UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Powered By Google Custom Search Vintage Radio and TV Service Data

Go Back   UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum > General Vintage Technology > General Vintage Technology Discussions

Notices

General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc.

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 28th Mar 2017, 9:48 pm   #21
OscarFoxtrot
Heptode
 
OscarFoxtrot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Edinburgh, UK.
Posts: 805
Default Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop

Quote:
Originally Posted by McMurdo View Post
That plastic dial on the candlestick phone was surely odd?
and no mention of a bellset, but the requirement only seemed to be to make it look nice as a plaything for the grandchildren. Hardly qualifies as a 'repair' in my book.
OscarFoxtrot is offline  
Old 28th Mar 2017, 10:15 pm   #22
McMurdo
Dekatron
 
McMurdo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK.
Posts: 5,263
Default Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop

it was a genuine enough dial (no.21?), but from a more modern phone. Even the 70's repro phones managed a metal dial. You'd think a clockmaker would at least get the dial to return properly.
__________________
Kevin

Last edited by McMurdo; 28th Mar 2017 at 10:21 pm.
McMurdo is offline  
Old 28th Mar 2017, 11:46 pm   #23
Phil G4SPZ
Dekatron
 
Phil G4SPZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK.
Posts: 4,735
Default Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop

Yes, I concur with most opinions. Although the programme was a modestly enjoyable watch, tonight's was more annoying than Monday's. These aren't repairs, they're full-blown restorations, surely? Of course, we don't get to know the real time spent on these jobs. And retro-fitting a century-old magic lantern projector with a modern electric light source, instead of repairing its original paraffin burner?

However, the programme is at least an attempt to expose the myth that repair is impossible, or 'if it's broke, buy a new one' which seems to be what 95% of the population believe nowadays.

I hope we get to see at least one vintage radio. As a hint, there's a 'Dansette' in the background on some shots...
__________________
Phil

Optimist [n]: One who is not in possession of the full facts
Phil G4SPZ is offline  
Old 29th Mar 2017, 7:39 am   #24
Dave Moll
Dekatron
 
Dave Moll's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK
Posts: 6,118
Default Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop

I have to say that I was disappointed with the telephone on so many levels. As has already been commented on it being a(n incomplete) bitsa, it had a much later dial - which I would have had no hesitation in replacing with a correct one (unlike the non-telephone-orientated horologist, I keep telephone spares). It also had a wrong earcap on the bell-receiver - looking as though it was from a handset 164. Then, I was totally unconvinced by his diagnosis of the problem with the dial return. Surely, it was the more usual situation of simply being clagged up with years of muck.

Finally, I found it quite amusing to hear him expressing fears of springs flying everywhere as he extracted the dial from the case - that aint going to happen until you start dismantling the dial (which he didn't appear to do).

I feel it a shame they didn't involve someone with some knowledge of old telephones - who might also have given some advice on how to get it working as a telephone. They may then, however, have ended up in a bit of grey area regarding what is permissible to connect to the telephone network. <end of rant>
__________________
Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)
Dave Moll is online now  
Old 29th Mar 2017, 7:50 pm   #25
Andrew2
Nonode
 
Andrew2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Dukinfield, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 2,033
Default Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop

I agree with Dave about the telephone dial - it was clearly from a much later phone, probably 70's or 80's.
Here's something that's been bothering me. Is it my eyes, or is the picture quality a bit strange? There's a kind of 'milkiness' or flatness to the highlights, and although the programme is in HD there is a slight lack of detail, particularly in the faces.
__________________
Andy G1HBE.
Andrew2 is offline  
Old 31st Mar 2017, 10:20 pm   #26
camtechman
Nonode
 
camtechman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Milton Keynes, Bucks. UK.
Posts: 2,552
Default Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop

Look what I spotted in the background ! (see screen grab pic)

Not sure if that's one of the 'Dancette' (sic) reproductions or a genuine Dansette Bermuda but did the true Bermuda have sloping sides ?!
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	BBC Repairers Dansette #2.jpg
Views:	419
Size:	64.4 KB
ID:	140203  
__________________
When I die, please don't let my Wife sell my collection for the amount I told her I paid for it!
camtechman is offline  
Old 2nd Apr 2017, 9:51 pm   #27
mark_in_manc
Octode
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Manchester, UK.
Posts: 1,872
Default Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop

Looks like set dressing, as does the collection of draw-knives under which it sits. Unless those draw-knives are actually taxidermy tools and the Dansette is due to be skinned.
mark_in_manc is online now  
Old 2nd Apr 2017, 10:18 pm   #28
dave walsh
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex.
Posts: 5,814
Default Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop

The second item next Wednesday is a Wurlitzer Juke Box, a bit closer to Vintage Radio but 15 mins? [Radio Times].

Dave W
dave walsh is offline  
Old 2nd Apr 2017, 11:13 pm   #29
Phil G4SPZ
Dekatron
 
Phil G4SPZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK.
Posts: 4,735
Default Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop

Having watched and mainly enjoyed all the programmes so far, I must say that the title "The Repair Shop" is a bit of a misnomer. Most items featured to date have been substantial restorations, rather than repairs. We aren't told how many hours were spent on each item either, which I think is a major omission.

The fact that these cherished objects have lain unrepaired until now probably indicates that the owners were reluctant to pay the going rate for professional repair expertise, so the prospect of being on the telly and getting a free repair into the bargain must have been appealing!
__________________
Phil

Optimist [n]: One who is not in possession of the full facts
Phil G4SPZ is offline  
Old 2nd Apr 2017, 11:27 pm   #30
paulsherwin
Moderator
 
paulsherwin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,783
Default Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop

I've now watched a couple of episodes and found them very disappointing, a real opportunity missed. There was no attempt to explain what the restorers were actually doing, and lots of extraneous 'human interest' stuff inserted. I wonder what the restorers themselves thought of the finished programmes.

I suspect the director had no real interest in what was going on and was afraid that the audience would be bored. It may have started off as a worthwhile project which was subsequently gutted during development.
paulsherwin is online now  
Old 2nd Apr 2017, 11:54 pm   #31
Nuvistor
Dekatron
 
Nuvistor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 9,426
Default Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop

I watched the first one on iPlayer, not had chance to see others. The first one was from my point of view a disappointment. Happy with the skill and finished restoration but it missed all the work involved which seems a repeated view in this thread.

Frank
Nuvistor is online now  
Old 3rd Apr 2017, 9:06 am   #32
vidjoman
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: East Sussex, UK.
Posts: 3,315
Default Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop

Quote:
Originally Posted by dave walsh View Post
The second item next Wednesday is a Wurlitzer Juke Box, a bit closer to Vintage Radio but 15 mins?
Should be interesting - I've restored many of those and it takes a long time. If it's a real old one. Might be a mini plastic repro that plays CD and bluetooth.
vidjoman is offline  
Old 3rd Apr 2017, 10:58 am   #33
Brigham
Octode
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Co. Durham, UK.
Posts: 1,111
Default Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop

If it's a Wurlitzer 412 I'll be interested!
Brigham is offline  
Old 5th Apr 2017, 9:42 pm   #34
Phil G4SPZ
Dekatron
 
Phil G4SPZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK.
Posts: 4,735
Default Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop

Interestingly, it was a valved Wurlitzer. The expert repairer who did the work runs a specialist business in Essex, and has wasted no time in putting a screenshot from the Repair Shop programme on his home page!
__________________
Phil

Optimist [n]: One who is not in possession of the full facts
Phil G4SPZ is offline  
Old 13th Mar 2018, 9:25 pm   #35
shadoman
Tetrode
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Chulmleigh, Devonshire, UK.
Posts: 88
Default Re: Vintage Radios, TVs etc in films and on TV (not anachronisms)

Hi
Watched the Repair Shop on BBC2 Today and there was a nice Red Roberts R900 on a bench in the background
shadoman is offline  
Old 16th Mar 2018, 8:25 pm   #36
Paul Stenning
Administrator
 
Paul Stenning's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Cardiff
Posts: 9,059
Default Re: Vintage Radios, TVs etc in films and on TV (not anachronisms)

GEC radiogram on The Repair Shop on BBC 2 this evening. The only work covered was repairs to the motor and the tuning drive, and tripping the electrics the first time it was tried. He had a copy of the Trader sheet which he says he found online.

I would imagine a lot more work was done than we were shown. Many of the jobs featured are clearly many hours of painstaking work.

The programme briefly covers three restorations in half an hour so obviously not much time for detail. Some of it is about the stories behind the items and what they mean to the owners, along with some brief history of the items.

This radiogram was returned to a delighted owner with a 78 RPM copy of The Laughing Policeman, which she used to listen to with her sister (who is no longer with us) as a child.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	2018-03-16-19.15.jpg
Views:	342
Size:	145.9 KB
ID:	159362  
__________________

Paul Stenning
Forum Admin/Owner and BVWS Webmaster
Paul Stenning is online now  
Old 16th Mar 2018, 8:28 pm   #37
Station X
Moderator
 
Station X's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK.
Posts: 21,192
Default Re: Vintage Radios, TVs etc in films and on TV (not anachronisms)

Very nice. My grandfather had the radio version of this and I spent many happy hours listening to 40 metre AM amateur stations on it.
__________________
Graham. Forum Moderator

Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.
Station X is online now  
Old 16th Mar 2018, 8:44 pm   #38
turretslug
Dekatron
 
turretslug's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Surrey, UK.
Posts: 4,385
Default Re: Vintage Radios, TVs etc in films and on TV (not anachronisms)

The outcome with the GEC radiogram was heartening- but, as so often, I found the lead-up a little odd. I almost wondered if the breaker-tripping bit was staged, a sort of "well, folks, this old electrical stuff can be a bit iffy" kind of thing. On the other hand, there was none of the "only the experienced and knowledgeable should attempt these sort of repairs" warning, which would have been both reasonable and expected in the current climate as vintage radios are still quite commonplace to encounter in many attics etc. as keepsakes.

It was a shame we didn't get just a few seconds of chassis-fettling, with accompanying overview as to how old components need to be checked/replaced for reliabilty/performance/safety. No great detail needed, just convey to the audience that it's not the glib work of a moment to get half-century-plus electronics back in order, and "if you find something like this, please don't just plug it in". At least, I hope that "that cap" was changed!
turretslug is offline  
Old 16th Mar 2018, 8:54 pm   #39
regentone001
Heptode
 
regentone001's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Coventry, West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 518
Default Re: Vintage Radios, TVs etc in films and on TV (not anachronisms)

I watched the prog and wanted to scream that it was a radiogram NOT a gramophone every time the voice over called it that,when it was first mentioned I expected a wind up jobby. I also noticed that the p u was replaced with what looked like a BSR mono cartridge so I don't think they fettled the original p u.
I have to say that I hate that damn record I have never liked it even as a kid
regentone001 is offline  
Old 16th Mar 2018, 10:12 pm   #40
emeritus
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK.
Posts: 5,316
Default Re: Vintage Radios, TVs etc in films and on TV (not anachronisms)

I saw that programme tonight too. When he was about to power it up, I remarked to my wife that I was surprised he wasn't using a series lamp limiter before powering up for what seemed to be the first time: it might have saved him tripping the building's circuit breakers!
emeritus is offline  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 11:51 am.


All information and advice on this forum is subject to the WARNING AND DISCLAIMER located at https://www.vintage-radio.net/rules.html.
Failure to heed this warning may result in death or serious injury to yourself and/or others.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2002 - 2023, Paul Stenning.