Bush VHF81

It wasn't quite as quick a job as I expected, but as it has turned out it was well worth the effort.

As well as 'that' capacitor I replaced all the waxies and the only Hunts cap I could find, and just to be safe I also replaced the 5uF electrolytic in the FM ratio detector stage. I've found that doing this is much quicker than trying to find  faults later.

I also cleaned the diffuser and touched up a couple of damaged areas on the tuning scale with black paint. The scale lamps are both blown, and firmly stuck into the rubber moulded lamp holders. I had heard that this is often a problem with these sets, but I'll sort it out later.

The knobs spent an hour in a solution of biological washing liquid and hot water, which gets years of muck and dirt out of the grooves easily.

Finally I painstakingly de-soldered the wires to all three electrolytics in the can and applied the reformer to each in turn. None had excessive leakage, so there was no need to change it after all.

It's now sitting on the bench playing BBC Radio 2, and it sounds really nice. The only problem is that the tuning scale is working back to front, but investigation into that also will have to wait for another day.

Another success I think. Thanks again to Brian for donating the set.

Keep listening!

The list is getting longer

The 'to do' list of radios awaiting attention is getting longer, and the associated pile of radios has overflowed the workshop bench and on to the floor. As usually happens in the summer, family and social life tend to take whatever spare time the full time job ( the one that pays the bills) leaves me.

The list included a Bush VHF81, a Wartime Civilian Receiver with interesting WD numbers and of course the lovely Pye MM I mentioned in my last blog post.

I wasn't looking for another project at the moment, but this time a radio found me. Well sort of... I visited a colleague who knows of my interest in vintage radio and he very kindly offered me a Bush VHF 81, which I of course I gratefully accepted.

Released in 1964, the VHF81 was the last valve model that Bush made, at a time when most domestic radio production had already changed to transistors. It was based on an earlier chassis, but built into a wooden case instead of its the plastic case of its predecessor. It's not a particularly good looking set, but I've heard good accounts of both its receiver sensitivity and audio quality on VHF.

I was told that the set was working, so assuming that it would be a quick job, I managed to find a bit of workshop time this weekend. So far I've changed the important grid coupling capacitor (aka 'that capacitor') in the output stage and removed loads of dust from the cabinet.

I was told that the smoothing capacitor might need replacing, so the next job will be to get the capacitor reformer out. If it turns out to be duff I might be able to rob the other set for spares, as the capacitor can is smaller than anything I have in stock.

I'll put some pictures up when I get a chance.

Keep listening!