Magic eyes..... - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

ianj · 23rd Apr 2004, 9:22 pm

Whats going on with magic eyes of late?; I wanted to buy an EM34 and nearly died when I found out how much it was!-- they were a fiver a little while back...........same with a 6M2.....................(!)

paulsherwin · 23rd Apr 2004, 10:24 pm

EM34s have been rare valves for some time. Most of the NOS ones seem to be in Germany and typically go for £15-20 on eBay. There's a lot of knackered ex-equipment EM34s about - IMO these aren't worth considering unless you can see them working.

I don't think there were ever big stocks of EM34s in workshops and the like, because people typically didn't have them replaced when they went dim. Nowadays practically every radio with a magic eye will need it replaced as part of a restoration, and there just aren't enough to go round. I need one for my Philips 514, but a NOS EM34 is worth more than the set!

I'm surprised the Russians and Chinese haven't started making them again, given the prices they fetch.

Best regards, Paul

quantum · 24th Apr 2004, 3:01 pm

...I suppose priority is given to the production to audio valves, given the prices that people are prepared to pay for modern valve amps. Making 'magic eyes' for old radios and a handful of tape recorders, many of which would be worth less than the cost of a single valve, may not seem an attractive commercial proposition...

AC/HL · 24th Apr 2004, 5:34 pm

Colomor regularly advertises these:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...8&category=933

They're 6.3v and of an earlier physical shape, but should be usable in some sets.

Norm_Leal · 25th Apr 2004, 3:59 pm

Hi

Same problem in the US, prices are high. Magic Eye's don't last as long as other valves.

EM34 is same as 6CD7 but not common here. Most popular is 6U5, 6E5. If you ever find a 6T5 it can be worth more than $100.

Norm

jim_beacon · 25th Apr 2004, 6:45 pm

the VI103 is a military Y63

Jim.

ianj · 30th Apr 2004, 12:38 am

Ive just bought 5 6u5gs for £20, brand new, and Ive fitted one in my Kolster-Brandes EB30 in place of its em34 and its fine............................GREAT!

Mikeymushradio · 30th Apr 2004, 9:09 am

Just bought a couple of magic eyes from Colomor (VT103) appears to be a reasonable substitute for EM34 but with only one "window" still better than a blank hole

operating voltages are similar but grid and target leads have to be swapped.

£17 for two inc p&p

Mike

ekco1953 · 7th May 2004, 12:44 pm

Hope this is still on topic.

Is there any test procedure to check the operation of the EM34 in a non-working radio?

Jim

jim_beacon · 7th May 2004, 11:19 pm

they can be checked with the AVO Valve Characteristic meters Mks 1 to 4, the CT160 and the VCM 163 - I don't know about other testers.

Alternativly, if you have suitable power supplies, you can test that way.

Jim.

Ed_Dinning · 9th May 2004, 4:02 pm

Hi Gents, Mullard Hi Speed tester will also test them for operation if you have the correct cards.
Ed

GMB · 13th May 2004, 8:18 pm

What is the life expectancy of the typical magic eye?

And what has anyone tried to rejuvenate them?

johnn · 15th May 2004, 4:05 pm

I bought a 2nd hand Y63 for an Etronic RA640 set for £8 from Rod Burman in the IOW. OK.
Easy to change wiring for the EM types. The Y63 was the original fitted & looks the part.

rigsby27 · 15th May 2004, 6:24 pm

Hi,

I priced up an EM34 only this week and was quoted £20 for NOS unpainted? and £25 painted,this was to replace a 6AF7G,with the help and advice of Jim Beacon,thanks Jim.

BTW it wasn't Jim who gave me the quote.

Cheers,
Tony.

ianj · 22nd May 2004, 3:48 pm

Further to the magic eye debate, I have also now fitted a 12u5g in place of an em34/ 6m2 on my Murphy A242, and it lights up fine-- nice and bright, not quite as bright as an em34, but obviously new.............fits straight in.......

ianj · 26th Jun 2004, 10:53 pm

I have found out that you can buy Russian made EM34s , among others for about £12, and they are REALLY bright and stay that way, too....................

Rejectostat · 26th Jun 2004, 11:33 pm

Hello Ian,

Can you give us a link or address for the Russian made magic eyes, I'd certainly be interested in TV4's and AC/ME's.

Thanks.

ianj · 27th Jun 2004, 11:56 pm

LANGREX SUPPLIES, 1 MAYO ROAD, CROYDON( ask specifically for the russian types)

23rd Apr 2004, 9:22 pm	#1
ianj Heptode Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cheltenham Spa, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 525	Magic eyes..... Whats going on with magic eyes of late?; I wanted to buy an EM34 and nearly died when I found out how much it was!-- they were a fiver a little while back...........same with a 6M2.....................(!)

23rd Apr 2004, 10:24 pm	#2
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,944	Re: Magic eyes..... EM34s have been rare valves for some time. Most of the NOS ones seem to be in Germany and typically go for £15-20 on eBay. There's a lot of knackered ex-equipment EM34s about - IMO these aren't worth considering unless you can see them working. I don't think there were ever big stocks of EM34s in workshops and the like, because people typically didn't have them replaced when they went dim. Nowadays practically every radio with a magic eye will need it replaced as part of a restoration, and there just aren't enough to go round. I need one for my Philips 514, but a NOS EM34 is worth more than the set! I'm surprised the Russians and Chinese haven't started making them again, given the prices they fetch. Best regards, Paul

24th Apr 2004, 3:01 pm	#3
quantum Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 785	Re: Magic eyes..... ...I suppose priority is given to the production to audio valves, given the prices that people are prepared to pay for modern valve amps. Making 'magic eyes' for old radios and a handful of tape recorders, many of which would be worth less than the cost of a single valve, may not seem an attractive commercial proposition...

24th Apr 2004, 5:34 pm	#4
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,642	Re: Magic eyes..... Colomor regularly advertises these:- http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...8&category=933 They're 6.3v and of an earlier physical shape, but should be usable in some sets.

25th Apr 2004, 3:59 pm	#5
Norm_Leal Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Livermore, California, USA. Posts: 139	Re: Magic eyes..... Hi Same problem in the US, prices are high. Magic Eye's don't last as long as other valves. EM34 is same as 6CD7 but not common here. Most popular is 6U5, 6E5. If you ever find a 6T5 it can be worth more than $100. Norm

25th Apr 2004, 6:45 pm	#6
jim_beacon Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bishop's Waltham, Hants, UK. Posts: 939	Re: Magic eyes..... the VI103 is a military Y63 Jim.

30th Apr 2004, 12:38 am	#7
ianj Heptode Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cheltenham Spa, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 525	Re: Magic eyes..... Ive just bought 5 6u5gs for £20, brand new, and Ive fitted one in my Kolster-Brandes EB30 in place of its em34 and its fine............................GREAT! Last edited by Jeremy M0RVB; 29th Dec 2004 at 12:09 am.

30th Apr 2004, 9:09 am	#8
Mikeymushradio Rest in Peace Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 188	Re: Magic eyes..... Just bought a couple of magic eyes from Colomor (VT103) appears to be a reasonable substitute for EM34 but with only one "window" still better than a blank hole operating voltages are similar but grid and target leads have to be swapped. £17 for two inc p&p Mike Last edited by Jeremy M0RVB; 29th Dec 2004 at 12:09 am.

7th May 2004, 12:44 pm	#9
ekco1953 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Dalgety Bay, Scotland Posts: 131	Re: Magic eyes..... Hope this is still on topic. Is there any test procedure to check the operation of the EM34 in a non-working radio? Jim

7th May 2004, 11:19 pm	#10
jim_beacon Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bishop's Waltham, Hants, UK. Posts: 939	Re: Magic eyes..... they can be checked with the AVO Valve Characteristic meters Mks 1 to 4, the CT160 and the VCM 163 - I don't know about other testers. Alternativly, if you have suitable power supplies, you can test that way. Jim.

9th May 2004, 4:02 pm	#11
Ed_Dinning Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK. Posts: 8,194	Re: Magic eyes..... Hi Gents, Mullard Hi Speed tester will also test them for operation if you have the correct cards. Ed

13th May 2004, 8:18 pm	#12
GMB Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: near Reading (and sometimes Torquay) Posts: 3,094	Re: Magic eyes..... What is the life expectancy of the typical magic eye? And what has anyone tried to rejuvenate them?

15th May 2004, 4:05 pm	#13
johnn Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Scunthorpe, UK Posts: 154	Re: Magic eyes..... I bought a 2nd hand Y63 for an Etronic RA640 set for £8 from Rod Burman in the IOW. OK. Easy to change wiring for the EM types. The Y63 was the original fitted & looks the part. Last edited by Jeremy M0RVB; 29th Dec 2004 at 12:10 am.

15th May 2004, 6:24 pm	#14
rigsby27 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Wolverhampton, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 64	Re: Magic eyes..... Hi, I priced up an EM34 only this week and was quoted £20 for NOS unpainted? and £25 painted,this was to replace a 6AF7G,with the help and advice of Jim Beacon,thanks Jim. BTW it wasn't Jim who gave me the quote. Cheers, Tony.

22nd May 2004, 3:48 pm	#15
ianj Heptode Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cheltenham Spa, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 525	Re: Magic eyes..... Further to the magic eye debate, I have also now fitted a 12u5g in place of an em34/ 6m2 on my Murphy A242, and it lights up fine-- nice and bright, not quite as bright as an em34, but obviously new.............fits straight in....... Last edited by Jeremy M0RVB; 29th Dec 2004 at 12:10 am.

26th Jun 2004, 10:53 pm	#16
ianj Heptode Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cheltenham Spa, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 525	Re: Magic eyes..... I have found out that you can buy Russian made EM34s , among others for about £12, and they are REALLY bright and stay that way, too....................

26th Jun 2004, 11:33 pm	#17
Rejectostat Hexode Join Date: May 2003 Location: Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 308	Re: Magic eyes..... Hello Ian, Can you give us a link or address for the Russian made magic eyes, I'd certainly be interested in TV4's and AC/ME's. Thanks.

27th Jun 2004, 11:56 pm	#18
ianj Heptode Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cheltenham Spa, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 525	Re: Magic eyes..... LANGREX SUPPLIES, 1 MAYO ROAD, CROYDON( ask specifically for the russian types)