UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum - View Single Post

McIntyre · 5th Jan 2005, 7:20 pm

Does anyone know the history of seperataly housed and powered FM tuners? I was going through my local charity SPCA shop and came across three "Comet FM tuners" - all valved - Using an EZ81, 2x EF89 and a ECC85 covering the usual frequencies froom 88 to 108 - chassis' only, in various states of decomposition.

I never knew that seperate tuners where available : What was the purpose of a seperate tuner - most radio stations of the 50's ran parallel BC, SW and FM transmissions? I imagine that by the mid 60's most receivers feautured a seperate FM band? Where these tuners home construction kits? One is marked "made in Denmark". When would something like this have been manurfactured, I'm guessing late 50's?

The tuners are absolutely fascinating as the are so simplistic in their construction - I bought the two "better" condition sets as the look like an easy fun project to repair (all "IF" type cans are still sealed with their original wax so it doesn't appear a nasty surprise awaits there).

5th Jan 2005, 7:20 pm	#1
McIntyre Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 0	Early FM tuners Does anyone know the history of seperataly housed and powered FM tuners? I was going through my local charity SPCA shop and came across three "Comet FM tuners" - all valved - Using an EZ81, 2x EF89 and a ECC85 covering the usual frequencies froom 88 to 108 - chassis' only, in various states of decomposition. I never knew that seperate tuners where available : What was the purpose of a seperate tuner - most radio stations of the 50's ran parallel BC, SW and FM transmissions? I imagine that by the mid 60's most receivers feautured a seperate FM band? Where these tuners home construction kits? One is marked "made in Denmark". When would something like this have been manurfactured, I'm guessing late 50's? The tuners are absolutely fascinating as the are so simplistic in their construction - I bought the two "better" condition sets as the look like an easy fun project to repair (all "IF" type cans are still sealed with their original wax so it doesn't appear a nasty surprise awaits there).