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Old 30th Apr 2021, 2:35 pm   #1
telstar
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Default K.B "Gavotte"

A recent success for me is the restoration of a K.B "Gavotte" radio that is a similar one that my parents had in 1961 when we lived in east Leeds. I remember my (now late) father bought it from his employer (Marshall Haywood) when he was a radio & television engineer. His employer had an electrical appliance shop near Hyde Park (not far from Leeds University). I remember the BBC programmes that once emanated from it like "Listen with Mother", "Mrs Dales Diary", "The Archers", and sports programmes, but not much in the way of music (except at weekends).
My K.B was completely dead when I bought mine, so I replaced the metal rectifier with a 1N4007 rectifier a resistor.
Also, I changed the coupling capacitor and the anode load resistor. There were not many resistors on the circuit board, and those others did not warrant replacing.
The output transformer was also damaged, the lead had broken in an awkward place. Luckily, I had a spare. Once these components had been changed, it came back to life. Actually, it worked better than I thought it would do. The push button switching was "a bit delicate", but otherwise well worth restoring.
I took it to where I once worked at Comet. Most engineers liked it, but some hated it and thought it was rubbish. It is a shame that I have had to endure sarcastic people in whatever hobby that I have had.
Cheers
Mike
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Old 30th Apr 2021, 2:56 pm   #2
Beardyman
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Default Re: K.B "Gavotte"

Nice job, and a good read too, thanks for posting.
It "looks" like the 60's, to me anyway!
Neat & tidy with a definite nod to Andy Warhol with those colour's so redolent of that period.
Often when people are sarcastic about something it is usually down to ignorance or jealousy.
Thanks again.
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Old 30th Apr 2021, 5:32 pm   #3
vinrads
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Default Re: K.B "Gavotte"

I don't remember seeing that model before , well done with the restoration , you like it, I like it , forget about the others that don't , Mick.
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Old 30th Apr 2021, 5:38 pm   #4
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Default Re: K.B "Gavotte"

I want to see the insides, small and "non standard shaped" valve sets intrigue me.
 
Old 30th Apr 2021, 8:15 pm   #5
bionicmerlin
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Default Re: K.B "Gavotte"

I have 2 of these. I think they are lovely looking sets . One preforms much better than the other. I will have to give it a going over sometime.
I also have the transistor version that I must get round to restoring. Andy
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Old 1st May 2021, 1:43 pm   #6
telstar
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Default Re: K.B "Gavotte"

Hi everyone.
Many thanks for your replies and comments. Yes these sets are really rare indeed. The only down side to them is they take a bit longer to energize (probably due to their split heater chain?)
I reckon the cabinet must be urea formaldehyde (coloured Bakelite). It certainly does not feel like ordinary plastic.
Cheers
Mike
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Old 3rd May 2021, 10:09 am   #7
ajs37
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Default Re: K.B "Gavotte"

Nice write up Mike - I like this model, but only set eyes on one ten years ago - so no history with them like you! Mine was bought from eBay and I had to replace the rectifier, but little else. Personally, I think the case is plastic, rather than urea formaldehyde, but it's a moot point - they really do look like they are from the late 50's / early 60's and could well become a sought-after classic in the future - or so my artistic daughter-in-law tells me!
Andy
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