General > General Technical Chat
Historical 'Look' of old Radio Components!
GlennSprigg:
I LOVE the look of old components like Capacitors, when rebuilding old Tube Radios etc...
We've all seen/done rejuvenations where the chassis underside is now full of bright blue Electrolytics,
and various 'new' other types, that take away the authentic 'old/original' look, historically.
It's clever, when people pull out the guts though, of an old 'Can' on the chassis top, and re-stuff it
with new capacitors, or even slice open the outer wrapping of old Paper/Wax caps, and hide the new
replacement ones inside, and re-seal them! I just worry though!....
ONE day in the future, someone is going to see them, and say... "Oh... I better cut all this old crap out!" :-DD
I hope people at least leave a NOTE inside, informing them of what's been done! haha... ;D
The WORST that some people do, (in Mains powered units), is replace the Rectifier Tube with a couple
of modern Diodes under the tube-socket. Argh... (The tube is generally a Duo-Diode, and works from a
centre-tapped transformer, to attain Full-Wave rectification). Apart from the 'Looks', they do NOT behave
the same!! Amongst other things/reasons, the 'Cathode' in these are usually 'Indirectly Heated", so that
it takes longer fully come up to working levels, as opposed to the other tubes present, to reduce inrush
current, and over-voltage in parts, on start up. To me, they are all about the 'Looks' though!! :-+
TimFox:
Many two-diode vacuum tube rectifiers in old equipment are directly-heated, including the popular 5Y3 (and old-style 80) and 5U4. Indirectly-heated units are the 6.3V heater 6X5, 6X4, etc. and the less-common 5AR4. The series-string (AA5) radios all use indirectly-heated 35Z5, etc. single diodes. The moral decision on restoring old radios is whether to replace the selenium rectifiers that were more modern than the vacuum tube units.
Cyberdragon:
--- Quote from: TimFox on June 01, 2020, 01:19:53 pm ---Many two-diode vacuum tube rectifiers in old equipment are directly-heated, including the popular 5Y3 (and old-style 80) and 5U4. Indirectly-heated units are the 6.3V heater 6X5, 6X4, etc. and the less-common 5AR4. The series-string (AA5) radios all use indirectly-heated 35Z5, etc. single diodes. The moral decision on restoring old radios is whether to replace the selenium rectifiers that were more modern than the vacuum tube units.
--- End quote ---
Selenium rectifiers were invented in 1933, so while way newer than tube rectifiers, unless you work exclusively on 20s and ealy 30s sets there is a chance you may encounter one.
schmitt trigger:
The question you ask about restoring vintage electronics, is the exact same question that vintage auto restorers face.
Of course, they would like to keep the product 100% original, but there may be instances where original components and/or original materials used in its fabrication are now unobtanium.
Two choices her: either one faces the music and replaces the unobtanium component with its modern equivalent, or one actually "builds" the component from scratch.
The second choice is easier in a mechanical apparatus than an electronics one.
GlennSprigg:
--- Quote from: schmitt trigger on June 01, 2020, 08:51:53 pm ---The question you ask about restoring vintage electronics, is the exact same question that vintage auto restorers face.
Of course, they would like to keep the product 100% original, but there may be instances where original components and/or original materials used in its fabrication are now unobtanium.
Two choices her: either one faces the music and replaces the unobtanium component with its modern equivalent, or one actually "builds" the component from scratch.
The second choice is easier in a mechanical apparatus than an electronics one.
--- End quote ---
Yes, you are right, about many 'unobtainiums'... :)
However, I was mainly pointing out about restorations that 'look' original, by hiding new components
inside. And how that's good, unless someone in the future tries to rip them out again!! 8)
A lot of very old radios (mains & battery) also had a 'Vibrator' unit inside a chassis can. There is nothing
wrong with a modern electronic cct replacement being used, but put it all in the original Can!! :-+
Just leave a 'note' inside, for future enthusiasts!!
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version