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General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc. |
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1st Aug 2009, 1:43 pm | #1 |
Heptode
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK.
Posts: 643
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"Good Companion" portable radio.
At a boot sale today I picked this radio up. It's only marking is "Good Companion" on the front panel. Apart from the obviously wrong knobs,the fact that the back panel has no markings, and having no screwdriver with me,to look inside, I decided to take a chance at £2.
What I appear to have bought is a vintage case with modern works. It looks to me as if it might have been a kit, or a magazine article type build. The active component count is TBA820,ZTX300,ZN414. The tuning dial has MW and LW markings but electrically only the MW coil exists. ISTR PW published articles using the ZN414 radio chip. Anyone any ideas or thoughts?
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Dave G1AGK. My perception is my reality! |
1st Aug 2009, 1:48 pm | #2 |
Rest in Peace
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Location: Burton upon Trent, East Staffordshire, UK.
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Re: "Good Companion" portable radio.
Dave,
Look on the bright side - you've got a case, speaker, battery clips, dial, tuning cap, ferrite rod, switch, pot, components ....... Alan |
1st Aug 2009, 2:14 pm | #3 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: County Down, Northern Ireland, UK.
Posts: 275
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Re: "Good Companion" portable radio.
Home Radio of Mitcham sold a 6 transistor radio kit called "Good Companion" in the mid 60's. Anyone remember them? Perhaps someone later used the case to make their own IC version.
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1st Aug 2009, 2:18 pm | #4 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
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Re: "Good Companion" portable radio.
I don't think you did badly for £2. You can have a lot of fun with those ZN414 chips
The case looks familiar, but I can't place it. Paul |
1st Aug 2009, 2:36 pm | #5 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Dartford, Kent, UK.
Posts: 1,661
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Re: "Good Companion" portable radio.
The "Good Companion" was advertised as a kit for years, Attached is an ad from PW Jan '62 by Harris Electronics. .
Regards, Mick. |
1st Aug 2009, 2:54 pm | #6 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Western Lake District, Cumbria (CA20) - UK
Posts: 2,136
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Re: "Good Companion" portable radio.
The current works are not that modern!
I would imagine that the original set was built as the "Good Companion" and subsequently the case was used for a later design based around the ZN414, probably by the original constructor. There were loads of circuits published in the electronics magazines. PW, PE and RC all had them. It would have been a quite reasonable thing to do when the ZN414 came out. I remember it being hailed as the best thing since sliced bread and built several sets using it myself. I think you did very well for £2.00! Regards,
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Brian |
1st Aug 2009, 3:50 pm | #7 |
Octode
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, UK.
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Re: "Good Companion" portable radio.
I'm quite interested in these kits, I have four "good companion" cases but they look quite different to yours. They're red, with rounded corners and a gold cross-hatch grille.
If you'd bought one of mine you might have acquired a transistor radio, a 280Vdc PSU or a USB scrolling message display! Dom |
1st Aug 2009, 3:59 pm | #8 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hull, East Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 2,087
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Re: "Good Companion" portable radio.
Have you attached a fresh 9V battery to it?
If it works, then for £2.00 you can't complain, even if the case needs attention because of water damage. |
1st Aug 2009, 6:39 pm | #9 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 4,259
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Re: "Good Companion" portable radio.
Here's an Electronic Precision Equipment advertisement from the Oct. '62 Radio Constructor, showing both cabinet versions, and a shot of the interior of a Good Companion here. The set has Philco RF and Mullard AF transistors as described. Yours may or may not have had anything in it originally, as the cabinet seems to have been produced in excessive numbers. A version of the Good Companion with largely pre-assembled works (including AF117s - oh, joy! ) was still being offered in December '66, and completely unused cabinets have turned up more than once on eBay in recent years.
Paul |
1st Aug 2009, 8:37 pm | #10 |
Octode
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Near Stowmarket, Suffolk, UK.
Posts: 1,962
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Re: "Good Companion" portable radio.
Well done, even if it is more modern that what it looks, it still looks old and if it works does it really matter? It's still a radio
At the carboot I went to today all I saw was a Westminster for £35 |
2nd Aug 2009, 7:57 am | #11 |
Heptode
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK.
Posts: 643
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Re: "Good Companion" portable radio.
Thanks everyone for your replies It seems that both my assumptions were correct.It was originally a kit then a home brew.
John (radiogammon) Home Radio in Mitcham, I remember visiting a lot as a youngster,when we stayed with my gran in Carshalton. Neil, yes it works very well. That battery was dated '96. Josh, yes a bit like old cars, they can look old from the outside but have all new works! With a bit of a clean and a couple of more in keeping knobs I'll find a place for it ..Thanks chaps.
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Dave G1AGK. My perception is my reality! |