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Vintage Test Gear and Workshop Equipment For discussions about vintage test gear and workshop equipment such as coil winders.

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Old 4th Aug 2021, 10:09 am   #1
Wendymott
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Default Enigma.

Well not really... maybe "Curiosity". Bought this last night at a radio society "Surplus" sale. The owner didnt really know much about it... bought it in a job lot. He had applied 12V DC...... apparently it started to smoke.... Arghh..
It does not have a model number or recognisable manufacturers name,but is obviously built to a high standard. I suggest it is a "clone" or later version of the BC221. 6V Heater valves as in 1 X 6K8.... the others are clamped in.. too lazy to identify at the moment.
There is melted residue near the Inverter transformer so I guess he "cooked" it.
Any info on it please
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Old 4th Aug 2021, 12:38 pm   #2
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Default Re: Enigma.

Corrections
My initial thoughts was it was a DC input appliance...... It turns out that what I thought was a vibrator is a plug in triple capacitor 10+10+10uf.
The mains transformer is a 115V input... obviously been fed with 240V. It had leaked wax, but bringing it up on a variac to 115V, it seems there is plenty of action, and NO smoke. The transformer is running quite cool.
I have not checked RF input yet but the Xtal calibrator is working fine.
I didnt buy it to use..... but as a curiosity, to see what was inside. If anyone can give it a good home, please PM Me to discuss terms and arrangements.
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Old 4th Aug 2021, 2:17 pm   #3
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Default Re: Enigma.

That IS a BC221 to all intents and purposes. Remember that there were several different makers involved and they all had slight variations.

The address on the front panel is American, so if it's been modified for mains, then it would have been 110v.

Originally they had batteries in the lower part of the case, and others had mains units or 6v vibrator packs in there.

Nice, archeologically speaking, somewhat outdated as a frequency meter. Some people raid them for the gearboxes and variable capacitors for making superb VFOs

David
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Old 4th Aug 2021, 3:06 pm   #4
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Default Re: Enigma.

A manual of variants:

https://radionerds.com/images/a/a3/TM11-300.pdf

Lawrence.
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Old 4th Aug 2021, 3:45 pm   #5
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Default Re: Enigma.

Hi David and Lawrence... Thanks for the confirmation and very detailed user manual.

My original BC221 was a battery version...however I didnt realise there were others...it was a case of not needing to know....So.... if anyone wants a Mains (110V) powered BC221 for historical reasons.. give me a PM
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Old 4th Aug 2021, 4:00 pm   #6
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Default Re: Enigma.

I'm keeping one and considering it might make a direct conversion RX one day...
It's what it basically was anyway, just a fairly insensitive one.
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Old 4th Aug 2021, 4:19 pm   #7
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Default Re: Enigma.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ms660 View Post
A manual of variants:

https://radionerds.com/images/a/a3/TM11-300.pdf

Lawrence.

Page IV is "interesting"
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Old 4th Aug 2021, 5:09 pm   #8
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Default Re: Enigma.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Herald1360 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by ms660 View Post
A manual of variants:

https://radionerds.com/images/a/a3/TM11-300.pdf

Lawrence.

Page IV is "interesting"
I've a manual for a vehicle that I owned that in effect said the same, OT for here though.

Lawrence.
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Old 4th Aug 2021, 7:00 pm   #9
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Default Re: Enigma.

Fidelity AVS comes to mind. J.
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Old 5th Aug 2021, 10:31 am   #10
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Default Re: Enigma.

Well... that stirred a few comments.....looks like it may have found a new home...just awaiting confirmation...... no point in me keeping it...Thanks peeps
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Old 5th Aug 2021, 11:18 am   #11
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Default Re: Enigma.

RE homed... Thanks Peeps
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