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Success Stories If you have successfully repaired or restored a piece of equipment, why not write up what you did and post details here. Particularly if it was interesting, unusual or challenging. PLEASE DO NOT POST REQUESTS FOR HELP HERE! |
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12th Dec 2020, 6:47 pm | #1 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK.
Posts: 3,737
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GEC transistor radio restored
The story is Lisa was asking for someone to restore a GEC radio to give to her mother as here late father used to work at the GEC factory, she saw a radio being repaired on the workshop program which brought back fond memories. Lisa won the same model radio on eBay and had it sent to me to repair.
I decided to go to town on this one, replacing all the electrolytic and paper capacitors, strange thing I found the leg of two transistors had been eaten away. I managed to solder them back. There was a hole/tear on the front speaker cloth and the left top corner also was worn, I pinched a bit of material from the bottom, where it is not seen, to effect a repair. I cleaned the case and all the brass work and lacquered it, the radio is now working and ready to be boxed up as a lovely Christmas present from Lisa to her Mother. Mick. Last edited by vinrads; 12th Dec 2020 at 7:07 pm. |
12th Dec 2020, 6:48 pm | #2 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK.
Posts: 3,737
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Re: GEC transistor radio restored
Some more pictures.
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12th Dec 2020, 7:48 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 4,246
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Re: GEC transistor radio restored
Super job on a great little set, especially the just about invisible Vynair repair. I've had a few of this model and its near relatives, haven't yet come across one that didn't work pretty well before getting any attention at all but with all those potential nasties replaced it should be ready for another sixty years now.
Is it a trick of the light or are the knob brights fitted convex? I think they've been concave on all the BC502s/505s I've seen. Paul |
12th Dec 2020, 8:30 pm | #4 |
Octode
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Guildford, Surrey, UK.
Posts: 1,958
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Re: GEC transistor radio restored
How did you manage to remove the tuning knob and the scale beneath it without damage? I know the two 'D' sections of the slow motion tuning cap shaft have to be turned to be in line before you can extract the scale, but the spring rings on both parts of the tuning knob can be very tight and the plastic (polystyrene?) can be very brittle.
Ron |
12th Dec 2020, 8:59 pm | #5 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
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Re: GEC transistor radio restored
I have one of those, a bit worse than yours, works well with all original components. I even have the instruction manual.
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12th Dec 2020, 9:09 pm | #6 |
Octode
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Manchester, UK.
Posts: 1,872
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Re: GEC transistor radio restored
(It would be very cool to give it as a present with a photocopy of the instruction manual. Just like new!)
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"The best dBs, come in 3s" - Woody Brown |
12th Dec 2020, 9:17 pm | #7 |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Rotherham, South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,701
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Re: GEC transistor radio restored
Great job Vinrads!
Must the be the only one of these sets I’ve ever seen that had two matching knobs! Were the radios made in Coventry by any chance? I used to run the bank sub-office within the Stoke works, it was busier than many “proper” branches. Fond memories of the canteen and staff shop there...... sorry drifting off topic. Peter |
12th Dec 2020, 9:37 pm | #8 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK.
Posts: 3,737
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Re: GEC transistor radio restored
Quote:
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12th Dec 2020, 9:42 pm | #9 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK.
Posts: 3,737
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Re: GEC transistor radio restored
Hi Rob I guess luck played a part ,when removing the knobs I was fearing the worst but two broad bladed screwdrivers did the trick. Mick
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12th Dec 2020, 9:46 pm | #10 |
Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK.
Posts: 6,823
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Re: GEC transistor radio restored
This set rarely turns up in good condition so its always nice to see a nice restored example of this set.
Great job. Cheers Mike T
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Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk |
12th Dec 2020, 10:34 pm | #11 |
Guest
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Re: GEC transistor radio restored
Both my knobs have concave brights.
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13th Dec 2020, 8:10 am | #12 |
Heptode
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Rotherham, South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 559
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Re: GEC transistor radio restored
Morning Mick.
Outstanding work as always and it looks so good. Kev. |