Workshop closed for Christmas

December is almost over and I'm keen to make a start on restoring the R1155L receiver, but family duties have to come first and I'll have to wait a few days more until I get home.

Over the last few weeks I've been finishing off other small projects to make space in the workshop, and collecting bits that I will need for the 1155. I've managed to find a couple of 8 pole Jones plugs to replace those hacked by a previous owner, although the mating free sockets are proving more difficult to find.

An original Air Ministry wooden box of valves was a worthwhile addition to the spares collection. I did think that I might have paid too much in the online auction, until I realised that it included a rare VR102. This is one of three valves forming the DF circuit, which many Ham Radio users removed to reduce the heater current.  As I'm intending to restore the receiver into its original configuration, finding a (hopefully serviceable!) VR102 was a big step towards this.

I'll also have to build a power supply. Eventually this will include an audio amplifier, but this can wait until the receiver is finished. Until then I'll make do with a simple version assembled from bits I already have, I just need to find a full wave rectifier valve with a 5V heater.

More stuff coming soon.

As usual I was too busy to do much radio restoration work in the summer, but now that autumn is here I'm starting to think about getting back into the workshop.

In the six months since my last blog entry I've acquired several radios. Recent additions to the collection include a Marconi from 1935 and a Philips from 1939, both originally battery models that have been converted to AC. Neither have been into my workshop yet, but they appear to be complete. I also added a Bush TR82B (circa 1960) battery portable which just needed a good clean, and also a Bush VT103 from around 1964, which is working but needs some more attention to improve VHF performance.

I'm looking forward to getting all of these sorted, but this year's first winter project is going to be a big one that takes priority.

R1155L Receiver as purchased

After wanting one for many years, I have finally bought an R1155, the iconic receiver that was used in many RAF heavy bombers (most famously the Lancaster) in World War two.

R1155 Receiver & T1154 Transmitter in an Avro Lancaster

At the moment I'm collecting information and some of the bits that I know I will need, and it will be a month or so before I actually start working on the set. I'll be blogging more about this historic radio over the next few weeks, so if you are interested please come back soon.

Keep listening!