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History in progress; A very interesting repair and an extremely happy customer.


This Radiogram has not been powered up for 40 years and then the record player, that plays 78RPM records only, didn't work. The whole radiogram had to be disassembled carefully as screws were either the wrong size, wrong type or just missing had to be accounted for and spares ordered as required.
The screws required were 6BA x 11, 4BA x 3 and 2BA x 1. Material brass.

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That was a look on the outside at the bits and pieces. Now to take a look at under the chassis.
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Things are unplugged and wires tied up with sticky tape.
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Looks like we have a spare mains fuse. Yellow band means 500mA.
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The speed control rheostat for the record player motor is in the right in the picture.
Nothing too complicated as of yet. It's only a radiogram repair from 83 years ago, what could possibly go wrong?
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Many capacitors have seen better days

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Definitely need replacing even the TCC capacitor that is dated FEB 53.

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One must be very careful as the rubber coated 80 year old wire will lead you down a rabbit hole if not.

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Before replacing capacitors and a couple of way off tolerance resistors.

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Afterwards. Unfortunately, the whole system must be reassembled to test it.

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Not forgetting the turn table motor switch.

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The mains dropper resistor is a bit poorly to say the least!

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The turntable motor speed rheostat requires attention.

All contacts made good and droppers repaired but wait … what about the turntable pickup.

Totally open circuit winding so a rewind is in order.

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Pickup ready to be rewound with enamelled copper wire 47SWG. I could feel it but hardly see it!

After reassembling the Radiogram, time to soak test it and yes, you've guessed it, Pop and fade out. It turned out to be a capacitor on the front mains filter coil, next to the volume control, that was faulty. It sits across half of the mains supply, alongside another that had been snipped out many years ago. Two 0.047uF 250v AC Class Y capacitors were fitted, the mains dropper repaired and soak tested all day, and it did not fail again.

Reassembled again. Tested on all national radio frequencies and the record player. Rewound pickup working like a dream.Results below in the customers front room playing a seasonal tune from that same era.

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