Restoration video: Ekco M23

[Aerodyne]

I've just uploaded a video on You Tube showing the restoration of this set. It's the set my Radio Bygones article was written about, some time back. If you can spare the time, take a look. Fortunately it isn't too long a duration.
Tony

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6vufuWHBd8

[pwdrive]

First class work Tony, proper job.

Lawrence.

[Yorkie]

Splendid Tony, as always. What never quite comes across of course is the many hours spent in completing a total strip-down and rebuild to achieve such a top class outcome, but then it's a labour of love - not a chore, or these projects would never get started, let alone finished!

What next?!!

[Aerodyne]

Thanks, Lawrence. Very kind of you to say so. I try but I do have my limitations.
What next, David? Well... I'm just putting the finishing touches to another video, this time the restoration of a Pilot receiver. There's a bit more 'moving picture' in between the still slides and you get to hear my silken Yorkshire tones - the tone of Tone, so to speak....
Not as yet complete but should be uploaded this weekend.
Actually I uploaded the M23 vid but received a message from You Tube to the effect that EMI had claimed a copyright infringement. I'd used the music from, I think, 'Down Your Way', the 1950s BBC radio programme. At close to 70 years old, I had assumed in my ignorance that the track would be OK to use. So, I removed the video and replaced the soundtrack with copyright free music. Shame though, the original was very easy on the ear.
Regards
Tony

[Yorkie]

Thanks for the update Tony - I rather liked the background music - it wasn't intrusive!

Nice to have an alternative to watch instead of tennis on TV

[Aerodyne]

As mentioned above, here's the link to the Pilot 'Jack restoration:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGtYz3VzAww&feature=youtu.be
Tony

[Yorkie]

Excellent instructional video Tony, highlighting the pitfalls for the unwary and the safety issues which are typical of sets of that era, hopefully helping to stem the irresistible urge that novices have to plug the set it and 'see if it lights up'. I guess that many will assume that since it's an AC only set, that it has a mains transformer to isolate the chassis, but in fact it poses the same 'live chassis' risks that AC/DC sets do, as you explain fully.

It looked a nice open chassis on which to work to replace the caps. Looking back at PW magazines from the 50s and 60s, I'm always amazed at how many designs for home-brew radios used only a heater transformer and took the HT from the mains. I can't imagine and magazine these days even thinking about such techniques let alone going into print about them.

During my childhood, it was commonplace to connect all manner of unearthed electrical appliances including radios to the lighting socket by fitting a two way adaptor. The light bulb in one socket, then a branched socket, sometimes switched, with a length if that purple coloured twisted two-core flex that was commonplace back then, trailing down to a radio or whatever.

How times change!

Nice finish on the cabinet by the way, with lacquer.

A lot of woodturners use Tetrosyl 'Trade Spray' which comes in 500mL aerosols . You can't buy it retail - it comes in boxes of 48 cans I think.

(Tetrosyl is better known for its other products - T Cut, Triplewax, Car Plan products, Wonder wheels, the Tetrion range of fillers and grouting etc).

[Aerodyne]

In point of fact I can't recall whether I used aerosol can or my HVLP compressor but the effect is much the same. I'd certainly use Tetrosyl trade spray but I'd be hard pushed to use that many cans. I buy the odd one or two as and when needed (not too often of late). Good brand, though, I believe. Certainly I find T-Cut and Tetrion fillers up to the task.
Like you, David, I well remember lines strung from the adapter on the ceiling lamp holder, and other similar horrors. No earthing ever used, either. Practical Wireless often published designs using a heater transformer and quite a few with no transformer whatsoever, live chassis stuff - perhaps F.G. Rayer articles, in the main. Even so I can't personally recall any of my then hobbyist friends being killed! The odd shock, certainly. Just the same I wouldn't build anything live or only partially isolated these days.
Regards
Tony

[singlepentode69]

Very good vidios tony on you tube
Regards
Robin

[tiv48]

excellent I wish my videos turned even half as good as yours.
Rob t