a low resistance multi-meter such as a 20k/V AVO8 has when applied to a potential divider are instructive. Very useful tips on adopting a logical analytical approach to fault-finding too, so I'm sure that those who were able to attend the talk came away much the wiser - I know I would have done!
Didn't go to the Swapmeet with the intention of buying anything, but of course the only sure guarantee of achieving that aim is to stay away!
Managed to get a couple of wanted valves from Dave Thompson's table at a very fair price of just £3.00 each.
Couldn't resist a 'Leader' 17A wide-band signal generator which - though some years old - had never been out of the box. No idea what vintage but it was imported by Thandar, which I think was a Clive Sinclair company. Suffice to say that it's never had a plug fitted, so pre-dates the time when moulded on plugs became mandatory. I see from the manual that it uses two obscure ICs which I assume are long since obsolete - an EHM-823G18 and an EHM-720U33. Haven't had time to fit a plug yet, so I've got my fingers crossed, but at just £10.00, not really much at stake!
As usual, nostalgia overcame common sense, and I bought three cheapo Bakelite radios off Mike Barker's pile at a fiver each:
A KB FB10 'Toaster' which had a little hunk out of the back, (bottom RH), which I can repair. When restored, I'll re-spray it for my son.
A Pilot AC Little Maestro, with an undamaged but shabby cabinet, no back, rusty chassis and a valve missing. (V2 - 6K7G, which I'll have).
An Ultra T401, (AC only) which appears complete.
The Little Maestro - though AC only, employs AC/DC techniques in that the mains transformer is only for the heaters, and the HT current is fed directly to the rectifier anode from the mains, so caution is called for.
The Ultra T401 uses a full mains transformer.
Several Heathkit and KW transceivers hadn't been sold when I left at 11.30am, but I've since learned from 'Old John' that they did later sell to a chum of his.
Mike Barker had brought a vanload of radios and test gear all at knockdown prices. I was surprised to see that a Heathkit Valve Voltmeter and a Heathkit AV3 audio milli-voltmeter didn't get snapped up.
I've attached a few pics of my acquisitions, which don't sit well with my avowed intention to 'de-clutter', but they'll make nice winter projects. (Exactly which winter remains to be determined!).
I'm not a TV enthusiast, but the live TV display was as impressive as ever.
All in all, another great little Northern BVWS event, and many thanks to Mark Riding, Mike Barker and everyone else who makes the event possible.
Quote of the day:
"If you're not having fun it's not worth doing".
(Tommy Bolin)
Pleased to meet 'Boater Sam' in person for the first time.
Saw lots of other familiar faces - 'Old John', Dave Moll, Mike Barker & Jim, Ed Dinning, Christopher Capener, Kevin & his son Peter, Steve Pendlebury, Mike Phelan, Mark Riding, and Keith, to name but a few.
Couldn't stay long enough to attend Keith's talk, but I've downloaded the notes and it's evident that as always, Keith put together an excellent talk. The comprehensive notes on Voltage measurements and the effect of loading when a low resistance multi-meter such as a 20k/V AVO8 has when applied to a potential divider are instructive. Very useful tips on adopting a logical analytical approach to fault-finding too, so I'm sure that those who were able to attend the talk came away much the wiser - I know I would have done!
Didn't go to the Swapmeet with the intention of buying anything, but of course the only sure guarantee of achieving that aim is to stay away!
Managed to get a couple of wanted valves from Dave Thompson's table at a very fair price of just £3.00 each.
Couldn't resist a 'Leader' 17A wide-band signal generator which - though some years old - had never been out of the box. No idea what vintage but it was imported by Thandar, which I think was a Clive Sinclair company. Suffice to say that it's never had a plug fitted, so pre-dates the time when moulded on plugs became mandatory. I see from the manual that it uses two obscure ICs which I assume are long since obsolete - an EHM-823G18 and an EHM-720U33. Haven't had time to fit a plug yet, so I've got my fingers crossed, but at just £10.00, not really much at stake!
As usual, nostalgia overcame common sense, and I bought three cheapo Bakelite radios off Mike Barker's pile at a fiver each:
A KB FB10 'Toaster' which had a little hunk out of the back, (bottom RH), which I can repair. When restored, I'll re-spray it for my son.
A Pilot AC Little Maestro, with an undamaged but shabby cabinet, no back, rusty chassis and a valve missing. (V2 - 6K7G, which I'll have).
An Ultra T401, (AC only) which appears complete.
The Little Maestro - though AC only, employs AC/DC techniques in that the mains transformer is only for the heaters, and the HT current is fed directly to the rectifier anode from the mains, so caution is called for.
The Ultra T401 uses a full mains transformer.
Several Heathkit and KW transceivers hadn't been sold when I left at 11.30am, but I've since learned from 'Old John' that they did later sell to a chum of his.
Mike Barker had brought a vanload of radios and test gear all at knockdown prices. I was surprised to see that a Heathkit Valve Voltmeter and a Heathkit AV3 audio milli-voltmeter didn't get snapped up.
I've attached a few pics of my acquisitions, which don't sit well with my avowed intention to 'de-clutter', but they'll make nice winter projects. (Exactly which winter remains to be determined!).
I'm not a TV enthusiast, but the live TV display was as impressive as ever.
All in all, another great little Northern BVWS event, and many thanks to Mark Riding, Mike Barker and everyone else who makes the event possible.
Quote of the day:
"If you're not having fun it's not worth doing".
(Tommy Bolin)
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'
