Winter BVWS Bulletin/DVD!

[Yorkie]

The Winter BVWS Bulletin arrived yesterday along with the DVD.

Each issue seems to get even better than the last!

Centre stage this month is a 16-page article by forum member Gary, 'Radio Fixer', on the total restoration on a Philips D57 'Monoknob' from 1938/39, made in Philips German factory just before the outbreak of WW2. A superb restoration of a complex set, with a high under-chassis component density,  involving a total strip-down and rebuild, including building a gearbox for the pot, and getting a bespoke pot made by Blore Edwards & Co. The article is well illustrated with more than twenty photos and about a dozen drawings - not least of which are the circuit diagram and the component layout. Lots of excellent advice and techniques too, which would apply to any restoration. (In the Autumn Bulletin Gary had written about creating a replacement dial and getting it screen printed).

Apart from the time taken on the restoration, it must have taken many hours over many months as the restoration progressed, to write the article. As always, Carl Glover  - Bulletin editor - has worked wonders with the layout.

So, hats off to Gary, and the BVWS team too!

Lots of other interesting articles in the Bulletin too, and the DVD makes fascinating viewing.

It includes a film of Gerry Wells with his reproduction 'Wells Coated' reproduction round Ecko radios, made with MDF and ply, but indistinguishable from Bakelite.

Along with the Bulletin came the renewal form - my cheque has already gone off.

[Radio Fixer]

Thanks David for such praise, I hope it is enjoyed as its a bit different. I don't think anyone has almost completely stripped a Monoknob before. The only items left on the chassis were a few coils that Philips swaged into the chassis. The cabinet still has some issues to be sorted hopefully in a warm summer. But a long and enjoyable restoration that plays very well: "Philips never made a bad radio" as a friend of mine always says.

Gary

[ppppenguin]

Mine hasn't arrived yet.

I certainly remember the "Wells Coated" round Ekcos. At the time they were being made I was usually at the Museum once a week so I saw them taking shape. It was almost a production line.

[pwdrive]

I don't have access to the article but I'm going to say excellent restoration anyways Gary as I know it will be 1st class.

Lawrence.

[Radio Fixer]

It was a pity that the Wells Coated Ekco clip on the DVD wasn't longer. It would have been good to have seen more manufacture, a line of finished products and the making of some of the other replicas. But enjoyable, he really was a one off and very talented.

Oh! and thanks for the vote of confidence Lawrence: getting my own fan club

Gary

[ppppenguin]

The Museum now looks and feels rather different to the great old days. Back then Gerry and the Museum were indivisible.

Terry Casey and I will be there today sorting out the RF side of the TV distribution system. Jeremy aka pamphonica will also be joining us. I know this is zero notice but if anyone would like to drop in between 11 & 3 today the place will be open. Terry and I will be busy doing our stuff but Jeremy should be free to show people around.

[peter scott]

It was a pity that the Wells Coated Ekco clip on the DVD wasn't longer.  It would have been good to have seen more manufacture, a line of finished products and the making of some of the other replicas.  But enjoyable, he really was a one off and very talented.

Gary

I really enjoyed this DVD too and like Gary I was very curious about the construction of Gerry's Wells Coated, in particular how he achieved the excellent circular form.

I haven't read your article yet Gary but the set looks fantastic!

Peter

[Yorkie]

I think Gerry made the cabinets the only way that you could do - with the front turned from thick MDF, and the 'cylinder' made from layers of 3-ply, with the outer plies running back to front for maximum flexibility. The half moon shaped cut outs in the fronts would have been done by a router on a jig. In some respects, to anyone with a woodturning lathe and the skills to go with it, a circular Ecko cabinet would be easier to make than a square veneered cabinet. It wouldn't have been the cabinet that would stump me, but sourcing of the components for the chassis, and the knobs and dials me though it wouldn't have been a big deal to Gerry, and the results of his efforts prove.

To some extent, Gerry's 'Wells Coated' round Ekcos have rather eclipsed his other efforts, the results of which are no less impressive. At first glance, the five radios on the front  cover all look like the genuine articles, but not so - they were all created by Gerry - the green one, bottom left of the front cover is especially impressive.  I think what impressed me as much as anything on the DVD was the high quality of finish of the cabinets, which were indiscernible from genuine Bakelite cabinets.

I only had the privilege of meeting Gerry once - along with my younger son we spent a most enjoyable morning there about ten years ago. He had a disarming knack of appearing to be totally normal, yet making you feel that somehow, you were a bit eccentric for not having as many sheds full of radios as he had! I loved the way that every shed or room to Gerry was a 'department'. When we were there, he took us into the 'valve making' department, where he was busy fashioning valves - making the electrodes, glass blowing etc.  (As you do!).

What a guy!