Safe use of an old valve radio

[davesparks]

The line cord itself didn't catch fire because it was made of Albatross.

They must have had some pretty big rugs to hide an albatross under there!
I can't imagine the birds were too impressed either, did they have to sedate them?

 

[Specialist]

Resistance line cord, now your going into the dark reaches of the past not seen a midget set or one of those little nasties for many years.
I do actually remember going to an old house to service a TV & seeing a line of fire appear on the customers living room wall when a cord went up. (Set the wallpaper behind on fire).
Silly old fool had cut the cord for his radio & pinned it across the wall, luckily we were there & managed to pull the plug and put it out.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Oops, not Albatross, I meant Aspidistra. Anyway enjoy your meal Marconi.

 

[davesparks]

Oops, not Albatross, I meant Aspidistra. Anyway enjoy your meal Marconi.

You've certainly got a creative autocorrect going on there

 

[Lucien Nunes]

I don't want the thread to rank in searches for the A-word... people might get scared and dump their vintage radios. Anyway the jacket was cotton which is pretty safe, except when you weave it round an unfused heating element.

 

[davesparks]

I don't want the thread to rank in searches for the A-word... people might get scared and dump their vintage radios. Anyway the jacket was cotton which is pretty safe, except when you weave it round an unfused heating element.

Whilst we're on the subject of equipment with albatross insulation in it, I was at the duke of Yorks theatre the other day admiring their fine old grand master. That's a piece of vintage equipment I'd love to see back in use.

 

[Specialist]

I don't want the thread to rank in searches for the A-word... people might get scared and dump their vintage radios. Anyway the jacket was cotton which is pretty safe, except when you weave it round an unfused heating element.

Sorry, was having a Blond moment Removed the question.

Off to repair some CB radios now, hope nobody tries to tell me they're dangerous

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Well yes, I'd love to run a show on that or any of the few other survivors. The paradox is when they are historic parts of the building they are protected whilst in situ - we can't take them out but can't use them where they are - therefore they can't be used. I did once do a little ballpark costing of manufacturing a replica, a bit much to contemplate at the time. Coincidentally I think it was Jim Laws, a good friend and supporter of our museum project, whom I am sure you will know or at least know of Davesparks, whom I first heard call it Albatross.

Anyway we should start a separate thread for scary old theatre tech rather than risk tarring domestic radios with the same inflammable treacle.

 

[static zap]

As for thermionic devices in my house , The TV is gone
with its Xray risk , the microwave has nice covers to keep me out of the 2kV , and I'll be nostalgic with a valve radio,
well hoovered grill !
( but probably not leave it un attended )

Off to repair some CB radios now, hope nobody tries to tell me they're dangerous

I remember warm ears from a 4W handheld ,wearing headphones ?
(Video recorder fires -down , fridges up )

 

[OH-Gerd]

As for thermionic devices in my house , The TV is gone
with its Xray risk , the microwave has nice covers to keep me out of the 2kV , and I'll be nostalgic with a valve radio,
well hoovered grill !
( but probably not leave it un attended )

I remember warm ears from a 4W handheld ,wearing headphones ?
(Video recorder fires -down , fridges up )

 

[OH-Gerd]

i know. can't beat a good pentode for realistic sound. still i suppose semiconductors are OK for justin beaver and little mix. they will always sound crap whatever.

I never came across an ac/dc radio here in Australia. My pride and joy are 2 Grundig and 1 Telefunken radios. All have mains transformers and fuses . The only problem I have, are the final tubes,Ecl86 and Ell80. Never heard ,not even in my local Radio Club , fom anybody ,of equipment catching fire. But I must mention this: When I traveled to Australia by boat ,quite a bit of my gear was soaked in sea water.After washing it in fresh water and drying it ,it worked for quite a while but my plastic vacuum cleaner got warmer and hotter and started to change its shape! It was retired. Never ever did any of my gear catch fire,not even my home made transmitter running at 11oo volts ! Some people must have problems ,or fiddle to much with their apparatuses.

 

[Specialist]

Hi & Welcome to the Forum.
What's the problem with the output valves ?, Do you mean getting hold of them ?

They're still available over here but the prices are crazy, even for used items.

As you, I've never seen or heard of a Vintage radio catching fire. I've seen and heard a few go pop though, when some fool pulls one from Grandma and Grandpa's attic and connects it to raw mains.

 

[OH-Gerd]

Hi & Welcome to the Forum.
What's the problem with the output valves ?, Do you mean getting hold of them ?

They're still available over here but the prices are crazy, even for used items.

As you, I've never seen or heard of a Vintage radio catching fire. I've seen and heard a few go pop though, when some fool pulls one from Grandma and Grandpa's attic and connects it to raw mains.

Hi & Welcome to the Forum.
What's the problem with the output valves ?, Do you mean getting hold of them ?

They're still available over here but the prices are crazy, even for used items.

As you, I've never seen or heard of a Vintage radio catching fire. I've seen and heard a few go pop though, when some fool pulls one from Grandma and Grandpa's attic and connects it to raw mains.

Hi Specialist,I found out,the Ell80 can be replaced easily by 2 El95 and I hold 2 in reserve. The Ecl86 is a different story. As the 6 volt version is outrageously expensive I opted for the 12v variety and ordered 3 locally from Melbourne.To my surprise, they came from Malaysia! All three were correctly marked .Testing them revealed : 1 was a 6volt version , 1 was a 12volt version and last, not least,the 3rd had gas . All were advertized NEW OLD STOCK. All 3 looked used.I kept 2 of them and got my money back for the one with gas. So much for the internet,LOL.

 

[Specialist]

Hi Specialist,I found out,the Ell80 can be replaced easily by 2 El95 and I hold 2 in reserve. The Ecl86 is a different story. As the 6 volt version is outrageously expensive I opted for the 12v variety and ordered 3 locally from Melbourne.To my surprise, they came from Malaysia! All three were correctly marked .Testing them revealed : 1 was a 6volt version , 1 was a 12volt version and last, not least,the 3rd had gas . All were advertized NEW OLD STOCK. All 3 looked used.I kept 2 of them and got my money back for the one with gas. So much for the internet,LOL.

Aah the joys of repairing Vintage kit , I looked up the ECL 86 on the bay this morning. Quite a few came up, but tested used valves are changing hands at up to £20 - 30 each & new up to £60 - 70 each. Think I'll have to check my stock of NOS valves.
Slightly different subject but do a lot of people still use CB radio in Oz ?

 

[OH-Gerd]

Aah the joys of repairing Vintage kit , I looked up the ECL 86 on the bay this morning. Quite a few came up, but tested used valves are changing hands at up to £20 - 30 each & new up to £60 - 70 each. Think I'll have to check my stock of NOS valves.
Slightly different subject but do a lot of people still use CB radio in Oz ?

Hi Specialist,I really enjoy this thread. I do not have CB, but I was told , there is a lot of foul language being used. When travelling in the bush you very often find writing on the rear of a caravans : Say Hi, to....on UHF! channel ....There are some channels reserved for emergencies and repeaters. I use Amateur Radi0 as I have a full licence. I actually had to use 2m FM via the Alice Springs Repeater as I had problems with my car ca. 40km west of Alice Springs. Don't know about activities on 27 Mhz. During summer you can cover long distances but it it unreliable. I prefer to use 80m. Thanks heaven for the spellchecker as English is not my first language. Enjoy your summer. Our night temperatures at the moment are 1-2 centigrade , during daytime it goes up to about 12-14. Best regards OH_GERD.

 

[Specialist]

Hi Gerd, we are actually having a bit of summer at the minute
Glad you were able to use the radio to help get out of trouble, not a lot on the air over here any more.
You take care