Baird Townsman restoration - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Panrock · 5th Jun 2007, 4:41 pm

I've just started a full cabinet-and-works restoration of a Baird Townsman.

You can follow the saga, as it unfolds, HERE

Steve

http://www.radiocraft.co.uk/baird50.jpg

Panrock · 9th Jul 2007, 3:58 pm

Well it's finished now. There are five pages - I've now interlinked all of them for convenience.

The saga starts HERE and ends HERE.

Steve

M0AFJ, Tim · 9th Jul 2007, 4:26 pm

Brilliant story, a real craftsman!

magnastat · 9th Jul 2007, 4:34 pm

Brilliant, as usual.

I'd really love it if you could make the pix clickable.

Reading your tv restos makes me want to have a go. (I've done loads of radios, but never a tv)

I'd love to do just one; to watch Edgar Wallaces' on.

dave walsh · 9th Jul 2007, 4:53 pm

Literally a "work of art" Steve. Can I ask, if you had not had the U80 rectifier [or even a failed LOPT] would there have been a way forward still or would that that have compromised the "original look far too much? Just curious. Dave

Panrock · 9th Jul 2007, 5:26 pm

Dave, my guiding principle is to retain originality as much as possible subject only to two higher values: safety and reliability. Thus (to take two examples), I've earthed the housing of the mains switch and I've blacked the dropper. Neither were original. But both help me sleep easier at night.

The U801 seems to me a rather unfortunate choice (differing opinions welcomed!) with its high voltage, fragile heater and presumed propensity to shorts. I've already sourced a spare new one through Phil Taylor 'just in case'. However the existing one in there is working well at present.

I guess, if the U801 wasn't available at all, my first instinct would be to try to find a similar-looking valve rectifier that could be adapted to work by jiggling with the dropper chains.

As for the LOPT, I try never to get into a situation where I even start on a set with a bad LOPT, unless I already have a replacement to hand.

Hope this answers your questions.

Steve

Tazman1966 · 9th Jul 2007, 5:56 pm

Hello Steve.

What a fantastic example of a really thorough restoration. Well done. How long did it take you from start to finish? Were you "on it" full time?

All the best and congrats,

Panrock · 9th Jul 2007, 6:23 pm

It took just over 5 weeks (I had hoped to do it in 4 !). During this time it was my main work activity though of course I had to attend to all the usual household tasks and other non-radio business activities as well.

S

evingar · 9th Jul 2007, 7:37 pm

Brilliant job

I envy you working full time on it though - must be great

The trouble with doing things piecemeal is it's easy for bits and bobs to get "dissipated" especially if the "workshop" is used for other things (like a household utility room !).

FRANK.C · 10th Jul 2007, 8:29 pm

Steve
What a beautifully restored TV and a very informative write up.
Been new to TV its just what I love to read.

In Awe
Frank

Panrock · 13th Jul 2007, 4:48 pm

Many thanks to all for such kind words - they are much appreciated even if not really deserved.

As a postscript, the set is now being soak tested until it goes down to Surrey to its new owner on Monday. I'm hoping lots of use will benefit the tube.

In general it seems very stable and the timebase holds never need touching, though the mains voltage is critical - you do notice if it is 230 volts rather than 240 but can adjust the brightness to compensate.

As for my own Townsman, which donated its blocking oscillator transformer to get this job finished; this is now back to normal too, all thanks to Andy Beer who let me have some ex-BRC 1500 transformers. One of these has now been 'adapted' and works fine in my Baird.

Steve

Heatercathodeshort · 14th Jul 2007, 8:28 pm

Hello Steve,
What a lot of work but very enjoyable, especially the end result.
The Mazda U801 did indeed give a lot of trouble in the sets using it. Ekco and Ultra used it in many models from 1951-1954. It was so unreliable that Ultra used a Mullard [in fact two in one model!] PZ30 rectifiers and the later versions of the V814 series 2 X PY82's again Mullard were used. This was a serious break due to these two makers being contracted to Mazda. It proves the problems that were caused by this horror valve.
Mazda valves were very reliable but they certainly had a problem with rectifiers. The main problem was a flaking cathode that went across the range including H.T., boost and eht types. The U801 with its four seperate anodes required 4 X 100ohm surge limiting resistors. If one went O/C the remaining anodes had to cope with the increase in demand. This led to a run away effect resulting in a completely blown up U801 and often the house fuses into the bargain!
A great restoration. Regards John.

5th Jun 2007, 4:41 pm	#1
Panrock Nonode Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 2,533	Baird Townsman restoration I've just started a full cabinet-and-works restoration of a Baird Townsman. You can follow the saga, as it unfolds, HERE Steve http://www.radiocraft.co.uk/baird50.jpg __________________ https://www.radiocraft.co.uk

9th Jul 2007, 3:58 pm	#2
Panrock Nonode Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 2,533	Re: Baird Townsman restoration Well it's finished now. There are five pages - I've now interlinked all of them for convenience. The saga starts HERE and ends HERE. Steve __________________ https://www.radiocraft.co.uk

9th Jul 2007, 4:26 pm	#3
M0AFJ, Tim Hexode Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Helston, Cornwall, UK. Posts: 303	Re: Baird Townsman restoration Brilliant story, a real craftsman!

9th Jul 2007, 4:34 pm	#4
magnastat Retired Dormant Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: East Sussex, UK. Posts: 40	Re: Baird Townsman restoration Brilliant, as usual. I'd really love it if you could make the pix clickable. Reading your tv restos makes me want to have a go. (I've done loads of radios, but never a tv) I'd love to do just one; to watch Edgar Wallaces' on.

9th Jul 2007, 4:53 pm	#5
dave walsh Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex. Posts: 5,817	Re: Baird Townsman restoration Literally a "work of art" Steve. Can I ask, if you had not had the U80 rectifier [or even a failed LOPT] would there have been a way forward still or would that that have compromised the "original look far too much? Just curious. Dave

9th Jul 2007, 5:26 pm	#6
Panrock Nonode Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 2,533	Re: Baird Townsman restoration Dave, my guiding principle is to retain originality as much as possible subject only to two higher values: safety and reliability. Thus (to take two examples), I've earthed the housing of the mains switch and I've blacked the dropper. Neither were original. But both help me sleep easier at night. The U801 seems to me a rather unfortunate choice (differing opinions welcomed!) with its high voltage, fragile heater and presumed propensity to shorts. I've already sourced a spare new one through Phil Taylor 'just in case'. However the existing one in there is working well at present. I guess, if the U801 wasn't available at all, my first instinct would be to try to find a similar-looking valve rectifier that could be adapted to work by jiggling with the dropper chains. As for the LOPT, I try never to get into a situation where I even start on a set with a bad LOPT, unless I already have a replacement to hand. Hope this answers your questions. Steve __________________ https://www.radiocraft.co.uk

9th Jul 2007, 5:56 pm	#7
Tazman1966 Nonode Join Date: May 2006 Location: St Albans, Herts, UK. Posts: 2,193	Re: Baird Townsman restoration Hello Steve. What a fantastic example of a really thorough restoration. Well done. How long did it take you from start to finish? Were you "on it" full time? All the best and congrats, __________________ All the very best, Tas

9th Jul 2007, 6:23 pm	#8
Panrock Nonode Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 2,533	Re: Baird Townsman restoration It took just over 5 weeks (I had hoped to do it in 4 !). During this time it was my main work activity though of course I had to attend to all the usual household tasks and other non-radio business activities as well. S __________________ https://www.radiocraft.co.uk

9th Jul 2007, 7:37 pm	#9
evingar Octode Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Newbury, Berkshire, UK. Posts: 1,770	Re: Baird Townsman restoration Brilliant job I envy you working full time on it though - must be great The trouble with doing things piecemeal is it's easy for bits and bobs to get "dissipated" especially if the "workshop" is used for other things (like a household utility room !). __________________ Chris

10th Jul 2007, 8:29 pm	#10
FRANK.C Heptode Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Roscommon, Ireland Posts: 732	Re: Baird Townsman restoration Steve What a beautifully restored TV and a very informative write up. Been new to TV its just what I love to read. In Awe Frank

13th Jul 2007, 4:48 pm	#11
Panrock Nonode Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 2,533	Re: Baird Townsman restoration Many thanks to all for such kind words - they are much appreciated even if not really deserved. As a postscript, the set is now being soak tested until it goes down to Surrey to its new owner on Monday. I'm hoping lots of use will benefit the tube. In general it seems very stable and the timebase holds never need touching, though the mains voltage is critical - you do notice if it is 230 volts rather than 240 but can adjust the brightness to compensate. As for my own Townsman, which donated its blocking oscillator transformer to get this job finished; this is now back to normal too, all thanks to Andy Beer who let me have some ex-BRC 1500 transformers. One of these has now been 'adapted' and works fine in my Baird. Steve __________________ https://www.radiocraft.co.uk

14th Jul 2007, 8:28 pm	#12
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: Baird Townsman restoration Hello Steve, What a lot of work but very enjoyable, especially the end result. The Mazda U801 did indeed give a lot of trouble in the sets using it. Ekco and Ultra used it in many models from 1951-1954. It was so unreliable that Ultra used a Mullard [in fact two in one model!] PZ30 rectifiers and the later versions of the V814 series 2 X PY82's again Mullard were used. This was a serious break due to these two makers being contracted to Mazda. It proves the problems that were caused by this horror valve. Mazda valves were very reliable but they certainly had a problem with rectifiers. The main problem was a flaking cathode that went across the range including H.T., boost and eht types. The U801 with its four seperate anodes required 4 X 100ohm surge limiting resistors. If one went O/C the remaining anodes had to cope with the increase in demand. This led to a run away effect resulting in a completely blown up U801 and often the house fuses into the bargain! A great restoration. Regards John.