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Old 17th Aug 2020, 5:03 pm   #1
FStephenMasek
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Default Ambassador - late 1930's

I bought this radio January 29 of 2013, so it is well past time to finish the restoration. I had it playing yesterday. I replaced the output transformer before finding that the speaker connection was bad due to dirt and corrosion on the wires and plug-in terminals. Just as well, as the old output transformer has green corrosion which indicated it was on the way to failing. I was enjoying nice music on AM690, the Mandarin language station broadcasting from Mexico (77,000 watts daytime, 50,000 nighttime with a direction antenna array). The radio also played what was almost surely the first Navajo music it had ever received, listening to AM660 from Window Rock Arizona.

I still need to adjust (align) it for peak performance, replace the dial string, clean and lubricate the tuning mechanism, and replace the power switch (was open, drenched with contact cleaner/lubricant). I have no idea what the correct IF frequency is. Any suggestions?

I would appreciate any help determining the model and other information. I have searched and not found any advertisements for it, but I have not yet found a way to search British newspapers.

It has five valves: R2 - rectifier; PENA4 - power; 2D4A duo-diode; VP4B - variable mu pentode RF/IF; and an unknown with 9-pin base and top cap, probably AC/TP.
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Old 17th Aug 2020, 5:06 pm   #2
Cobaltblue
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Default Re: Ambassador - late 1903's

Hi Stephen

Guessing that's a typo late 1930's as opposed to late 1903's

Looked at all of the Pre war Ambassador sets in Radio museum non quite meet the description but of course valve substitutions may have been made in which the PB2 Console is a possible candidate.

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Last edited by Cobaltblue; 17th Aug 2020 at 5:18 pm. Reason: added poss candidate
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Old 17th Aug 2020, 5:23 pm   #3
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Default Re: Ambassador - late 1930's

Thread title updated.
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Old 17th Aug 2020, 6:51 pm   #4
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Default Re: Ambassador - late 1930's

More coffee needed (morning here when I posted)...
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Old 23rd Aug 2020, 9:38 pm   #5
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Default Re: Ambassador - late 1930's

The chassis is finished! Using another radio to "hear" the oscillator, I determined it must be about at 110kHz, so I aligned it using that frequency. At first, I could not hear the audio from my signal generator, then I realized that it probably has a wave trap adjusted to the Intermediate Frequency, so I connected the signal generator to the grid (top-cap) of the AC/TP. I managed to replace the dial string yesterday, using nylon chalk-line string. I cleaned the yellowed plastic dial cover with automotive headlight plastic restoration fluid, lubricated the tuning gang, and cleaned the top of the chassis and aluminum cans. I was able to save the original power switch which tested open by soaking it with contact cleaner / lubricant. I took a photo of the unknown converter tube and manipulated the colors, contrast and saturation, to determine that it is indeed an AC/TP. The power cord is one the nice fabric-covered three wire cords sold by Grand Brass, but with a standard European plug (I have a 120VAC to 240VAC transformer with a European outlet).
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Old 24th Aug 2020, 1:58 am   #6
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Default Re: Ambassador - late 1930's

I re-did the finish on the top of the cabinet today, as I was not satisfied with my earlier work. It is back together and in my radio room.
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Old 24th Aug 2020, 8:48 am   #7
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Default Re: Ambassador - late 1930's

Great job, and what a fantastic collection!
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Old 24th Aug 2020, 10:15 pm   #8
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Default Re: Ambassador - late 1930's

Thank you! That is just a few of my approximately 100 radios.
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Old 24th Aug 2020, 11:05 pm   #9
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Default Re: Ambassador - late 1930's

Those big US sets make the ambassador look rather small! To most british collectors' eyes, most american sets of the 30's seem highly decorated or luxurious, in comparison to the plain-jane of many angular, understated art deco uk cabinets. I'd be interested to hear the american view on our 30's designs!
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Old 25th Aug 2020, 1:49 am   #10
FStephenMasek
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Default Re: Ambassador - late 1930's

I've noticed that the UK radios often have very showy veneer. This Ambassador has a nice front panel. I'm also still working an an HMV tombstone with a stricking front panel.

Homes in the USA were, and often still are, larger than those in much of Europe, so there would have been a small market in Europe for most of the large console radios sold in the USA.

What do you think of that art-deco Stromberg Carlson on the left side of my radio room?
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Old 25th Aug 2020, 12:05 pm   #11
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Default Re: Ambassador - late 1930's

There was a trend for freestanding consoles then. My Grandmother had a huge (by our standards) Pennine console, but the chassis was the same as the table radio. It was a quality piece of furniture though.
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Old 25th Aug 2020, 7:28 pm   #12
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Default Re: Ambassador - late 1930's

I like the look of all those big american sets. You can see the work that's gone into them and the pride they must've caused as a living room centre piece
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Old 26th Aug 2020, 12:15 am   #13
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Default Re: Ambassador - late 1930's

Indeed! One of the enjoyable aspects of our hobby is wondering who owned them, and thinking of all that they heard on them. This radio was still fairly new when WWII happened, so it may have been a very important source of information for the people who owned it. My best guess is that it was made in 1937.
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Old 27th Aug 2020, 6:29 pm   #14
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Default Re: Ambassador - late 1930's

Quote:
Originally Posted by McMurdo View Post
Those big US sets make the ambassador look rather small! To most british collectors' eyes, most american sets of the 30's seem highly decorated or luxurious, in comparison to the plain-jane of many angular, understated art deco uk cabinets. I'd be interested to hear the american view on our 30's designs!
I posted a picture of my much loved Murphy A30 console on a mainly american vintage radio site and quite a few had problems appreciating the minimalist styling of it!
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Old 28th Aug 2020, 11:15 pm   #15
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Default Re: Ambassador - late 1930's

well they do say that the 30's Murphy sets appealed to the bohemian set, which is the opposite of how I envisage a well-to-do conservative all-american interwar family. Most american sets I've seen from that period make the most ostentatious HMV radiogram look spartan
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