Graves Aerial AC superhet

[Mark R]

Here is a pre war Graves, a real basket case as you can see from the pics.
Think I will have a go at this one next! and no circuit!!

Cheers Mark
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[Steve_P]

The electronics appear not to have been touched if it's the one I think it is. The case I'm sure you can do, The biggest worry is the speaker!

Cheers,

Steve P.

[Mark R]

Steve
it is the one you are thinking of, found a new speaker and OP TX!

cheers Mark

[OldTickTock]

Hi Mark,

I don't know this manufacturer but are you sure its an Graves Antax? could it be a Graves Aerial? I remembered seeing one in Radio Radio page 151, fig 581.I've attached a picture from the book it looks remarkably like yours. Are you missing the Bakelite escutcheon and knobs or are they stored? If not I reckon they will be a tad hard to source, you never know though.

Chris

[Mark R]

Pretty sure it is the Antax Chris, got all the escutions and some new Knobs.
Could be the aerial at a push!

cheers Mark

[OldTickTock]

Great news regarding the escutcheon and knobs, look forward to the restore report. Do you have any background on Graves sets I have never heard of them before yours and the" Radio Radio" one.

Chris

[Mark R]

No info Chris, seems they came and went as a manufacturer, using almost anything to build a set. There may be more information forthcoming from other members though

cheers Mark

[Paula A]

The only work I noticed had ever been done to it was replacement of the main smoothing can sometime in the mid 40's
Shame about the speaker.. the op tx attached to the frame is good.. but the speech coil was o/c on test. I was planning to scavenge up another unit and recone what survived. I have some experience with speakers so my plan was to unwrap one turn of the coil from the end where the break is and reconnect.. resistance at the break to the end led me to think it was a pretty standard nominal 8 ohm coil.

I was led to believe it's an Aerial AC Superhet from 1938.. it's identical to the battery version in looks. http://www.classicwireless.btinternet.co.uk/graves.htm

Graves were in from the start.. making crystal and 2 valve sets from the mid 20's until their demise after WW2.. they even had a "utility manufacturer" number. U37 .. The company may have wound up or been sold on the death of the founder in 1945 (18th July) The trail goes cold in 1945.. no evidence whatsoever of post war models.

Looking forward to seeing progress with this one, not a bad salvage from a back street behind a junk shop eh?

[Mark R]

Guys and Gals,
update on this set,
Not a bad find Paula!
Redone the PSU chassis which now has voltage out of the plug to the main chassis. Voltages look OK.This was completed a couple of days ago.
Today recapped the main chassis, had some trouble with some caps that look like waxies but have no values on them, so each one was taken out of circuit and tested for leakage........they all leaked! They look like a cap, but have a black band at each end
So every one was put on the Marconi bridge and tested again (yes all seven or so), to get a value for them they were then replaced accordingly.
Had to rewire most of the wiring underneath as the insulation was crumbly, and the leads to the plug for the PSU chassis and dial lights.

So, to do........one electrolytic on the main chassis, and plait the leads for the psu plug and solder it back on.

Then the cabinet......Col, er Col.......
that will be a challenge!

With a fair wind and the gods on side the electonics may be ok with a bit of tweaking (a resistor or two) but won't know until switch on..............fingers crossed.

Also got some speaker cloth, not the original but should look pretty good!

cheers Mark

[Paula A]

You do have the back.. something which is missing from every "museum" example I have ever seen... and even one of the knurled nuts survived. Looks to me like it sat in a shed or workshop for many years until being junked.

I have a few pics somewhere I took before making a start.. funny about those waxies with no values on them. Looking around there seems very little difference between the Graves models except battery/main valves.. From my experience it doesn't liik a million miles from a "utility" set in design.. Nice set of pre war Mullard golds as well.. just hope the one which has had the big knock is ok

I'm very interested as this was my upcoming project until illness put a complete kybosh on it.