26-02-2019, 03:45 PM
A further instalment on the work done to get this Vortexion working again..
Whilst testing and setting the set up I found that there was no power amplification in one side and it was quickly discovered that the EL84 output pentode had gone 'soft'; cracked across the pins at the base. It was a shame as this was probably one of the original Mullard valves in the set. A spare that I had was found to be 'gassy' and gave an interesting blue glow, so another valve was dug out and fitted and restored the sound.
With electrical testing complete I stripped the deck, the amplifiers, speaker, switch panels and all wiring from the case.
The Rexine covering was tired, ripped and battered so I had decided to re-cover the whole thing and this was possibly the most time-consuming task of all. Firstly the old Rexine was stripped by wetting the glue, bit by bit and peeling it away. The case had felt a bit 'loose' but the corner joints seemed OK and so I fitted some discreet stiffening timber corner 'brackets' between base and sides in way of where the deck fits. A couple of metres of new black Rexine cloth was obtained and following the supplier's helpful advice but with great trepidation, I re-covered first the lid and then the main carcass using PVA glue. Nearly a pint of glue was used in total. This new cloth is not an exact match with what Vortexion had used but is up to the same specification and once the glue had dried the case is much stiffer.
Before I reassembled it a detail or two were sorted out. One of which was to replace the mains toggle switches with some Arrow switches that did not protrude as far as the Japanese items that protruded beyond the case feet and so were prone to being snapped off.
The set was finally re-assembled and I made up some new long connection leads to link its input and output jacks, which are on the extreme left and right of the set, with the Phono connections on my mixer and have pressed it into service and it sounds great. A very versatile machine that I am extremely pleased to finally have in my small collection. Thanks again to Geoffrey for parting with it.
Bill
Whilst testing and setting the set up I found that there was no power amplification in one side and it was quickly discovered that the EL84 output pentode had gone 'soft'; cracked across the pins at the base. It was a shame as this was probably one of the original Mullard valves in the set. A spare that I had was found to be 'gassy' and gave an interesting blue glow, so another valve was dug out and fitted and restored the sound.
With electrical testing complete I stripped the deck, the amplifiers, speaker, switch panels and all wiring from the case.
The Rexine covering was tired, ripped and battered so I had decided to re-cover the whole thing and this was possibly the most time-consuming task of all. Firstly the old Rexine was stripped by wetting the glue, bit by bit and peeling it away. The case had felt a bit 'loose' but the corner joints seemed OK and so I fitted some discreet stiffening timber corner 'brackets' between base and sides in way of where the deck fits. A couple of metres of new black Rexine cloth was obtained and following the supplier's helpful advice but with great trepidation, I re-covered first the lid and then the main carcass using PVA glue. Nearly a pint of glue was used in total. This new cloth is not an exact match with what Vortexion had used but is up to the same specification and once the glue had dried the case is much stiffer.
Before I reassembled it a detail or two were sorted out. One of which was to replace the mains toggle switches with some Arrow switches that did not protrude as far as the Japanese items that protruded beyond the case feet and so were prone to being snapped off.
The set was finally re-assembled and I made up some new long connection leads to link its input and output jacks, which are on the extreme left and right of the set, with the Phono connections on my mixer and have pressed it into service and it sounds great. A very versatile machine that I am extremely pleased to finally have in my small collection. Thanks again to Geoffrey for parting with it.
Bill
