Heirloom item help please

[FrankSinatra]

I dont know the dial has 3 turns, on its initial position (let's call it 7 o clock) and its 2nd position at 8 o clock it has fairly loud crackle in the right speaker. At its final position at 10 o clock it is clear.

It can stop and start although the stop seems more irregular now. It started cracking after it was left on for a period of about 30-45mins with just the deck spinning.

And no chance of a previous mod I don't think other than the brown wires here which seem out of place?

[paulsherwin]

I think it's just a simple top cut tone control.

[Analogue man]

Originally Posted by FrankSinatra

I dont know the dial has 3 turns, on its initial position (let's call it 7 o clock) and its 2nd position at 8 o clock it has fairly loud crackle in the right speaker. At its final position at 10 o clock it is clear.

It can stop and start although the stop seems more irregular now. It started cracking after it was left on for a period of about 30-45mins with just the deck spinning.

And no chance of a previous mod I don't think other than the brown wires here which seem out of place?

More cleaning needed, the potentiometers have a small gap in their cases where the connections go in, use switch cleaner (not WD40) in the gaps and work the control vigorously around 20 times, if that doesn't cure the problem then these are quite easy to get hold of, not expensive and easy to change over on the chassis.

[Station X]

Originally Posted by FrankSinatra

I don't know the dial has 3 turns, on its initial position (let's call it 7 o clock) and its 2nd position at 8 o clock it has fairly loud crackle in the right speaker. At its final position at 10 o clock it is clear.

Three turns would be unusual. Most potentiometers (pots) have around 270 degrees of movement from end stop to end stop.

Does your control move unhindered from end stop to end stop, or does it click into various (three?) positions like a wave change switch?

[FrankSinatra]

It has 3 positions, it's initial at 7 o clock one at 8 and one at 10. It clicks on each turn.

I have contact cleaned I will try some more of that, seems only right speaker and doesn't make the noise at the top 10 o clock position.

[Edward Huggins]

Unusual to have a switched tone control in aproduct like this. It's probably switching 2 "top cut" caps into circuit and with one position with no cap in circuit to allow a full high pass.

[FrankSinatra]

Went a bit heavier on the contact cleaner and it's cured it!

Seems all good now fingers crossed.

Next part of the project

1) Paint, coming tomorrow, wife gone for dark grey.
2) Fitting an eddison style bulb to the deck chamber, have the bits will do that after painting.
3) Considering added a cut to size glass top, and laying some old sheet music and or album covers underneath for decoration, trying to convince my wife this will look nice.
4) More research and reading on adding a line.

[FrankSinatra]

Started the returb job today, looks good the paint is a really good product and dries quickly.

Look at lighting later when it's properly dry and maybe a 2nd coat.

Split decision on the legs, I think retain original colour?

[simpsons]

Hi Frank

I've just had a look at your journey making good an heirloom.

Two points, if I may.

First, while you have the back off the cabinet, fix some felt carpet underlay around the sides of the speaker box and back. Whatever is left, loosely fill the void This will greatly improve the sound quality. Professional speaker manufacturers use similar material, BASF wadding or high-density foam in the void but an old pillow will do. This will stop the "honking sound" caused when a speaker is placed in an empty box. Without it, it makes for listening fatigue big time. The difference will be noticeable.

Second, I see this unit is medium and long wave only and currently, you use Bang & Olufsen Beoplay speakers to play your choice of music. Just which B&O model are model do you have? The audio quality from some is amazing, so don't just throw them; they might solve an outstanding issue.

Because this radiogram is missing an FM tuner it means that, if I understand where you are coming from, you can't just purchase a Blue Tooth FM transmitter module. You will need to provide an audio input facility.

Looking at record players of old, some manufacturers just wired an audio input (tape) socket across the record player cartridge. When the owner plugged in a tape recorder, for instance, it sounded just fine. Should your B&O active speaker have audio out, you are almost there. Food for thought?

Chris

[FrankSinatra]

All back together done and sounding great.

[FrankSinatra]

All back together done and sounding great.

[G6Tanuki]

It does kinda look good!

Now, next thing - if you want to use it to play downloads, or receive FM stations - get yourself an obsolete mobile-phone. Most of these had a "FM Radio" function, it used the headphone cable as the antenna, but you can fit a 3.5mm stereo-jack-plug lead and feed the signal from this into your radiogram. Then, either use the phone to play FM stations, or link it to your WiFi router to stream audio, or use your computer to download MP3/MP4 audio files onto a micro-SD card, pop this into the old phone, and enjoy the music!

An 8Gb micro-SD card costs only a few quid and can easily store an entire weekend's listening.

[Gabe001]

The grey works really well. Great job. You must be well pleased with it.

[FrankSinatra]

Thanks yes I am considering the next phase of the project, sounds great.

[FrankSinatra]

The top of the gram gets warm whilst in use I was wondering if it would benefit from a PC style cooling fan inside?

[Edward Huggins]

It's bound to get warm given it is valved. Leave as it is.

[paulsherwin]

Yes, they normally get a bit warm. If there's a significant problem it'll start to smell bad.

[FrankSinatra]

Ok thanks Gents.

Managed to find a new lamp for the radio panel to replace the old one, other that it's good for a while now hopefully in terms of operational.

Going to look into the underlay option for the speakers.

[FrankSinatra]

Morning all

Loving this piece and using a lot, no issues so far.

One niggle is the lamp behind the radio panel which I can't seem to keep lit without burning out.

I replaced the one that was in there with the same rates 3.0v 0.5A and it blew in a minute or so, I ordered some higher rated ones at 3.5v and they don't last either.

I don't know if one in place when I got the piece was original or not but it seems the lamps I have are not beefy enough or something else is going on?

[Cobaltblue]

Unless I have missed something as the set has a mains transformer I would have expected the dial lights to be 6.5V .

Cheers

Mike T