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General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc. |
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27th Feb 2021, 10:00 pm | #1 |
Heptode
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 900
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The worse hacked set ever
Just before Christmas on a rain soaked Friday night i had taken delivery of a Hallicrafters S20-R and having looked at it for the first time today it’s a bit of a shocker. I don’t normally like to berate fellow radio restorers we all work to our own level and do the best work we can. But to say this set had been hacked at is a serious understatement. It’s had the mains transformer replaced and many of the capacitors. Unfortunately most of the replacement components are hanging loose and shorting against each other. But what really had me scratching my head was the total lack of audio total silence. Well turns out the replacement output transformer was a replacement smoothing choke although it looked like it had four wires it hadn’t. Well it turns out that a 8 ohm speaker had been connected directly to the anode of the outputs valve. No audio output transformer. I have spent the day cutting parts off until it’s now partially working and only smokes a bit. I’m seriously wondering if this is worth the investment in my time, but have a soft spot for basket cases like this. But I have my work cut out for me this time!
Well what I’m wondering, what is the worst restoration you have taken on willingly or in error and the worse hackery encountered?
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Every Silver Lining Has Its Cloud https://youtube.com/channel/UCvBpiuUUnErJlNBm6DWb3Ww Last edited by ChristianFletcher; 27th Feb 2021 at 10:08 pm. Reason: I’m stupid |
27th Feb 2021, 10:54 pm | #2 |
Triode
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 47
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Re: The worse hacked set ever
Hello, My Receiver Broadcast Type C No.4 was advertised as converted to Bluetooth. Was hoping it was not too far gone but by the looks of it there is a fair bit missing. Anyway on the To do list.
Thanks barry |
27th Feb 2021, 11:29 pm | #3 |
Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 22,902
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Re: The worse hacked set ever
There's a photo in a recent post in the audiophoolery thread that shows the innards of an expensive audio amplifier. It's in this league, and that seems to be how it was built!
Worth a look. David
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28th Feb 2021, 1:09 am | #4 |
Heptode
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 900
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Re: The worse hacked set ever
I think there is a special place in hell reserved for the “up cyclers” I haven’t see a nice Avo 8 lamp yet.
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28th Feb 2021, 9:03 am | #5 |
Octode
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 1,646
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Re: The worse hacked set ever
I have!
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28th Feb 2021, 10:58 am | #6 |
Heptode
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 900
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Re: The worse hacked set ever
Gabe001
ERrrrrr. I have reserved you a seat next too the pregnant popes. Chris
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28th Feb 2021, 11:01 am | #7 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK.
Posts: 2,820
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Re: The worse hacked set ever
Oh that’s a mess! I know I am a bit lazy fitting components when I’m just tacking them in to see if something will work, but normally I’ll refit them properly later. The worst hacked set I’ve come across so far is a little PYE BV30 tv, someone obviously got a new pair of side cutters for Christmas, and decided to try them out on the poor little PYE! It’s not like they were trying to remove components, they all seemed to be left alone, but they just snipped at the wiring in random places! That set has been left on the very bottom of the roundtuit pile since I discovered that, it needs a total strip and rebuilt, at least the CRT is good, I’ve borrowed it for other sets and it displays a decent picture.
Regards Lloyd |
28th Feb 2021, 11:38 am | #8 |
Heptode
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 900
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Re: The worse hacked set ever
I’m sure a point is probably reached where a set is so bad a full chassis up rebuild is probably the correct action. I would however find such a scratch build quite daunting so I generally go for the rolling restoration. It would be nice if anyone can share pictures of their worst hacked at sets.
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28th Feb 2021, 12:03 pm | #9 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Surbiton, SW London, UK.
Posts: 2,801
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Re: The worse hacked set ever
Sometimes slight changes have to be made for safety compliance, but it should be
possible to do this in a sympathetic way to the original. Goods sold commercially with plug should have recent PAT label. The Hallicrafters original transformer was 110 volt. Items that appear to have been made non-functional deliberately ; this is often done where equipment is written off for inventory or insurance purposes. |
28th Feb 2021, 12:11 pm | #10 |
Nonode
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Aberdeen, UK.
Posts: 2,858
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Re: The worse hacked set ever
Chris, the worst vintage item I ever worked on since joining the Forum in 2007 was a pre-war Cossor 3339 Oscillograph, back in 2010. Years ago, someone had tried to convert it to a primitive TV. (Pictures in post 23, 6th Aug. 2010).
Worst item ever - - back in '66, an RAF Hartley 13A Oscilloscope - someone had blown up the huge oil-filled EHT Transformer. Regards, David |
28th Feb 2021, 12:37 pm | #11 |
Heptode
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 528
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Re: The worse hacked set ever
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28th Feb 2021, 1:05 pm | #13 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK.
Posts: 2,820
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Re: The worse hacked set ever
Does this one count as hacked about?!
Looks like a rather plain old TV22, but something looks a bit off about the CRT, it looks like it’s slipped back from the mask a bit, then look inside!! Regards Lloyd |
28th Feb 2021, 1:26 pm | #14 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: North Wales, UK.
Posts: 6,927
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Re: The worse hacked set ever
Does my auction buy TX10 count? The innards had been replaced with an electric blanket so it had a mains lead!
That TV22 actually looks to hve been quite well converted, and could be changed back if one with a broken cabinet turns up. At least there aren't additional holes in the cabinet - at least I don't think so. And it's not a fish tank, so be grateful for small mercies! |
28th Feb 2021, 2:36 pm | #15 |
Heptode
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 900
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Re: The worse hacked set ever
I think that may be worth some points Lloyd but it would be a shock if you bought it as a valve receiver. I haven’t heard of the Electric blanket modification LOL, did the blanket work ?
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28th Feb 2021, 2:39 pm | #16 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Colchester, Essex, UK.
Posts: 4,108
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Re: The worse hacked set ever
As has been said before, it's everyone's right to 'modify' their vintage acquisitions and purchases, but for avoidance of doubt (and to save anyone else having to say it) upcycling things like analogue meters into table lamps and nixie clocks is largely very unpopular here. Attitudes tend to worsen still further if said items appear for sale elsewhere.
Fashions change but good test equipment persists. Just saying.. Dave |
28th Feb 2021, 3:25 pm | #17 |
Octode
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 1,646
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Re: The worse hacked set ever
Just to qualify, they're not mine and I wouldn't do that to an any vintage equipment. I just posted to show that it's being done. Apologies for the misunderstanding.
Last edited by Gabe001; 28th Feb 2021 at 3:47 pm. |
28th Feb 2021, 4:07 pm | #18 | |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK.
Posts: 2,820
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Re: The worse hacked set ever
Quote:
As for this bodged set, I was considering updating its chassis with maybe a built in freeview box, and somehow rig it to turn the TV on and off with the remote. I did get a chassis for it, but never got round to doing anything with it, the cabinet is damaged too, there’s a crack from one of the knobs to the bottom right of the screen surround. Regards Lloyd Ps; love the tale of the TX10 electric blanket! |
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28th Feb 2021, 5:29 pm | #19 |
Heptode
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 900
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Re: The worse hacked set ever
Hello Gabe
I was only pulling your leg as others have said people can do what they wish with their own property. I’m a fan of infinity diversity. But what I had on my mind is just really poor inappropriate repairs. Lloyds storey reminded me a Cossor I bought thinking it was from the 1930. I didn’t spot the ferrite rod in the ebay listening. Turns out it had a 1950 valve radios installed inside. We live and learn I got a laugh out of it. It’s probably rights of passage thing, everybody buys a lemon from time too time Chris
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28th Feb 2021, 5:38 pm | #20 |
Nonode
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Stockport, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 2,004
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Re: The worse hacked set ever
I've heard of a prop 405 line sets having a 625 line chassis fudged inside to make it easier to feed a line signal.
I used to have an NOS Sanyo 9 inch CCTV monitor which I considered making the case look older, but never got round to it. I sold it last summer to a retro gamer as I was over my collection allocation.
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