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Old 12th May 2020, 1:08 pm   #1
real0real
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Default Marconiphone 222 Restoration

Hi
I have just acquired a vintage Marconiphone 222 valve radio. Is this a rare radio, does anyone know?
I'm thinking of restoring it, but would this radio be quite difficult to restore, does anyone know ?
It.s an old battery type and would have originally been fitted with 2x140v batteries, so I would possibly have to fit a battery eliminator. I have attached a few pictures of it.
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Old 12th May 2020, 1:15 pm   #2
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Default Re: Marconiphone 222 Restoration

That appears to have suffered some damp storage, so the first thing I'd do regardless of how it's powered would be to check continuity of all transformers/coils etc since "green spot" may well be an issue.

Other than that, a suitable power supply ought not to be hard to build given today's choice of components. Filament supply would need to be very closely regulated or kept as a battery supply to avoid damaging the valves (I'd also want to verify filament continuity while checking windings).

Date I'd have as around 1937/38, unsure of rarity but there's not going to be thousands around. Cabinet looks really quite nice in the first photo.
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Old 12th May 2020, 1:23 pm   #3
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Default Re: Marconiphone 222 Restoration

Cabinet has suffered little from woodworm in couple of places, but not drastically and possibily get restored this coming week as my brother quite a good furnisher restorer and has offered to do, the power cables are pretty much rotted through , take it out its chassis bit later today and see what condition is of the under- side of chassis (looks if its been attic / barn stored)

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Old 12th May 2020, 1:33 pm   #4
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Default Re: Marconiphone 222 Restoration

I agree it's worth testing the valve filaments for continuity. There are three PT2 output pentodes for sale on eBay at the moment (not being sold by me!). Cheers, Jerry
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Old 12th May 2020, 2:02 pm   #5
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Default Re: Marconiphone 222 Restoration

Hi Jerry
Thank you for letting me know , have book marked them , i noticed on ebay there a battery eliminator advertised reference number 264409753958 , any idea if this be suitable
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Old 12th May 2020, 2:12 pm   #6
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Default Re: Marconiphone 222 Restoration

Not a common set I can certainly say and worth a careful restoration. Possibly fine that ebay item.
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Old 12th May 2020, 2:22 pm   #7
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Default Re: Marconiphone 222 Restoration

I think that power supply not suitable the HT is too low and the LT voltage too high and the LT current too low.

Cheers

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Old 12th May 2020, 2:32 pm   #8
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Default Re: Marconiphone 222 Restoration

Have seen another one listed on ebay 293552444187 any idea if this one might be compatible
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Old 12th May 2020, 2:49 pm   #9
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Default Re: Marconiphone 222 Restoration

Unfortunately that one is intended for low current sets.

This set is going to need at least 900mA at 2V for LT for the valves + whatever is required by the scale lamp.

Not to hard to make your own from an old valve radio mains transformer.

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Old 12th May 2020, 3:21 pm   #10
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Default Re: Marconiphone 222 Restoration

Apart from the USA mains requirement, which you could get around with a step-down transformer, that eBay item is unsuitable as the LT supply only provides up to 350mA. The LT supply requirement of this radio is 2v at 0.9A so you'd need a power unit providing at least 1.5A because you will get voltage drop through the LT supply cables. The HT supplies are indicated in the attached screengrab from the service sheet. If you don't already have it you can get the whole thing here https://www.service-data.com/product...24/3564/t12824. Cheers, Jerry
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Old 12th May 2020, 3:27 pm   #11
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Default Re: Marconiphone 222 Restoration

It be quite difficult for me as have limited electronic expertise , hoping to possibly buy one ready made
Have removed from chassis from its case attached couple of pictures
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Old 12th May 2020, 3:30 pm   #12
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Default Re: Marconiphone 222 Restoration

It looks in good original condition and well worth restoring. However, it will need to be done by somebody with reasonable experience. I doubt you will ever find a ready-made power pack for this. Somebody might offer to make you one! Cheers, Jerry
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Old 12th May 2020, 3:42 pm   #13
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Default Re: Marconiphone 222 Restoration

HI Jerry thank you for letting me know as have been searching online and only seen couple ready made up ones ,if anyone has time and could offer to make one would pay for one to be made as long as its not megabucks
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Old 12th May 2020, 4:30 pm   #14
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Default Re: Marconiphone 222 Restoration

Thought that power supply was 0--12V ? hence I thought would do the heaters and HT 90V should be fine though normally 120V.

Unless I have missed something,in which case I stand corrected.Nope I did not check what current rating was.

Two 140V batteries? Never seen one as high as that.
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Old 12th May 2020, 7:40 pm   #15
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Default Re: Marconiphone 222 Restoration

Quote:
Originally Posted by real0real View Post
HI Jerry thank you for letting me know as have been searching online and only seen couple ready made up ones ,if anyone has time and could offer to make one would pay for one to be made as long as its not megabucks
Wouldn't be megabucks but anything using all new parts would run to around £50+ just for the parts. Three HT supplies, two grid bias and the filament supply all needing to be well smoothed dc don't help.

Doing the just HT and GB supplies with "cheap" AA cells and holders would cost about the same and a 2V "Cyclon" rechargeable cell for LT would cost another £20 or so.

If the battery prices seem exorbitant, they wouldn't have been much different (if not more) in real terms back in the day. There're good reasons why battery operated valve sets disappeared practically overnight when transistors came along!
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Old 12th May 2020, 8:21 pm   #16
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Default Re: Marconiphone 222 Restoration

Hi, a nice clean looking set and should restore well. Valves are not that rare and should be easy to find.
I see it has had a couple of replacements in its life.
I did a design for a battery eliminator that was published in WW in the 80's . It used a recycled transformer from an early video (they had lots of useful secondaries).
I can send you the circuit, or if you are not in a hurry I may be able to build it for you.

Cheers, Ed
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Old 12th May 2020, 8:34 pm   #17
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Default Re: Marconiphone 222 Restoration

Here's an original power converter that would have been used back in the day. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-A...YAAOSw42FetU7i Even this one is a bit marginal for your set, only providing 2v 1A and only up to 130V HT; as it is in unrestored condition it would need refurbishment to be used safely but would probably be less cost effective for you than the solution suggested in Posts #15 and #16.
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Old 1st Jun 2020, 10:18 pm   #18
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Default Re: Marconiphone 222 Restoration

case been resored , cleaned chassis
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Old 23rd Jun 2020, 8:21 pm   #19
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Default Re: Marconiphone 222 Restoration

Update

Ed has kindly made a Battery Eliminator ,and made a very good job of , and much appreciated , have attached picture of ,
Hopefully later this week will replace the old wiring leads in the set and possibily connect up and give the radio a test
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Old 25th Jun 2020, 4:48 pm   #20
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Default Re: Marconiphone 222 Restoration

Hi
Today have replaced the old wiring and fitted new cables ,attached picure of

Clive
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