Non-motoring > Warming up to analog tech. Miscellaneous
Thread Author: R.P. Replies: 18
View Threaded 

 Tue 29 Mar 11 11:46 
 Warming up to analog tech. - R.P.
A 1960s Murphy valve radio. Not looked at it in 15 years (at least) powered it up today - after what seemed an interminable wait (reminiscent of a PC !) - it powered up, connected a wire to the VHF antenna sockets and a beautiful warm sound ensued which modern tech just cannot replicate unless you spend a small fortune - lovely smell of warm dust as the valves came on line......very pleasant, I think I'll keep it...!
Reply to this message | Report message
       
 Tue 29 Mar 11 11:56 
 Warming up to analog tech. - Fenlander
Funnily enough we're just wondering what to do with a wooden cased family radio from the 50s (I guess). No VHF though so of limited use. Been in the loft for 30yrs+ but seems a shame to junk it... ebay I guess.

This sort of thing...

62.15.226.148/tc/2010/11/22/22959462.jpg
Last edited by: Fenlander on Tue 29 Mar 11 at 11:57
Reply to this message | Report message
       
 Tue 29 Mar 11 11:58 
 Warming up to analog tech. - R.P.
Funny thing this house moving nonsense !

There should be a market for it - even the components are of use to someone.
Reply to this message | Report message
       
 Tue 29 Mar 11 12:02 
 Warming up to analog tech. - swiss tony
>> Funnily enough we're just wondering what to do with a wooden cased family radio from
>> the 50s (I guess). No VHF though so of limited use. Been in the loft
>> for 30yrs+ but seems a shame to junk it... ebay I guess.
>>
>> This sort of thing...
>>
>> 62.15.226.148/tc/2010/11/22/22959462.jpg
>>

TV or film company's may be interested - ideal prop for a 50's drama!
Reply to this message | Report message
       
 Tue 29 Mar 11 12:04 
 Warming up to analog tech. - Hard Cheese

Yeah but can you get 5Live Sports Extra? Thought not ;-)
Reply to this message | Report message
       
 Tue 29 Mar 11 12:55 
 Warming up to analog tech. - R.P.
The VHF scale on mine is slightly askew when compared to modern radios - so as the BBC broadcasts R4 between 103.6 and 104.1 around here, I can't get it.....!
Reply to this message | Report message
       
 Tue 29 Mar 11 13:47 
 Warming up to analog tech. - Robin O'Reliant
Can you still get Home, Light and Radio Luxembourg? They don't seem to be available on modern sets.
Last edited by: Robin Regal on Tue 29 Mar 11 at 13:47
Reply to this message | Report message
       
 Tue 29 Mar 11 13:56 
 Warming up to analog tech. - Iffy
Did anyone ever listen to Hilversum?

Reply to this message | Report message
       
 Tue 29 Mar 11 14:21 
 Warming up to analog tech. - sherlock47
Keepit under close observation for fire risk after such a long time of no use. If it is a AC/DC compatible set (probably not at that age) watch out for mains cable used a a dropper resistor and getting warm (hot?) and do not coil up!

Electrolytics (capacitors) may well have died up and can explode internally.


Otherwise enjoy the sound.
Reply to this message | Report message
       
 Tue 29 Mar 11 14:44 
 Warming up to analog tech. - R.P.
Thanks pmh - H&S seems to have got to it and I've turned it off :-)
Reply to this message | Report message
       
 Tue 29 Mar 11 14:43 
 Warming up to analog tech. - R.P.
R4 is Home in drag.
Reply to this message | Report message
       
 Tue 29 Mar 11 15:16 
 Warming up to analog tech. - Iffy
Blowing the dust out of it would be a good idea.

(Handy things, compressors).

Or go over it with the vacuum cleaner.

Reply to this message | Report message
       
 Tue 29 Mar 11 15:22 
 Warming up to analog tech. - Mike Hannon
Hilversum was Radio Netherlands International (or somesuch). Still exists on shortwave as far as I know.
My friend (whose daily driver is a 1929 Austin) is also into restoring old radios. He has a lovely Bakelite-cased Defiant (the old Co-op brand) and other sets that receive Radio 4 longwave right down here as if the transmitter was next door. No transistor set to my knowledge can do that. And they sound mellow and warm the room in winter!
Reply to this message | Report message
       
 Tue 29 Mar 11 17:39 
 Warming up to analog tech. - Dave_
>> Radio Luxembourg

closed down on 208 metres AM in 1992... One of their final presenters was a young Chris Moyles! The "new" Radio Luxembourg since 2005 is digital only.

I had a similar valve radio when i was a kid, although the casing was yellow plastic (Bakelite?). I can remember listening to it in the garden whilst playing "tents" using an upturned clothes horse with a dustsheet over the top. I must have been 6 or 7, the radio was formerly my grandmother's but she'd got herself one of those new-fangled transistor VHF ones.
Last edited by: Dave_TDCi {P} on Tue 29 Mar 11 at 17:42
Reply to this message | Report message
       
 Tue 29 Mar 11 17:46 
 Warming up to analog tech. - Runfer D'Hills
I electrocuted myself as a teenager while trying to fix a valve radio. Did a fair impression of Jackie Chan on a bad hair day across the attic of my parents house...
Reply to this message | Report message
       
 Tue 29 Mar 11 17:51 
 Warming up to analog tech. - bathtub tom
I did the same with what I thought was one of those new-fangled, mains testing neon screwdrivers.

It was a 12V one. The fly-lead and croc-clip had broken off.

It hurts, don't it.
Reply to this message | Report message
       
 Tue 29 Mar 11 18:15 
 Warming up to analog tech. - Robin O'Reliant
Mine involved a radiogram. I disconnected the in-line connector on the lead while the other end was still plugged into the mains. The dent from my head is probably still in the ceiling.
Reply to this message | Report message
       
 Tue 29 Mar 11 18:20 
 Warming up to analog tech. - R.P.
It was an occupational hazard of a tinkerer. My last experience was a few years ago when replacing an extractor fan - disconnected the in-line fuse and remove - but it didn't isolate the fan and the resulting flash of sparks, my body (teetering precariously as it was on the bog) and retreating Spaniel all happened in slo-mo....
Reply to this message | Report message
       
 Tue 29 Mar 11 20:08 
 Warming up to analog tech. - MD
Memories last longer than dreams!!
Reply to this message | Report message
       
Latest Forum Posts